Scientific Research Report 1994-1998. Eindhoven University of Technology. Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Scientific Research Report 1994-1998 Eindhoven University of Technology Faculty of Electrical Engineering March 1999

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report Table of contents Introduction Section A: Research profile of the faculty Section B: Key data for the faculty Section C: Documentation per programme 5 7 I 1 13 1. Information Processing Systems and Networks 2. Electro-Optical Communication 3. Radiocommunication 4. Electronic Devices 5. Electronic Circuit Design 6. Electrical Energy Systems 7. High-Voltage Engineering and Electromagnetic Compatibility 8. Electromagnetics 9. Medical Electrical Engineering 10. Electromechanics and Power Electronics 11. Measurement and Control 12. Design Technology for Electronics Systems 13. Signal Processing 15 41 63 93 117 145 163 181 201 219 235 261 283 Appendix A: Research input and output - faculty totals Appendix B: Discipline protocol Electrical Engineering Appendix C: List ofjournals Appendix D: List of acronyms 307 309 313 315 Scientific research report 3

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report Introduction This report describes the scientific research that has been carried out in the period ]994-1998 at the Faculty ofelectrical Engineering from the Eindhoven University of Technology - TUE. Sections A and B as well as the numerical data (tables 5, 6, and 7) and the lists ofresearch output (sections 14 through 17) in Section C have been produced centrally. Tables 5 and 7 have been generated as follows: 1. For every year and for each rank of academic staff, the total input for research, education, and management and other tasks has been taken as the starting point. 2. For each academic rank, a standardised amount of research input was assigned as agreed upon in the discipline protocol: professors 40%, associate professors and other senior staff 60%, and postdoctoral fellows and junior staff 80%. 3. A fixed amount of the total input, 12.5%, was assigned to management and other tasks. 4. The remaining amount, which represents the personnel capacity for education, was compared to the actual annual educational input determined according to the faculty standards. On the faculty level - but not on each research programme level! - there appeared to be an almost perfect match between the actual educational input and the educational capacity. 5. Finally, for each research programme the educational capacity was substituted by the actual educational input, and, ifnecessary, the 1G research input was changed accordingly. Table 6 and the listsofresearch outputhave been compiled from the Annual Scientific Research Reports. The faculty's Standing Committee for Scientific Research, VCW, whose main task it is to evaluate the faculty research annually, is responsible for the correct ranking ofthe research output into the appropriate categories. In order to have Section C as uniform as possible, the written contributions prepared by each research group were collected and discussed intensively in two VCW meetings, during which the VCW formulated a list with directives and suggestions for improvement. This list was fed back to each programme director, who then had the opportunity to revise the written material for his research programme. Anyway, each programme director is responsible for the final version of sections 8 through 13 of his programme documentation. The VCW has advised the programme leaders to mention under section 12, "Other indicators ofquality and reputation," only those tasks that do not belong to the regular academic activities. Hence, the following items have not been included: member of programme committees, member of thesis defense committees, project leader ofnational projects, examiner at national or international universities, referee or review work, invited talks, management functions. On the other hand, in addition to the items mentioned in the Protocol 1998 - honorary doctorates, international awards, guest professorships, editorship of learned journals, membership of international editorial committees - the following items have been reported under section 12, as well: chairman of important international conferences, project leader ofimportant international projects, number ofinvited papers, invited visiting scientist, membership of scientific councils or advisory boards. The faculty regrets that the Protocol did not allow us to present a list ofprofessional publications and that the item "Realized designs," which was included in the previous assessment, was not a valid category in the present assessment. Consequently, important professional publications and realized designs apparatus, instruments, devices, integrated circuits, sensors, software products, machines, testing and measuring set-ups, etc. - could not be reported properly. Introduction 5

