ACM Transactions on Embedded Computing Systems (ACM TECS)

 

CALL FOR PAPERS

 

Special Issue on Models and Methodologies for Co-Design of Embedded Systems

 

High-level design and modeling of hardware and embedded hardware-software systems has gained prominence in the face of rising technological complexities and performances, as well as shortened time to market demands for complex electronic equipments. Numerous programming languages, tools and frameworks have been proposed in the past to design, simulate and validate heterogeneous systems within an abstract and rigorously defined mathematical model.

Recently, attention has shifted to modeling frameworks based on variants of general purpose programming languages, in response to the growing industry demand for use of higher levels of abstraction in the system design process. Meanwhile, the installed base of existing IP adds further requirements for the adaptation of existing IPs with new services within complex integrated architectures, calling for appropriate methodological approaches.

Whereas abstract frameworks are ways to unambiguously model the essence of hardware software systems, help understand the design, implement formal correctness proofs, predict performances and other metrics; general-purpose languages facilitate programming, reuse and gain from the popularity of C, C++ like languages. Still, important gaps need to be filled and bridges to be built between the theory of modeling and the practice of programming. Languages shall benefit the rigorousness of models and models the experience of programming practice.

This calls for finding a convergence between both approaches. A focus on formal methods (programming and concurrency models, analysis and verification techniques) for hardware/software co-design is necessary, because language in which system designers work are general-purpose ones, because the only way provably correct systems can be constructed are by technology transfer of research in formal methods.

Prospective authors are invited to submit novel and unpublished work describing innovative techniques, results and prospects addressing one or several of the following topics.

 

High-level models and languages

De-facto standard programming languages

Synchronous languages, domain-specific languages, data-flow frameworks

From general-purpose languages to formal semantics models

Concurrency models for local synchrony and global asynchrony

Analysis and verification techniques

Program analysis, abstract interpretation, model checking

Intermediate representations: data structures and algorithms

Formal representation of behavioral abstractions: types, relations, automata

(Re) engineering and component-based design

Models for component-based design: architecture models, concurrency models

Program analysis techniques for abstracting and reengineering existing IP

Formal methods for components integration: verification, test, validation

Methodological issues

Suitable design-flows for large systems

Refinement-based design and refinement checking

Object-oriented modeling and contract-based checking

Distribution: fault-tolerance, scheduling

Non-functional requirements: portability, availability, maintainability

 

Please submit your paper to acm.manuscriptcentral.com in the TECS section. Please write "SPECIAL ISSUE ON MODELS AND METHODOLOGIES FOR CO-DESIGN OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS " on your cover page and in the notes section of the Web site submission form.

 

Important Dates

Submission Deadline: September  15, 2003
Acceptance Notice: December  30, 2003
Final Manuscript: March  15, 2004
 

Guest editors for the special issue are:

 

Jean-Pierre Talpin (jean-pierre.talpin@irisa.fr)

IRISA/INRIA

Rennes, France

 

Sandeep K. Shukla (shukla@vt.edu)

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA, USA