In this thesis we present pvFPGA, the first system design solution for virtualizing an FPGA - based hardware accelerator on the x86 platform. The accelerator design on the FPGA can be used for accelerating various applications, regardless of the application computation latencies. Our design adopts the Xen virtual machine monitor (VMM) to build a paravirtualized environment, and a Xilinx Virtex - 6 as an FPGA accelerator. The accelerator communicates with the x86 server via PCI Express (PCIe). In comparison to the current GPU virtualization solutions, which primarily intercept and redirect API calls to the hosted or privileged domain’s user space, pvFPGA virtualizes an FPGA accelerator directly at the lower device driver layer. This gives rise to higher efficiency and lower overhead. In pvFPGA, each unprivileged domain allocates a shared data pool for both user - kernel and inter-domain data transfer. In addition, we propose the coprovisor, a new component that enables multiple domains to simultaneously access an FPGA accelerator. The experimental results have shown that 1) pvFPGA achieves close-to-zero overhead compared to accessing the FPGA accelerator without the VMM layer, 2) the FPGA accelerator is successfully shared by multiple domains, 3) distributing different maximum data transfer bandwidths to different domains can be achieved by regulating the size of the shared data pool at the split driver loading time, 4) request turnaround time is improved through DMA (Direct Memory Access) context switches implemented by the coprovisor.

in English Abstract The thesis aims to fathom different aspects of the commodification of personal data. The topic is an issue of current interest. On one hand, due to the constant improvement of the technology of collecting and processing personal data, individuals are becoming very vulnerable. Techniques of influencing their thinking and decision-making based on their personal data have become so subtle and insidious that they often go unnoticed by the individuals. On the other hand, the development of the data economy can contribute to many goals that benefit society. This paper aims to answer two research questions. The first research question is how to guarantee the secure processing of personal data and to eliminate negative impacts on the subject and on society. The second research question concerns both ensuring adequate access of digital industry to personal data and empowering the data subject. Given the complexity of the issue and the confusion about the meaning and interpretation of basic concepts such as personal data and information, it is necessary to first briefly outline the nature and characteristics of personal data. The next two chapters analyse the legal means to achieve the objectives set out in the research questions. The final chapter provides a summary of recommendations on...

The thesis deals with design and implementation of controllers for the RMAP protocol, which is used by SpaceWire network endpoints to access memory contents of another endpoint. The theoretical research introduces concepts of the SpaceWire network, then describes the RMAP protocol and the AMBA AHB bus interface in detail. The practical part of this thesis then uses this information to design and implement controllers for the RMAP protocol. It first defines an architecture of these controllers, then describes design of individual blocks based on this architecture. As a next step, the thesis describes methods used to verify designed controllers and to test these controllers in an FPGA chip. Finally, an analysis of maximum frequency and usage of FPGA resources is done based on estimates provided by the synthesis tool.

This projects describes the design of communication between SHARC and ARM cores on ADSP-SC58x platform, concretely between bare-metal and Linux applications on ADSP-SC589 chips. There are outlined several available technologies for data transfer, such as MCAPI, MDMA or shared memory. There are also designed and implemented new communication principes based on current implementations of these technologies.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the viscoelastic properties of current large digital storage magnetic tape materials, using a custom ultra-low frequency dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Through the correlated effects of frequency and temperature, the long term mechanical properties of the magnetic tape can be simulated and used for predictive analysis of long term storage quality and stability of each individual tape given applicable storage conditions. Two magnetic tapes of primary interest reviewed in this paper are both current leading high capacity tapes, one having a poly(ethylene naphthalate) or PEN substrate and the other an aromatic polyamide or ARAMID substrate. The phase angle between the two signals and the peak strain based elastic modulus (E) were then used to determine the storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E"), and the loss tangent (tan 8). These viscoelastic characteristics of the material were determined for each individual experimental sample. The combined data was then used to create comparative plots of each sample type allowing for a more conclusive look at the magnetic tape properties under the given conditions. It is found that viscoelastic deformation, or energy loss in the material, increasingly occurs at low frequencies. These experiments also verify that viscoelastic loss also occurs due to molecular orientation and can have a large impact on results. A final comparison is also made between the two leading tape materials commonly used in industry currently by taking a direct look at relative loss in conjunction with the materials overall complex elastic modulus. This allows a more definitive strength comparison of the defined materials · under given conditions.

