This thesis aims to develop a knowledge structuring framework to organize knowledge according to means-ends relationships. Means-ends relationships are particularly relevant in technology and goal-oriented domains such as the geo-engineering domain, where technical problems are identified, and solutions proposed. The proposed goal oriented representation in this thesis does not replace current classification methodologies. In this project, a small corpus of research publications from a technology domain is used to help construct the framework. The main means-ends relationships from the articles are manually extracted and represented in a graphical model showing which problems are approached, by which solutions proposed, and in which publications. Proposed solutions can lead to new problems which are in turn addressed by solutions proposed in other publications. A metamodel is derived to capture the important concepts and relationships relevant for this purpose. The metamodel, and the framework have undergone several iterations before finalization.

This thesis aims to develop a knowledge structuring framework to organize knowledge according to means-ends relationships. Means-ends relationships are particularly relevant in technology and goal-oriented domains such as the geo-engineering domain, where technical problems are identified, and solutions proposed. The proposed goal oriented representation in this thesis does not replace current classification methodologies. In this project, a small corpus of research publications from a technology domain is used to help construct the framework. The main means-ends relationships from the articles are manually extracted and represented in a graphical model showing which problems are approached, by which solutions proposed, and in which publications. Proposed solutions can lead to new problems which are in turn addressed by solutions proposed in other publications. A metamodel is derived to capture the important concepts and relationships relevant for this purpose. The metamodel, and the framework have undergone several iterations before finalization.

Long wait times constitute a bottleneck limiting the number of compilation runs performed in a day, thus risking to restrict Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) adaptation in modern computing platforms. This work presents an FPGA development paradigm that exploits logic variance and hierarchy as a means to increase FPGA productivity. The practical tasks of logic partitioning, placement and routing are examined and a resulting assembly framework, Quick Flow (qFlow), is implemented. Experiments show up to 10x speed-ups using the proposed paradigm compared to vendor tool flows. / Ph. D.

[pt] Este trabalho apresenta um modelo de representação de conhecimento e a arquitetura conceitual de um ambiente de design integrado para apoiar a representação de design rationale e seu uso no design de artefatos de software. Em nossa abordagem de representação propomos o uso da semântica formal dos artefatos, fornecida pelos métodos de design, para representar design rationale usando o vocabulário definido na ontologia Kuaba. Este vocabulário, descrito em uma linguagem formal para especificação de ontologias, permite definir um conjunto de regras e operações computáveis que apóiam o reuso de designs na produção de novos artefatos de software. Esta abordagem de representação possibilita um novo tipo de reuso de design de software em um nível mais alto de abstração, onde rationales podem ser integrados e re- empregados no design de um novo artefato. / [en] This work presents a knowledge representation model and the conceptual architecture of an integrated design environment to support recording design rationale, as well as use of design rationale, during design of software artifacts. In our representation approach, we propose the use of the formal semantics of artifacts provided by design methods to represent design rationale using the vocabulary defined in the Kuaba ontology. This vocabulary described in a formal ontologies specification language allows defining a set of rules and computable operations that support the reuse of designs in the production of new software artifacts. This representation approach enables a type of software design reuse at the highest abstraction level, where rationales can be integrated and re-employed in designing a new artifact.

Manufacturing companies are continuously faced with requirements regarding technology novelty, shorter time to market, a higher level of functionality, and lower prices for their products. This is especially true of suppliers that develop and manufacture highly customized products within the automotive industry. It is not uncommon that a request for a new product or subsystem goes out to several suppliers and that the one that can deliver the product most quickly and at the lowest price receives the contract. It is therefore vital for any supplier to answer to quotation requests rapidly and with a high level of precision while also ensuring that company assets are used efficiently. Other issues that apply to suppliers in the automotive industry are heavily fluctuating requirements during development projects, each customer’s individual preferences, and the ever changing interfaces with the OEM product with which the supplier’s product is to be integrated. Platform strategies have been widely accepted in industry to serve a wide product variety while maintaining business efficiency. However, the challenge of applying a platform strategy at the supplier level in the face of the reality described above has not been fully investigated. Platform approaches tend to require a focused development of the platform, which in turn requires some knowledge about which future variants are to be derived from the platform. The research presented in this thesis investigates the state of practice in industry regarding the challenges, needs, and current use of platforms. To respond to the identified need, a platform approach is proposed that expands the scope of what a product platform has traditionally contained. This is undertaken to aid in the development of highly customized products when physical modules or component scalability does not suffice. The platform approach provides a coherent environment for heterogeneous design assets to be used in product development, supporting both the activity of designing and off-the-shelf solutions. The approach is based on identifying and modelling generic product items that are associated with descriptions governing their design. By describing the outcome of technology and product development like finished designs, design guidelines, constraints, etc., in a standardized format, the platform continues to evolve. To aid in using the platform approach, a support system called Design Platform Manager is introduced at a company active as a secondtier supplier in the automotive industry. The system enables the creation of generic product items that can be structured, instantiated, and associated with descriptions, which aids in realizing product variants. The aim of the platform approach and tool is to support the quotation and continued design processes by identifying valid knowledge to use as circumstances, such as requirement changes or new design iterations, warrant. The support tool and overarching model have been evaluated by company representatives, who reported good results.

No description available.

