Programming

Cache memory is used, in most single-core and multi-core processors, to improve performance by bridging the speed gap between the main memory and CPU. Even though cache increases performance, it poses some serious challenges for embedded systems running real-time applications. Cache introduces execution time unpredictability due to its adaptive and dynamic nature and cache consumes vast amount of power to be operated. Energy requirement and execution time predictability are crucial for the success of real-time embedded systems. Various cache optimization schemes have been proposed to address the performance, power consumption, and predictability issues. However, currently available solutions are not adequate for real-time embedded systems as they do not address the performance, power consumption, and execution time predictability issues at the same time. Moreover, existing solutions are not suitable for dealing with multi-core architecture issues. In this dissertation, we develop a methodology through cache optimization for real-time embedded systems that can be used to analyze and improve execution time predictability and performance/power ratio at the same time. This methodology is effective for both single-core and multi-core systems. First, we develop a cache modeling and optimization technique for single-core systems to improve performance. Then, we develop a cache modeling and optimization technique for multi-core systems to improve performance/power ratio. We develop a cache locking scheme to improve execution time predictability for real-time systems. We introduce Miss Table (MT) based cache locking scheme with victim cache (VC) to improve predictability and performance/power ratio. MT holds information about memory blocks, which may cause more misses if not locked, to improve cache locking performance.

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one of the core protocols of the Internet protocol suite. In the wired network, TCP performs remarkably well due to its scalability and distributed end-to-end congestion control algorithms. However, many studies have shown that the unmodified standard TCP performs poorly in networks with large bandwidth-delay products and/or lossy wireless links. In this thesis, we analyze the problems TCP exhibits in the wireless communication and develop TCP congestion control algorithm for mobile applications. We show that the optimal TCP congestion control and link scheduling scheme amounts to window-control oriented implicit primaldual solvers for underlying network utility maximization. Based on this idea, we used a scalable congestion control algorithm called QUeueIng-Control (QUIC) TCP where it utilizes queueing-delay based MaxWeight-type scheduler for wireless links developed in [34]. Simulation and test results are provided to evaluate the proposed schemes in practical networks.

Games have become important applications on mobile devices. A mobile gaming approach known as remote gaming is being developed to support games on low cost mobile devices. In the remote gaming approach, the responsibility of rendering a game and advancing the game play is put on remote servers instead of the resource constrained mobile devices. The games rendered on the servers are encoded as video and streamed to mobile devices. Mobile devices gather user input and stream the commands back to the servers to advance game play. With this solution, mobile devices with video playback and network connectivity can become game consoles. In this thesis, we present the design and development of such a system and evaluate the performance and design considerations to maximize the end user gaming experience. A gaming user experience model capable of predicting the user experience for a given gaming session is developed and verified.

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) has gone from just a step in the evolution of the GSM cellular architecture control core, to being the de-facto framework for Next Generation Network (NGN) implementations and deployments by operators world-wide, not only cellular mobile communications operators, but also fixed line, cable television, and alternative operators. With this transition from standards documents to the real world, engineers in these new multimedia communications companies need to face the task of making these new networks secure against threats and real attacks that were not a part of the previous generation of networks. We present the IMS and other competing frameworks, we analyze the security issues, we present the topic of Security Patterns, we introduce several new patterns, including the basis for a Generic Network pattern, and we apply these concepts to designing a security architecture for a fictitious 3G operator using IMS for the control core.