- Knowledge of several processor architectures, with particular attention paid to x86, ARM and MIPS families - Superscalar and multithread architectures - Knowledge of the sw/hw architecture of an embedded system - Knowledge about system bus, cpu and I/O characteristics - Competences about I/O management and interface design - Competences about development of applications for embedded systems - Assembly code implementation for I/O device management.

- Knowledge of basic elaboration systems architecture: processor structure, memory organization and peripheral management - Knowledge of basic functionalities of operative systems - Capability to develop programs in assembler language.

• Advanced description of the basic microprocessor architecture • Introduction to modern microprocessor architectures • CISC, RISC and superscalar processor architectures, behavior and performance • Microprocessor-based systems architecture • Development flow of embedded system applications using a development board • Advanced programming techniques for embedded systems: theory and practice • Advanced assembly programming techniques (ARM, 8086): theory and practice.

• Class lectures: 50% of the course duration • Extensive Class exercise time: 30% of the course duration • Assisted laboratories: 20% of the course duration. Students are highly invited to interact with Lecturers, at lecture, exercise, and laboratory slots

• J.L. Hennessy, D.A. Patterson, Computer Architecture: a Quantitative Approach, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc., VI Edition, 2017 • Steve Furber, ARM system-on-chip architecture, Addison-Wesley, 2000. Optional additional material provided by the Lecturers.

Exam: Computer lab-based test; Written test; Compulsory oral exam;

The exam consists of a written plus a mandatory oral part. The written part is further divided into two sub-parts: 1. The first sub-part consists of open&closed questions about subjects covered during lectures. While this sub-part is being run, it is not possible to use any book or other material. 2. The second sub-part consists of the development of an assembly program. While this sub-part is being run, it is possible to use only printed books and/or documents in electronic format downloaded from the web site of the course (Portale della Didattica). If possible the written part will be run by using the facilities of a laboratory at Politecnico, otherwise will be run in "paper-written-mode". The first part globally accounts up to 27 points at most, i.e. up to 19 points for the second section (as evaluated during the oral discussion), plus 8 for the first section. In order to pass the written part and go for the mandatory oral, it is necessary that all the following three conditions are met: i) first section score is at least 4 points, ii) second section score is at least 10 points, iii) first section plus second section score is at least 15 The oral questions following the program(s) discussion, can decrease by any amount the first part score, or add up to 6 additional points The written part (=first+second sub-parts) lasts from 2 to 3 hours and has to be passed in both its two sub-parts. Failing one of the two sub-parts will imply a rejection. The correction of the written tests usually takes place during the oral part; the presence of the student is required, otherwise his/her vote will be rejected / refused. Points in the two parts are added up. At the end of the correction, the student will be able to continue the oral exam, consisting of at most three additional questions. Failure to satisfactorily responding a question, will imply a negative score for that question and the possible termination of the oral exam. If less than 18 points are obtained, a rejection will be registered. Professor(s) has (have) the right to ask at any time oral questions to get a better and more complete picture of the student's preparation. The final grade will be determined by adding up all the points collected by the student and rounding the numerical result. Laude will be granted to all students whose number of points is larger than 31.5 (before rounding). Overall, the exam is targeted at evaluating the students both from their abilities to design, write and run assembly programs, and their knowledge of modern computing systems architectures.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Computer-based written test using the PoliTo platform; Written test via vLAIB using the PoliTo platform;

The structure, although migrated to online devices/platforms, is the same as described in the section "onsite exams". Due to the lockdown and social distancing requirements, the implementation of the exam could be affected by the way it can be run, as well as by the tools and restrictions available at the time of a call(s). In such a case, the flow will be implemented under any "new restrictions" as much as possible to be consistent with the rules holding in the years 2019-20, i.e. before the COVID-19 era. In particular, the way all of this will be run, depends on the choice of the hw/sw tools that will be chosen. It is for sure that all students should have a stable internet connection, one optional additional device with a second webcam, a microphone in addition to a computing system (i.e., a laptop with working webcam), which is compatible with the tools that will be used, likely polito’s virtualclass and zoom.us client, plus additional software (if any) as indicated through portale della didattica by professors. Once more, in such a case, the professors will inform the students through portale della didattica and as soon as possible, about the flow, the way how the rules are implemented and the requirements for attending the exam remotely. An example of implementation of the rules in a remote exam situation (summer 2020, i.e. february 2020 with minor variations, call) is found at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3i1yrezbgwswg3w/AACDck2j1ree_3ha2I-deQjoa?dl=0 The goal, as stated above, is to try to replicate as much as possible, the flow of the exam as it was before the COVID-19 era.

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Computer-based written test using the PoliTo platform; Written test via vLAIB using the PoliTo platform;

The structure, although migrated to online devices/platforms, is the same as described in the section "onsite exams". FOR ONLINE STUDENTS: Due to the lockdown and social distancing requirements, the implementation of the exam could be affected by the way it can be run, as well as by the tools and restrictions available at the time of a call(s). In such a case, the flow will be implemented under any "new restrictions" as much as possible to be consistent with the rules holding in the years 2019-20, i.e. before the COVID-19 era. In particular, the way all of this will be run, depends on the choice of the hw/sw tools that will be chosen. It is for sure that all students should have a stable internet connection, one optional additional device with a second webcam, a microphone in addition to a computing system (i.e., a laptop with working webcam), which is compatible with the tools that will be used, likely polito’s virtualclass and zoom.us client, plus additional software (if any) as indicated through portale della didattica by professors. Once more, in such a case, the professors will inform the students through portale della didattica and as soon as possible, about the flow, the way how the rules are implemented and the requirements for attending the exam remotely. An example of implementation of the rules in a remote exam situation (summer 2020, i.e. february 2020 with minor variations, call) is found at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3i1yrezbgwswg3w/AACDck2j1ree_3ha2I-deQjoa?dl=0 The goal, as stated above, is to try to replicate as much as possible, the flow of the exam as it was before the COVID-19 era. FOR ONSITE STUDENTS: In case of blended exams, depending on the number of students involved, dates and other logistics constraints, the exam could be run, for onsite students in one of the following two ways (the students will be promptly informed about which mode will be used call by call): 1) onsite-mode: please see the rules & organization for onsite exams; 2) BYOD-mode: students, even if are present in person, have to bring their own device and have the exam as if they were online; please see rules and organization for online exams