隨著半導體製程技術的快速演進，以及電子產品往系統單晶片（SoC）趨勢發展，晶片設計生產力與製程技術間的落差日益擴大。設計重複使用（design reuse）逐漸成為縮短兩者差距之重要方法；若能靈活應用公司內部的設計重複使用或大量引用外來矽智財（SIP）完成晶片設計，將有效加速產品設計時程、縮短上市時間、節省設計成本並降低風險。 然而受限於資源、研發能力及SoC設計流程整合之複雜性，各公司無法自行開發所有需要的SIP，使得採用外部SIP並將其整合至設計專案中成為必要手段，並導致近幾年商品化SIP的交易市場開始蓬勃發展；但其中所牽涉之商業模式、授權方式與相關技術標準等議題卻相當複雜。 SIP交易之一大障礙來自於缺乏交易過程中所有必須的基礎建設與相關服務。為解決此問題，目前已出現一些中介機構，提供SIP供應商、SoC設計者必要的法律契約、IP保護、交易媒合及結清等服務，使其在交易流通與應用上能更加便利。我國亦於2003年開始推動國家矽導計畫，希望透過其IP Mall子計畫，建立完善的SIP匯集交易與推廣服務機制。 本研究從交易成本和統治結構觀點分析SIP的交易市場發展與衍生問題，並由交易流程中找出典型的商業模式與授權實務，繼而深入探討推廣SIP重複使用與促進交易流通之中介機構，為因應交易常見的問題與挑戰，在規劃交易運作制度、法律與整體交易體系之實際做法；就其擔任提供SIP交易相關活動支援的角色，提出實務上的制度規劃建議。 研究對象為台灣國家矽導計畫中所建立的IP Mall，分別是由創意電子和智原科技兩家公司擔負基礎建設工作，並選擇國外VCX及SIPAC兩家機構做為對照。透過次級文獻蒐集、專家訪談等方法得到主要發現如下： 1.極高的交易成本導致SIP交易困難。 2.SIP交易需配合以三邊統治為基礎之中介機構方能有效執行。 3.藉由建立SIP交易的機制及標準，將可大幅降低「交易成本以及資訊不對稱」所造成雙方損失。 4.兩家IP Mall在功能服務說明、SIP匯集、品質驗證、履約保證與風險管理之制度規劃有待加強。 5.台灣IP Mall的執行做法可朝Turnkey導向之營運模式發展。 6.台灣IP Mall的規劃及運作缺乏整體規劃、使用誘因和成效評估。 關鍵字：交易成本、統治結構、設計重複使用、矽智財、系統單晶片、矽導計畫、智財匯集服務（矽智財匯集平台／矽智財交易中心） / The rapid advance of semiconductor fabrication technologies and the trend towards system-on-chip (SoC) based electronic devices development has caused the worsening gap between silicon capacity and design productivity. “Design reuse” becomes a key strategy for SoC design gap improvement. Combining a selection of reusable silicon IP (SIP) and new designs significantly shortens the time required to create complex SoC products and reduces costs & risks. However, due to constrained resources, the lack of experience with technologies and the complexity in SoC design flow integration, companies do need to source SIPs from outside suppliers instead of developing all kinds of functionalities internally. In recent years there has been a rapid development in the commercial SIP market. Nevertheless, the issues involved in the business model, licensing practices, and related technical standards are also quite complicated. A key barrier to trading SIP may be the lack of all necessary infrastructure and related services within the transaction flow. To overcome this, there are emerging intermediary organizations to facilitate SIP transactions and applications by providing necessary legal contracting, IP protection, trading matching, settlement and service for SIP providers and SoC Integrators. Taiwan also launched National Si-Soft Project from 2003 with an attempt to establish an appropriate SIP trading, promotion and service mechanism under its IP Mall sub-project. From the view of transaction costs and governance structure, this study analyzes the development and derivative problems of SIP trading market and generalizes common business models and licensing practices during the SIP transaction process. Moreover, according to the general problems and challenges from SIP trading, the study thoroughly discusses practices of intermediaries in the planning of transaction operating mechanism, legal matters and overall trading environment. Finally, this study offers some suggestions in practical system planning based on the role of providing SIP trading support. The study takes Taiwan’s IP Malls as subjects, which were implemented by Global Unichip Corporation and Faraday Corporation respectively. We also choose overseas organizations like VCX from Scotland and SIPAC from Korea as a comparison. Based on the literature review and individual interview, we found the following facts: 1.Huge transaction costs result in SIP trading difficulties. 2.Intermediary organizations based on trilateral governance are essential to implementing SIP trading effectively. 3.Through the establishment of SIP trading systems and standards, the loss of both Buyers and Sellers results from transaction costs and information asymmetric can be reduced significantly. 4.Both Taiwan’s IP Malls need to enhance their system planning in the service & function introduction, SIP collection, SIP quality assurance, verification, guaranty of contract and risk management. 5.Taiwan’s IP Malls could take the turnkey-oriented business model based on their original design. 6.The planning and operation of Taiwan’s IP Malls lacks a holistic view, attractions for usage and performance evaluations. Key words: transaction cost, governance structure, design reuse, SIP (Silicon Intellectual Property), SoC (System-on-Chip), Si-Soft project, IP Mall