Norbert Wehn - Böcker

Genetic programming (GP) is method for automatically creating computer programs. It starts from a high-level statement of what needs to be done and uses the Darwinian principle of natural selection to breed a population of improving programmes over many generations. This text presents the application of GP to a wide variety of problems involving automated synthesis of controllers, circuits, antennas, genetic networks, and metabolic pathways. It describes 15 instances where GP has created an entity that either infringes or duplicates the functionality of a previously patented 20th-century invention, six instances where it has done the same with respect to post-2000 patented inventions, two instances where GP has created a patentable new invention, and thirteen other human-competitive results.

The evolution of electronic systems is pushing traditional silicon designers into areas that require new domains of expertise. In addition to the design of complex hardware, System-on-Chip (SoC) design requires software devel- ment, operating systems and new system architectures. Future SoC designs will resemble a miniature on-chip distributed computing system combining many types of microprocessors, re-configurable fabrics, application-specific hardware and memories, all communicating via an on-chip inter-connection network. Designing good SoCs will require insight into these new types of architectures, the embedded software, and the interaction between the embedded software, the SoC architecture, and the applications for which the SoC is designed. This book collects contributions from the Embedded Software Forum of the Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference (DATE 03) that took place in March 2003 in Munich, Germany. The success of the Embedded Software Forum at DATE reflects the increasing importance of embedded software in the design of a System-on-Chip. Embedded Software for SoC covers all software related aspects of SoC design Embedded and application-domain specific operating systems, interplay between application, operating system, and architecture. System architecture for future SoC, application-specific architectures based on embedded processors and requiring sophisticated hardware/software interfaces. Compilers and interplay between compilers and architectures. Embedded software for applications in the domains of automotive, avionics, multimedia, telecom, networking, . . .

Dynamically Reconfigurable Systems is the first ever to focus on the emerging field of Dynamically Reconfigurable Computing Systems. While programmable logic and design-time configurability are well elaborated and covered by various texts, this book presents a unique overview over the state of the art and recent results for dynamic and run-time reconfigurable computing systems.Reconfigurable hardware is not only of utmost importance for large manufacturers and vendors of microelectronic devices and systems, but also a very attractive technology for smaller and medium-sized companies. Hence, Dynamically Reconfigurable Systems also addresses researchers and engineers actively working in the field and provides them with information on the newest developments and trends in dynamic and run-time reconfigurable systems.