2020 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Undergraduate major in Information and Communications Engineering
Computer Architecture (ICT)
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Information and Communications Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Masato Motomura / Yoshihiro Watanabe
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue (S621) / 3-4 Fri (S621)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ICT.I308
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This lecture covers fundamentals and advanced techniques for computers.
The focus is to let students understand architectural techniques actually used in modern computers.
The lecture also covers important technologies in today's computing systems such as multi-processor, domain-specific processor, and embedded systems.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to understand
- Fundamentals (Instruction set, etc.) and advanced techniques (Pipeline, Memory hierarchy, etc.) of modern computers
- Multi-processor computing architectures
- Domain-specific processors
- Embedded systems and processors used therein
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
The lecture is based on the lecturer's experience on product-level processors and processor-based system LSI designs
Keywords
Instruction set, Pipeline, Memory hierarchy, Multi-Processor, Domain-specific processor, Embedded system
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
1) At the beginning of each class, the contents of previous class are reviewed.
2) Towards the end of class, students are given exercise problems related to what is taught on that day to solve.
3) Before coming to class, students should read the course schedule and check what topics will be covered. Required learning should be completed outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Computer Abstractions and Technology | Study history of computers and their evaluation schemes, and understand the aim of the lecture. |
| Class 2 | Instructions: Language of the Computer -1 | Understand the role of instruction set in computers |
| Class 3 | Instructions: Language of the Computer -1 | Understand the interface between hardware and software |
| Class 4 | Arithmetic for Computers | Understand numerical representations and arithmetic operations in computers |
| Class 5 | The Processor -1 | Understand fundamental execution models in processors |
| Class 6 | The Processor -2 | Understand pipeline executions in processors |
| Class 7 | Memory Hierarchy -1 | Understand the needs and rolls of memory hierarchy in computing systems |
| Class 8 | Memory Hierarchy -2 | Understand real examples and advanced topics of memory hierarchy in computing systems |
| Class 9 | Parallel Processors | Understand computing architectures for parallel execution |
| Class 10 | Domain-specific Processors -1 | Understand domain specific processors such as GPU |
| Class 11 | Domain-specific Processors -2 | Understand domain specific processors such as GPU |
| Class 12 | Embedded Systems -1 | Understand embedded systems and processors used therein |
| Class 13 | Embedded Systems -2 | Understand embedded systems and processors used therein |
| Class 14 | Examination | Check understanding |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Course materials are provided OCW-i.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
D. A. Patterson and J. L. Hennessy, "Computer Organization and Design, RISC-5 Edition," Elsevier Inc. (2018)
Evaluation methods and criteria
1) Students will be assessed on their understanding of the lecture (basic and advanced techniques of computers, multi-processor architectures, domain-specific processors, embedded systems, etc.)
2) Students’ course scores are based on examination (100%)
3) Full attendance is compulsory.
4) The instructor may fail a student if he/she repeatedly does not attend too often and/or comes to class late too often.
Related courses
- ICT.I216 ： Computer Logic Design (ICT)
- ICT.I303 ： Integrated Circuit Design
- ICT.I415 ： VLSI System Design
- ICT.I501 ： Engineering of System LSI Design (System Design)
- ICT.I211 ： Theory and Design of Logic Circuits
- ICT.I317 ： Embedded Systems
- ICT.I516 ： Engineering of System LSI Design (Embedded Software Design)
Prerequisites
Students are strongly recommended to attend the "ICT.I216 ： Computer Logic Design (ICT)" class.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Masato Motomura : motomura[at]artic.iir.titech.ac.jp
Yoshihiro Watanabe：watanabe.y.cl[at]m.titech.ac.jp
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.