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report Section A: Research profile of the faculty Mission statement The Faculty of Electrical Engineering shares the mission of Eindhoven University of Technology with the addition of the following further specifications: The Faculty carries out high-quality scientific activities meeting international standards and providing relevance to society. The Faculty considers itself to be a guardian of the scientific intellectual inheritance of its field ofinterest. The scientific training in Electrical EngIneering and Information Technology, the two-year training in Technological Design, and the Ph.D. degree courses require both education and research; education and research are equally important and strongly linked to each other. Within the study programmes mentioned, knowledge, insight, and skill can be obtained in all main aspects of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The Faculty promotes a balanced selection of education and research, and an equilibrium between fundamental and applied scientific research. In both research as well as education, integration and application ofknowledge plays a significant role. Long-term developments and social issues, as well as many industrial problems and transfer of knowledge to major industry and smaller companies require a multi-disciplinary approach. The Faculty is focusing strong attention on these aspects. Key research themes The faculty's research is grouped around four main themes (see also Section B 2): Information and Communication Systems (s], 5, and 12), Telecommunication Technology and Electromagnetics (s 2, 3, 4, and 8), Measurement and Control Systems (s 9, 10, 11, and 13), and Electrical Power Engineering (s 6 and 7). In co-ordination with other Dutch universities, and in line with the university's main focus on information and communications systems, emphasis has been placed on areas in systems design, micro-electronic (III-V) technology, opto-electronics and optical fibres, medical systems, mobile communication, indoor communication, antenna design, power-electronics, micro-drives, model-based control, and power distribution. In accordance with an agreement between the Faculties of Electrical Engineering in Delft and Eindhoven, the research effort on electrical energy systems was decreased, while that on III-V technology and opto-electronics and optical fibres was increased. In several research schools participating researchers seek for the optimum distribution ofresearch themes to the individual research groups. National and international co-operation Numerous national and international co-operations exist with other universities and research centres, and with industrial laboratories. The faculty participates in councils and working groups, networks, and projects involving partners from all over the world. The faculty contributed to a large number of projects of EU-programmes like ACTS APEX, ACTS BLISS, ACTS FLEXIMACS, ACTS MEDIAN, ACTS UPGRADE, BRITE-EURAM, BlaMED, several COST projects, ESPRIT, apex, and RACE. Within the national scope, the faculty participated in several lops, NWO councils, the Energy Academy, and ProRISC (which co-ordinates and supports research in the area of Systems Design and Signal Research profile 7

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report Processing). Most co-operations are at the level ofjoint research projects or the exchange ofknowledge and experience, and are not mentioned explicitly in this document. The following co-operations should be mentioned in particular: COBRA - Communication Technology: Basic Research and Applications, a research school in which many research groups participate and for which the faculty is commissioner; NRC Photonics, one ofthe Dutch top research schools, in which the faculty participates strongly through its participation in COBRA; EIDMA - Euler Institute for Discrete Mathematics and its Applications, a research school with participation of the Radiocommunication group; DISC - Dutch Research Institute for Systems and Control, a research school with participation of the Measurement and Control group; CPS - Centre for Plasma Physics and Radiation Technology, a research school with participation of the High-Voltage Engineering and Electromagnetic Compatibility group; EESI - Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute, a recently established research institute with participation of the Faculties of Electrical Engineering and of Mathematics and Computing Science. Infrastructural resources The faculty has a number of high-quality research installations of significant value (also in financial terms!) at its disposal. Among those, the III-V laboratory, the computer infrastructure for design, the mm-wave laboratories, the utilities for measurement at plasmas and high-precision measurements in electrical fields, and the laboratory for electromechanics and power electronics should be mentioned in particular. In the near future the research groups participating in COBRA and NRC Photonics will benefit from the cieanroom facilities that are going to be realised on the university campus. Recent reorganisations During the assessment period, the number of chairs has been reduced from 15 to 11. In the 1996 reorganisation, the chairs on Information and Communication Theory and on Electrical Materials were discontinued, and the two research groups were merged with the Radiocommunication and the Electronic Circuit Design group, respectively; at the same time, part of the Electronic Circuit Design group was moved to the Signal Processing group. In 1998 the chair on Electrical Energy Systems became vacant; it had already been decided not to fill the vacancy immediately and to merge the research group with the High-Voltage Engineering and Electromagnetic Compatibility group. Finally, the process ofmerging the chairs on Medical Electrical Engineering and on Signal Processing started at the end of 1998. The 13 research programmes in this report reflect the situation after the 1996 reorganisation. Financial flexibility permitting new research policy The scientific staff had to be reduced in number in recent years, due to cut backs of the governmental finances. Funds were allocated dynamically to the chairs on the basis of commitments in education; in addition, a fixed amount was supplied for research. From its direct income the faculty has committed the equivalent of25 Ph.D. students to support research, and a number ofph.d. grants from external sources have been acquired. The faculty is proud to have achieved - in spite ofthe reduction in research input - a substantial increase ofresearch output in almost all categories compared to the assessment period 1989 1993. 8 Research profile