This paper discusses the possibilities of realization of VGA grabber for FITkit. Text is focused on software and hardware implementation possibilities. The first part introduces the reader to the theory of the issue. Next, the paper proposes several options of VGA grabber implementation and brief evaluation of alternatives. The second part describes a chosen architecture of VGA grabber of the featured options and includes a brief summary of the findings of the processor LPC4370 from NXP and USB Video Class UVC, on which the resulting architecture is based. The conclusion includes a brief summary.

Embedded systems are dedicated to perform specific tasks, so design engineers can optimize them to reduce the size and cost of the product and increase the reliability and performance. However, result of these optimizations is that some architectures may lack commonly used technologies such as direct memory access (DMA). We may encounter with this situation in family of microcontrollers HCS08. The main theme of this work is to describe a design of DMA controller that can be added into the family of microcontrollers HCS08.

This masters thesis deals with design of the component facilitating communication between PCI bus and user component. Designed component is simplifying the communication protocol between designed and user components, while advanced functions of PCI bus are preserved. Target platform is COMBO6-PTM card containing FPGA with Spartan 3 technology. Communication with PCI bus is mediated by PLX component. Thesis also contains design of simplified communication protocol.

Contactless cards are everywhere nowadays due to their ease to use and low price to produce. In addition, their reliability is excellent. That is why they are used in systems where security is essential within a low price. To develop the associated systems (cards, readers, terminals), efficient tools are needed. These tools can be a spy analyzing any communication or an emulator that can act and answer exactly as a real contactless card. The objective of this thesis was to develop a contactless card emulator on a product that is currently only spying, the NomadLAB of KEOLABS. The emulator feature is based on a discontinued product, the ProxiCARD, and it has for main objective to be compliant with the ISO 14443 standard. Through the analysis of its architecture and its current performance, I have developed a complete system that can be integrated into the ecosystem of the KEOLABS products. The features I developed take place into the source code of the NomadLAB, at the level of its ARM microcontroller in language C, and in its FPGA in language VHDL. The ARM is here to handle all the smart part of the transmission, while the FPGA to handle the coding and decoding process. In addition, I developed an antenna able to on one hand receive the signal from a reader and on the other hand to reply to it by modulating the magnetic field. I also developed and added my controls to the current computer software. Finally, I have written a lot of testing to make sure that this new system is reliable. The NomadLAB is now able to emulate a contactless card complying with ISO14443 standard, while keeping its spy features, and its control through a computer.

Die Ermittlung der mechanischen Eigenschaften von PVC-Profilen ist von zentraler Bedeutung in der PVC-Industrie. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit lag darin, eine neue Messmethode zur schnellen Bestimmung der mechanischen Eigenschaften von PVC-Materialien mittels dynamisch-mechanischer Analyse (DMA) zu entwickeln. Bei PVC-Produkten stellt der Geliergrad ein wichtiges Maß zur schnellen Bewertung der mechanischen Eigenschaften dar. Studien haben ergeben, dass die optimalen mechanischen Eigenschaften meist bei Geliergraden zwischen 70 und 80 % (je nach PVC-Rezeptur) erreicht werden. Die Parameter einer Extrusionsanlage werden daher so eingestellt, dass sich für das Profil ein Wert in diesem Bereich ergibt. Die Zusammenhänge zwischen Geliergrad, mechanischen Eigenschaften (u. a. Zugfestigkeit und Schlagzähigkeit), Kristallinität, Oberflächestruktur (mit REM- und AFM-Aufnahmen beobachtet) und mittels DMA ermittelten Kennwerten von PVC-Profilen wurden untersucht. Die dynamisch-mechanische Analyse fand unter Zug (Belastungsart, die sich am besten zur Messung von thermoplastischen Kunststoffen eignet) mit einer Deformation von 5 mm, bei einer Frequenz von 1 Hz und mit einer Heizrate von 5 K/min (zwischen Raumtemperatur und 100 °C) unter Luft statt. Durch DMA-Messungen war es möglich, PVC-Rezepturen, die bei unterschiedlichen Parametern verarbeitet wurden, zu untersuchen, um die optimalen Extrusionsparameter festzulegen, ohne den Geliergrad ermitteln zu sollen. DMA-Untersuchungen sind auch zur Optimierung von Extrusionswerkzeugen geeignet, da die mittels DMA ermittelten Kennwerten an Proben, die an unterschiedlichen Stellen eines Profils entnommen wurden, gemessen werden kann. Dadurch kann ein Werkzeug so optimiert werden, dass an verschiedenen Stellen eines Profils gleichmäßig gute mechanische Eigenschaften vorhanden sind.