2024 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 / Hiroshi Sasaki
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue / 3-4 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ICT.I308
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 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.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to understand
- Fundamentals (instruction set etc) and advanced techniques (pipelining, memory hierarchy etc) of modern computers
- Multi-processor computing architectures
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
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 -2 | Understand the interface between hardware and software |
| Class 4 | Instructions: Language of the Computer -3 | Understand the interface between hardware and software |
| Class 5 | Processor -1 | Understand the basic execution model in processors |
| Class 6 | Processor -2 | Understand the pipelined operations in processors |
| Class 7 | Processor -3 | Understand the realistic execution model in processors |
| Class 8 | Arithmetic for Computers | Understand numerical representations and arithmetic operations in computers |
| Class 9 | Memory Hierarchy -1 | Understand the needs and rolls of memory hierarchy in computing systems |
| Class 10 | Memory Hierarchy -2 | Understand real examples and advanced topics of memory hierarchy in computing systems |
| Class 11 | Memory Hierarchy -3 | Understand real examples and advanced topics of memory hierarchy in computing systems |
| Class 12 | Parallel Processors -1 | Understand computing architectures for parallel execution |
| Class 13 | Parallel Processors -2 | Understand computing architectures for parallel execution |
| Class 14 | Assessing the Understanding (with 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 via T2SCHOLA.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
D. A. Patterson and J. L. Hennessy, "Computer Organization and Design, RISC-V 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
Hiroshi Sasaki: sasaki[at]ict.e.titech.ac.jp
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.