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report Although the recent reorganisations were initiated by reduction in direct funding, they forced the faculty to focus on a select number of research areas, to look for better co-operations inside and outside the faculty, and to find more multidisciplinary-oriented research themes. The faculty strongly participates in the Research School COBRA and the National Research Combination Photonics, in which new research themes - with corresponding funds - can be found. The same holds for the faculty's participation in the Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute, and also for the increasing participation in the recently established Faculty of Biomedical Technology. Through its participation in the following programmes of the Stan Ackermans Institute - Centre for Technological Design: information and communication technology, mechatronic design, computer-aided design and manufacture of discrete products, and physical instrumentation, the faculty has strong ties with a wealth of small and large companies. Industry and research institutes show an increasing interest in collaboration with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The appointment of highly-qualified part-time professors financed by industry, the foundation of research laboratories on the university campus, and Philips' plans to strengthen its technological and professional activities in Eindhoven by creating a Technology Campus, are just a few examples of new possibilities for the faculty to find research partners to co-operate with. Research policy development and quality control Research policy development and quality control is conducted at two levels: at the level of the research programmes - usually a chair - and at the faculty level. Individual research groups are responsible for developing new ideas, submitting research proposals, seeking external funding, developing and implementing a publication policy, and setting the research standards. They do so in agreement with the scientific director of any Research Schools in which they participate. Formally, the programme director evaluates each ofhis group members annually, and together they set goals for the next year. The Faculty Board and the programme directors meet on a regular basis to discuss the faculty's longterm research policy, and to try and find common topics for collaboration between the different research groups and with research groups outside the faculty. At the faculty level the Standing Committee for Scientific Research, VCW, plays an active role in monitoring research programmes and projects. Each year the VCW compiles a Scientific Research Report in which the ongoing research programmes are described. For each programme both a short review of the past year - along with a description of research input, acquired external funding, co-operations, and a categorized list of scientific output - and short-term plans for the following year are presented by the individual research groups. Each programme is evaluated following a procedure that is similar to the procedure of the five-year assessment, and the same four aspects of academic quality, academic productivity, relevance, and long-term viability of the research programme are taken into account. In its assessment, the VCW relates the results in the past and the short-term plans for the future to the research group's long-term vision, in which the group describes such things as the coherence ofthe programme, the programme's position in the spectrum fundamentalapplication-oriented - development, the programme's position in national and international perspective, the link between the research programme and education, and the group's publication policy with a list of the three most relevant refereed journals and international conferences. A discussion between the VCW Research profile 9

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report and each individual programme director is an essential part of the evaluation procedure; a substantial part of this discussion is devoted to the progress of the Ph.D. projects that participate in the research programme. The committee's conclusions are published in a Research Evaluation Report, which is presented to the faculty community during an official presentation. One of the other tasks of the vew is to advise the Faculty Board with respect to the quality of Ph.D. and PostDoc research proposals that will be directly funded by the faculty. Finally, the committee advises the Faculty Board with respect to the long-term research policy. Future developments It is expected that the reduction of direct governmental finances will continue during the coming years. The Faculty Board is in the process of developing a new procedure through which these direct finances should be distributed over the research groups. The new procedure explicitly uses the realized scientific output and the evaluation results as a means to differentiate in the funding between the different research groups. Furthermore, part of the direct budget will be appointed to groups that need or deserve special financing for research. In line with the above, the faculty's strategy is to allocate tasks among faculty members and research groups to strengthen groups with a strong past performance, to provide necessary investments to start promising new research projects, to stimulate publication in international leading journals and conference proceedings, to encourage applications for grants by making available additional funding to successful groups, to stimulate both fundamental and applied research projects, to stimulate international contacts and joint research, to enhance the impact ofthe faculty's research results in industry, industry-related institutes and research institutions. The faculty is going to redesign its educational programme in the next two years. The aim is to design a modem, consistent curriculum in which the university's concept ofproject-oriented and problem-driven education, the novel aspects ofinformation and communication technology, and the possibilities offered by the university's note book project are implemented. 10 Research profile

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report Section B: Key data for the faculty la. University Eindhoven University of Technology - TUE lb. Faculty Faculty ofelectrical Engineering 2. Departments Information and Communication System - ICS - Information Processing Systems and Networks - EB - Electronic Circuit Design - EEB - Design Technology for Electronics Systems - ES Telecommunication Technology and Electromagnetics - TTE - Electro-Optical Communication - ECO - Radiocommunication - ECR - Electronic Devices - EEA - Electromagnetics - EM Measurement and Control Systems - MBS - Medical Electrical Engineering - EME - Electromechanics and Power Electronics - EMV - Measurement and Control - ER - Signal Processing - ESP Electrical Power Engineering - EVT - Electrical Energy Systems - EG - High-Voltage Engineering and Electromagnetic Compatibility - EHC 3. Research institutes: commissioner Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute - EESI 4a. Research schools: commissioner Communication Technology: Basic Research and Applications - COBRA 4b. Research schools: participant Dutch Research Institute for Systems and Control- DISC Euler Institute for Discrete Mathematics and its Applications - EIDMA Centre for Plasma Physics and Radiation Technology - CPS Key data 11

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report 5. Education programmes Electrical Engineering Information Technology 6a. Income 1997 1 direct funding NWOfunding contract research 6b. Costs 1997 1 personnel costs other costs kf 31 099 kf 657 kf 3651 kf 20502 kf 12964 7a. Human resources 1998 academic staff supporting staff 157 persons / 56 persons / 135.8 fte 50.3 fte 7b. Students 1998 Electrical Engineering Information Technology 372 (363 full-time, 9 part-time) 48 (full-time) 8. Summary of research programmes Input of academic staff in 1998 (in fte) nr short title fte 1 Information Processing Systems and Networks 7.3 2 Electro-Optical Communication 11.6 3 Radiocommunication 9.8 4 Electronic Devices 7.5 5 Electronic Circuit Design 6.0 6 Electrical Energy Systems 4.5 7 High-Voltage Engineering and Electromagnetic Compatibility 5.9 8 Electromagnetics 5.3 9 Medical Electrical Engineering 6.6 10 Electromechanics and Power Electronics 6.6 11 Measurement and Control 7.9 12 Design Technology for Electronics Systems 8.8 13 Signal Processing 5.0 Total research input of academic staff in 1998 92.8 1Data taken from rue Financiele overzichten perbe 1997. The 1998 data were not available at the time that this document had to be printed. It shouldbe noted that a substantial amount of 2G and 3G funding and costs does not show up in the university administration. 12 Key data

Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering Scientific research report Section C: Documentation per programme 1. Information Processing Systems and Networks 2. Electro-Optical Communication 3. Radiocommunication 4. Electronic Devices 5. Electronic Circuit Design 6. Electrical Energy Systems 7. High-Voltage Engineering and Electromagnetic Compatibility 8. Electromagnetics 9. Medical Electrical Engineering 10. Electromechanics and Power Electronics II. Measurement and Control 12. Design Technology for Electronics Systems 13. Signal Processing 15 41 63 93 117 145 163 181 201 219 235 261 283 documentation 13

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.PJ. Stevens EB 1 EB Information Processing Systems and Networks Information Processing Systems and Networks 15

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.P.1. Stevens EB 1 EB Acronyms API APS ASIC ATM BDD CAD CAN/CAL COBRA CORBA CPLD DC-BDD DSP EESI ERASMUS ETSI FPGA HW/SW IDASS IN IP IWT PCO PDH PLD POOSL SDL SDH SHE SHESIM TEMPUS TINA TPG VLSI VM WDM Application Program Interface Automatic Protection Switching Protocol Application Specific Integrated Circuit Asynchronous Transfer Mode Binary Decision Diagram Computer Aided Design Controler Area Network / Controler Area Layer Communication Technology: Basic Research and Applications Common Object Broker Architecture Complex Programmable Logic Device Don't Care - Binary Decision Diagram Digital Signal Processor Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students European Telecommunications Standards Institute Field Programmable Gate Array Hardware/Software Interactive Design and Simulation System Intelligent Networks Internet Protocol Vlaams Insitituut voor de Bevordering van het Wetenschappelijk-Technologisch Onderzoek in de Industrie Point of Control and Observation Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy Programmable Logic Device Parallel Object Oriented Specification Language System Description Language Synchronous Digital Hierarchy Software/Hardware Engineering Software/Hardware Engineering Simulator Trans-European Mobility Scheme for University Studies Telecommunications Information Network Architecture Test Pattern Generator Very Large Scale Integration Virtual Memory Wavelength Division Multiplexing 16 Information Processing Systems and Networks

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.PJ. Stevens EB 1. Full title: Information Processing Systems and Networks 2. Subprogrammes 1 EB 1. Design methodology 2. Design and optimisation of digital circuits 3. Architecture and design of processors and computer networks 4. Tele/data communication, exchanges and networks 3. members 3.1. Design methodology Prof.ir. M.PJ. Stevens Drjr. L. J6zwiak Drjr. D.R Dams Ddng P.H.A. van der Putten Ddr. AC. Verschueren Drjr. J.P.M. Voeten Dr. N. Sidorova professor associate professor assistant professor assistant professor assistant professor assistant professor postdoctoral fellow since 01-09-1998 01-01-1996 01-11-1998 until 3.2. Design and optimisation of digital circuits Ddr. L. J6zwiak Prof.dr. M.A Perkowski since until associate professor postdoctoral fellow 01-09-1997-01-01-1998 3.3. Architecture and design of processors and computer networks Prof.ir. M.P.J. Stevens Prof.ddr. RJ. van de Plassche Prof.ir. M.T.M. Segers Ddr. L. J6zwiak Drjr. AC. Verschueren Dr. A Fortas professor part-time professor part-time professor associate professor assistant professor postdoctoral fellow since 01-09-1998 until 01-06-1996 3.4. Tele/data communication, exchanges and networks Profjr. M.P.J. Stevens Prof.drjr. D.R van de Dool Prof.ir. J. de Stigter Ir. MJ.M. van Weert Drjng P.H.A. van der Putten Drjr. J.P.M. Voeten professor part-time professor part-time professor associate professor assistant professor assistant professor since 01-01-1996 until 01-04-1996 documentation 17

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.P.J. Stevens EB 1 EB 4. Key words design methodology, system-level design, hardware/software co-design, synthesis, communicating systems, distributed systems, real-time processing, parallel processing, (formal) description languages, performance evaluation, embedded software, object oriented analysis, formal verification, communication protocols, communication networks, exchanges, ASICs, system-on-a-chip 5. Research input ofacademic staff lite ~ 1994 11995 11996 11997 11998 ~ wpl AiO/OiO 3.6 4.1 2.2 1.6 2.9 14.4 other 2.4 1.6 2.3 2.4 4.1 12.8 wp2 AiO/OiO other wp3 AiO/OiO 0.3 0.8 0.8 0.6 2.5 other 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.3 1.4 1 total 6.5 I 6.7 I 5.5 I 5.1 I 7.3 [}IJ] Main sources for contract and similar research ASML, Veldhoven Buhrs, Zaandam ECL, Capelle aid Ussel Ericsson, Rijen Ellips, Eindhoven IBM Research Laboratory, Zurich (Switzerland) IntraCom, Athens (Greece) KPN Research, Leidschendam Lucent, Nieuwegein Lucent Technologies (Bell Laboratories), Huizen OCE, Venlo Mextal, Nuenen Pijnenburg Micro-electronics and Software bv, Vught Philips BTS, Breda Philips Research Laboratory, Eindhoven Philips Semiconductors, Eindhoven Philips Semiconductors, Sunnyvale (USA) Swisscom Corporate Technology, Bern (Switzerland) TNO-Industry, Eindhoven TNO-TPD, Delft VTT-Electronics, Oulu (Finland) 18 documentation

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Profjr. M.P.1. Stevens EB 6. Research output I number ~ 1994 I ]995 I ]996 I ]997 I ]998 ~ total I dissertations 2 1 1 5 3 12 academic journal I refereed 1 6 I 8 publications articles I non-refereed I 1 books 1 ] 2 book chapters 1 1 2 proceedings contributions 9 10 8 22 1 30 79 1 SAl reports 5 7 3 3 18 professional publications 4 7 1 2 1 15 patents 2 1 3 1 EB 7. Composition of research input ofacademic staff in 1998 ~ wp2 liif] total I professor (hgl) 0.5 0.3 0.8 associate professor (uhd) 0.6 0.6 other senior staff (ud) 2.6 2.6 postdoctoral fellows 0.4 0.4 junior staff (AiO, OiO) 2.9 2.9 other junior staff I fte IL-t_ot_aJ 8. design in brief Mission statement ---'~ Research on fundamental problems in the system design and implementation of computer and telecommunication, developmentoftheories, methodologies and tools, and the validation ofresearch results in industrial applications. The programme encompasses research on fundamental problems in the design and implementation of computer and communication systems and the validation of research results in industrial design. These systems can be real-time systems, distributed systems, embedded systems, multimedia systems or telecommunication networks. They perform many concurrent tasks in a real-time environment such as COllecting, storing, processing, transporting, routing and presenting information. The development of supporting design techniques does not keep pace with the growth of complexity of such systems. New techniques must be developed that enable design on a new higher level ofabstraction. Exploration of analysis and design methodologies for such systems requires a broad knowledge of paradigms, conceptual solutions, architectures and design techniques on various levels of abstraction between specification and implementation. The focus of the research is on design methodology and design tools. This is a common factor in a variety of strongly interacting fields that are explored simultaneously, such as requirements analysis, formal behaviour description, system-level synthesis, optimisation, simulation, testing, verification and validation. Methodology research is performed based on activities in the fields of processor architecture, (real-time) operating systems, communication protocols and communication switches. Research results lone joint proceedings contribution with programme 3. Radiocommunication documentation 19

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.P.J. Stevens EB 1 EB are validated for their industrial applicability to design of new processor architectures, distributed computer systems in embedded applications, control applications, and telecommunication networks. 8.1. Design methodology Research focuses on formal system-level modelling techniques for mixed HW/SW systems. Automation and verification for current design complexity conflicts with computability. This project delivers methods for the creation of formal, executable behaviour specifications that allow system properties to be analysed, simulated, validated and verified. Results can be used for the improvement of industrial system-level design of complex systems. 8.2. Design and optimisation of digital circuits Research focuses on theory and tools for modelling, analysis, synthesis and optimisation of digital circuits. Decomposition, quality-driven design methodologies, graph and diagram based methods, and design-space exploration methods can be used to design and implement systems in ASICs, (C)PLDs and FPGAs. 8.3. Architecture and design of processors and computer networks Research focuses on architecture design methods and tools for register transfer and algorithmic behaviour level. The goal is development of interactive modelling, verification, and conversion tools to commercial hardware synthesis tools. Results can be used for system studies and automatic synthesis. 8.4. Tele/data communication, exchanges and networks Research aims at modelling, simulation, and verification of communication interfaces and protocols. Topics are standardisation, performance analysis, queuing and blocking problems. Results can be used for design of telecommunication systems and for distributed embedded systems. Co-operating Universities Las Palmas University (Spain) Linkoping University (Sweden) Portland State University (USA) University of Queensland (Australia). Warsaw University of Technology (Poland) 9. Overview of academic results 9.1. Design methodology The development of languages and supporting tools is the base for system-level modelling of mixed HW/SW systems. A powerful formal specification language (POOSL) has been developed that can describe complex systems in terms of concurrently behaving objects communicating by passing messages. A modelling and simulation tool (SHESIM) has been developed allowing system properties to be analysed, simulated, validated and verified before this system is actually being realised. Design errors can be detected in an early phase preventing design iterations. The project integrates the exploration of specification and design languages, design language concepts, computational paradigms, 20 documentation

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.PJ. Stevens EB transformational design, real-time and distributed computing, operating systems and object-oriented programming. 1 EB Methods and tools for system-level performance evaluation have been implemented to compare system architectures allowing retrieval of performance metrics (e.g. throughput of communication channels or the average amount ofmessages in a buffer). POOSL has been extended with probabilisticdata objects enabling the description of stochastic behaviour. SHESIM has been extended with the capabilities to analyse stochastically, the mean interarrival times of messages on communication channels. System-level software synthesis focuses on creation of software for embedded, general purpose, processors, starting from a system-level specification in POOSL. The synthesised software should meet real-time constraints, handle distributed communication, and perform real-time garbage collection. It willallowfaster performanceevaluation and helpquickerformal verification ofspecifications. Software synthesis is split in synthesising the distributed processes (scheduling), synthesising data used by the processes, and garbage collection. Real-time garbage collection (Mark-sweeplReference counting) is available. The synthesis method is based on process execution trees has been completed. Generated software acts in close conjunction with hardware originating from the same system-level specification. The object-oriented method (SHE) and tools for analysis and specification aim at development of distributed real-time HW/SW systems. Together with system-level design approaches, consistent analysis methods prepare all information necessary for formal behaviour description on system-level. Research on concepts for object-oriented analysis uses meta-modelling techniques helping to specify tools for visualising analysis concepts. Formal verification ofthe correctness ofa candidate design is checking the design to formally specified requirements. Research concerns the correctness of the design trajectory, from abstract model to concrete realisation. Current verification activities aim at the integration of techniques and tools for state-space exploration into the SHE methodology. SHESIM has been extended with the ability to verify correctness properties during simulation (checking larger systems non-exhaustive). An algorithm translates properties, expressed in the logic Linear Temporal Logic into finite state automata that can be used as monitors during system simulationsallowing automatic validation ofthe correctness ofcomplex systems. Work has been done on the construction of timed automata that can serve as monitors suitable for the verification ofreal-time systems. It is being investigated how SHESIM can be coupled to existing exhaustive model checkers (e.g. SPIN). Another line focuses verification of real-time properties and the use of abstraction techniques. Testing and debugging HW/SW systems is constrained by internal system operations (event ordering, interleaved process execution, timing dependencies and non-determinism) that are difficult to observe and control. A test & debug method has been developed that improves the controllability and observability of internal system behaviour. The goal is to verify the system's behaviour of an implementation conforms the specification. Our method concentrates on non reproducible faulty communication and synchronisation protocols, faulty mutual exclusive access to shared data or resources, faulty process scheduling, deadlocks, race conditions and faulty interrupt handling. A generic architecture model for systems (consisting of application software, system software, hardware nucleus, applications-specific hardware and communication interfaces) has been defined, providing visibility into the communication of the architecture model and the state information of software processes and hardware components. The key element ofthe method is the insertion ofpcos in a system specification. A formal analysis method on the interference of PCOs has been developed using process algebra. The Interactive Design and Simulation System project focuses on methods and tools increasing ASIC designer's productivity. The design tool IDaSS supporting register level and algorithmic level design documentation 21

--~-~------------ University Information Processing Systems and Networks director Prof.ir. M.P.I. Stevens EB 1 EB and simulation has been created. By integrating design and simulation a designer gets instant feedback on design decisions. The approach helps the designer by automating conversions between design tools with 'expert system'-like rule-bases. The rule-bases that are used to automatically generate synthesisable descriptions of register level designs have been refined. Research on CAD frameworks resulted in support for three design management sub-activities: design data, design tool, and design flow management. The design management component of a CAD framework is a dynamic system that is updated regularly, for instance by the addition of new tools or design flows. The result of this project is a detailed CAD framework model that can be used to reason about CAD frameworks and can serve as a guideline for the implementation ofsuch systems. The model is used to show how aspects like framework completeness can be implemented. Support is provided to design management system developers to handle their data, tools and flows. 9.2. Design and optimisation of digital circuits Research on quality-driven design for digital circuits resulted in: a new definition of quality, a new paradigm of quality-driven design, a methodology for quality-driven design space exploration, and an analysis of some implications of the quality-driven design for design modelling, design languages, design reuse, and (semi-) automatic design methods and tools. The project on generaldecomposition ofdiscrete (binary andmultiple-valued) relations,functions and sequential machines aims at the development of general decomposition theory, methods and prototype tools for logic synthesis. It resulted in a theory for general decomposition, information relationships and measures, and a decomposition methodology and the decomposition tool DEMAIN. A developing method for near optimal state-assignment oflarge sequential machines improves the circuit's parameters as area, speed etc. Commercially tools are targeted to two-level logic. We target to obtain a decompositional state-assignment method targeted to multiple-level logic. The decomposition and synthesis ofmultiple-output combinatorial circuit project develops methods and tools for general (functional) decomposition of (binary and multiple valued) relations and functions into multiple-output combinatorial circuits. A tool for FPGAs (LUTSYN) has been developed. A development method and prototype tool for architecture and logic synthesis of the applicationspecific embedded controllers is developed for controllers that must satisfy specific physical requirements (high speed, small dimensions, and high reliability). The results will be applied to programmable logic devices produced in small series. Work on test-pattern generation for combinatorial circuits with use of DC-BDDs (Term Trees) resulted in a TPG-method and a prototype TPG-tool for ANDIEXOR circuits (XTESTPG). 9.3. Architecture and design of processors and computer networks This research project on architecture design focuses on the study and creation of advanced modular processor architectures. Resulting architectures allow industry to utilise the capabilities of modern ASIC design technologies. Several methods to implement multiprocessing (multiple tasks running in parallel) and super scalar processing (multiple instructions per clock cycle), together with the necessary communication and scheduling methods are being investigated. The following architecture studies have been performed: Multiprocessor CAN/CAL Protocol Controller (bit-level communication protocol processor, high-level protocol processor, user application processor, and a set of interconnected re-usable 22 documentation

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.PJ. Stevens EB modules) allows modification ofits protocol and/or application processor configuration. Integrated Multiprocessor Architecture (set of general-purpose processors and a set of shared co-processors for handling complex instructions, connected by two communication networks to transfer commands and results between the two sets). RE.A.L. DSP (capable of executing the equivalent of several 'normal' instructions in parallel). Co-Processor Array video processor. This video processor contains a reconfigurable set of special-purpose and general-purpose processing units, interconnected by a high-speed data packet switching network. 1 ED In research on system design philosophiesa VHDL modellingstrategy for parallel processes in hardware has been developed with the capability of performance analysis. A hardware software co-design strategy for implementation of the implementation of high-speed protocol engines has been developed. A study was performed on adaptive main memories. Fundamental gains in memory performance are achieved by studying how memory reference properties of programs match the architectural and technological characteristics of the memory system. A main memory design has been developed with a tighter coupling between software, cache and main memory. It is used to dynamically adapt main memory operations to the memory reference characteristics of programs, and cache controllers. The design is embedded within the concept of an adaptive main memory, which includes the specification of an adjustable address mapping function, definition of the adaptation targets, a set of adaptation algorithms, and models for representing memory access traffic characteristics. In the project data compression in VLSI, a "Lossless data compression integrated circuit" has been developed. Currently a design of the "VLSI implementation of a context tree weighing algorithm in VLSI" is in development in co-operation with the Radiocommunication group of the TUE. Thealgorithms in hardwareproject focuses on hardware implementation structures for computationally complex algorithms with intrinsic parallelism and with operations not available in general-purpose processors. Implementation of such operations in hardware, the usage of the appropriate applicationspecific memory systems and massively parallel processing schemes enable improvement of the computation speed. A re-configurable hardware accelerator for fast computations in multiple-valued logic and software for automated synthesis of interleaved memory systems have been implemented. The automatic analysis, synthesis and selection of design-alternatives project aims at developing of methods for an effective (semi-) automatic design space exploration, i.e. modelling, construction, analysis and selection of design alternatives. At the system-level it is a practical approach for HW/SW co-design. A prototype interactive HW/SW co-design tool (InCo) has been developed and implemented. 9.4. Tele/data communication, exchanges and networks The protocol verification project aims at research on formal specification and verification. Transport continuity by protection switching for SDH was modelled. A formal POOSL system model enabled successful verification. Eight different fundamental problems could be observed, among which a deadlock problem and faults in the ETSI specification of the APS. The results are a working simulation model and proposed solutions for the problems found during the project. An information model has been designed for the management of WDM optical transport networks. Based on this model the communication structure for transport of management and control information has been developed. Besides communication between network elements, communication with a central management system has been described in relation with its use for SDH, PDH, ATM and IP networking. documentation 23

director Information Processing Systems and Networks Prof.ir. M.P.1. Stevens EB 1 EB Result is a management system design for an optical network demonstrator. A related project focussed on a simulation model of a management subsystem for an optical network. It aims at a functional model for the control ofoptical fibre networks that use WDM techniques. There are fundamental shortcomings in the control concepts for co-operating optical devices that form networks. A balanced concept for electrical versus optical treatment and transport ofcontrol data must be developed. Formal specifications in POOSL will be used to verify proposed control concepts. CORBA is a standard for distributed computing based on an object-oriented approach. Complex applications can be build with a distributed object-oriented technology using CORBA. The research aspect was on the combination of proven and new software implementation technologies and let them communicate platform independent via CORBA. The project demonstrated how complex systems can be built using CORBA to couple distributed implementations in both Java and Smalltalk. In the intelligent networks project applicability of the Telecommunications Information Network Architecture model for the implementation of new services has been studied. The client-server relation between the communication network and the control network has been inverted here compared to the classic IN. The TINA-architecture enables fast implementation of services. The absence of standardised API causes encapsulation to be difficult. The development of services by and usage of services from third parties fail in most cases. Simultaneously a study was done to what extent the use of Java will simplify the taking up of new services in IN. The link with the existing IN-system is a limiting factor. Different philosophies about control/management cause problems in this linking field. In a demonstration project on a Multimedia Service on the new TINA platform has been developed to enable fast development and reuse of services for the telecommunication market. Result of the project is a Desktop Presentation Service integrated in Desktop Video Conferencing and a stand-alone version that shows TINA's qualities for rapid service development. A project on Chipcards in Intelligent Network Services has been performed that aims at extension of the IN standard. As a result a demonstrator has been realised. It implements abbreviated dialling service, account card calling service and universal personal telecommunications service. A project on Parallel services for IN with Java has been performed aiming at the use of Java in the environment of the AXE-lO switching machine for INs. So far C++ and Plex were used to implement central services on an AXE-VM platform. Results are a transparent communication between Java-VM and AXE-VM, Java is integrated in IN by development of a service independent building block. At both the IN, and the Java side a standard service creation environment for Java services has been developed. Research was done on the system aspects and architecture and design ofnext generationpacketswitches for ATM networks. Research on switch architectures and performance studies has been continued. Currently we are interested in architecture and performance, and applied SHE as simulation tool for packet switch fabrics. 10. development The research presented here evolved from rather broad in 1994 to focussed in 1999. Initially we explored digital systems and computer communication with a focus on design, architecture, test and optimisation. We felt a strong need for streamlining. Since 1997 this effort became visible. We developed a very successful programme on methodology for complex communication systems. This programme is well balanced now. It combines more fundamental long-term research with applicable strategic research. We managed to take on new staff members with a background in theoretical computer science. This enables co-operation with the Computer Science Department and the Institute for Programming research and Algorithmics. We constrained the rather broad application area. The focus is more on design of communication systems and distributed embedded systems. This enabled a fine integration of our 24 documentation