Chapter 1 – Computer Systems

Introduction

·         The fundamental architecture of the computer system rests on solid foundation that has changed
only slightly and gradually over the past 50 years
·         Understanding this architecture allows for easy understanding of future developments and
advances in the computer architecture as it is more likely to build on this foundation
·         In this chapter the following topics are covered:
o        The IPO(S) model
o        Components of the computer system
o        Brief history of the computer architecture

The IPO(S) Model

·         The computer system is a collection of hardware and software components working together to
perform a complete computing environment
·         A computing program can be modeled as a process performing 4 main operations:
o        Input
o        Processing
o        Output
o        Storage
·         This process modeling is known as the Input-Process-Output (Storage) - IPO(S) model
·         See Figure 1.3 in page 10 for an illustration
o        Program receives an input, from an input device (e.g. keyboard, mouse, disk, etc.)
o        Performs some processing on the input
o        Produces an output to an output device (e.g. screen, printer, etc.)
o        And/or store the output to a storage device (e.g. RAM, disk, etc.)
·         Modern programming uses the Object-Oriented technique for modeling computing work
·         Objects are entities that are described by their properties and the actions that they can perform
·         However, IPO(S) is still a valid modeling technique and it is commonly used
 
Input
·         Computer systems include methods for accepting input (data and instructions) from inside and
outside the system
·         Example of input devices include:
o        Keyboard
o        Mouse
o        Disk file
o        Network
 
Processing
·         Computer systems has the ability to process, change, and transform data
·         Basic data processing operations include:
o        Arithmetic calculations
o        Logical calculations
o       Data movement
o        Data storage and retrieval
o        Data sorting
o        Text searching and matching
 
Output
·         Computer systems has the ability to send processed data to outside the system in a form that can
be understood by the outside word
·         Example of output devices include:
o        Screen
o        Printer
o        Network
 
Storage
·         Computer systems has the ability to store data and programs temporarily and permanently
·         Computer systems provide a hierarchy of storage mechanism
o        Memory for short-term and temporary storage
o        Secondary storage devices (e.g. Hard Disk) for long-term and permanent storage

Components of the Computer System

·         The computer system consists of 4 primary components to implement the IPO(S) model

o        Hardware component
o        Software component
o        Data component
o        Communication component
·         The hardware, communication, system software, and data representation components makes up
the architecture of the computer system
·         The data content and the application software are not part of the architecture
 
The Hardware Component
·         The hardware forms the tangible physical part of the system
·         Hardware devices are provided for
o        Accept input data         performed by input devices, examples: keyboard, mouse
o        Present output data     performed by output devices, examples: screen, printer
o        Process data                 performed by the Central Processing Unit (CPU)
o        Store data
§         Memory to store programs and data while processing  (i.e. temporary storage)
§         Secondary storage devices to hold programs and data permanently
·         The collection of CPU, Memory, Secondary storage devices, Input devices, and Output devices
forms the hardware component of a computer system
·         Large and small computers only differ in the speed and capacity of the above components
·         Detailed coverage of the Hardware Component is provided in chapters 6 through 12
 
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
·         CPUs vary in their design, complexity, performance, capability, and computing power
·         Modern CPUs typically supports advanced computing features (e.g. pipeline, cache memory, etc.)
·         However, a simplistic organization view of a typical CPU consists mainly of 3 primary sub-units:
o        Arithmetic/Logic unit (ALU)
§         Perform logical and arithmetic operations
o        Control unit (CU) 
§         Decode instructions
§         Control and manage instruction execution
§         Control data movement within the CPU
o        Interface unit
§         Interconnect the CPU with memory, I/O devices, and possibility other CPUs
§         Interface for moving instructions and data between the CPU and other devices
 
Memory
·         Also called primary storage or working storage, or Random Access Memory (RAM)
·         Main purpose is to store programs and data for access by the CPU while processing
·         Store program concept is a computing concept where programs and data are stored in memory
while processed by the CPU
·         Memory consists of large number of storage cells, sequentially numbered, and individually
addressable
·         The basic size of the cell is typically 8-bits (i.e. byte)
·         Neighboring cells can be grouped to store complex or large size data type
 
The Software Component
·         Software consists of programs that tell the computer system what to do
·         Software is categorized into 2 different types
o        System software          also known as the Operating System (OS)
o        Application software
·         The operating system is an essential part of the computer architecture
·         It is the first piece of software to be executed when the computer system is turned on
·         It consists of a set of programs and utilities to manage the operations of the computer system
·         The Operating System architecture is covered in chapters 14 through 19 (only chapters 14 and 16
are covered in this course)
 
The Data Component
·         Data processing can be considered as the principle existence of computers
·         Computers store and process data in binary (i.e. 1’s and 0’s)
·         However, data can take on many different formats (e.g. numeric, text, graphic, video, voice, etc.)
·         The data component is covered in chapters 2 through 5
 
The Communication Component
·         The communication component is a set of hardware and software to tie computer systems
together into a data network
·         Data networks enables computers to:
o        Share data and programs
o        Work collectively to perform a certain task (i.e. distributed processing)
·         The software part of the communication component is called protocols
·         Protocols defines the rules that makes it possible for each computer to understand what the other
computers are saying
·         The communication component will not be covered in this course
 
The Computer System
·         It is interesting to note that the basic architecture of the computer is remarkably similar regardless
the name, size, or the type of the system
·         In a general term, every computer consists of
o        CPU                for processing (i.e. executing instructions)
o        Memory         for storing programs and data during processing
o        I/O devices    for data input and output
·         If we compare the IBM S/390 with a laptop Personal Computer, we will notice the difference to
be one of magnitude and not concept
·         This similarity allow the different types of computers to communicate, share data, and work
together
·         Computers are used be categorized based on their size:
o        Mainframe
o        Minicomputer
o        Workstation
o        Personal Computer
·         In recent years, this division became less significant
·         Computers are now often described by their capabilities and applications:
o        WEB server
o        Database and mining server
o        Desktop and Laptop computers
o        Parallel super computer

Computer Architecture History

·         It is difficult to precisely determine the date of the computer invention

·         However, computers have passed through lengthy and extensive evolution process that dates back
to approximately 200 years ago
·         Blaise Pascal invented a calculating machine in 1642
·         In 1801, Joseph Marie Jacquard invented a loom that used punched card to control pattern
drawing into cloths
·         In the same period, Charles Babbage, and English mathematician, invented a calculating
machined called the analytical engine
·         The analytical engine resembles the modern computer in many conceptual ways
o        Implements the IPO concept
o        Has input data mechanism
o        Has memory for storing programs
o        Has “CPU” for executing the program called mill
o        Has mechanism for printing output data
·         In the same period, George Boole, invented the binary logic theory called Boolean Logic
·         Modern digital computers and electronic hardware are based on the Boolean logic concept
·         In late 1930 and early 1940 many independently developed models of the modern digital
computer
·         The Mark I machine was built in 1937 using thousands of binary switches (huge electronic
boxes)
·         In 1939, the first totally electronic digital computer, called ABC, was built
·         The ABC machine was built off electronic vacuum tubes and was binary-based
·         The ABC machines architecture consists of
o        Arithmetic/logic unit                 perform addition and subtraction arithmetic
o        Rotating drum memory              capable of storing 30 binary numbers each with 50 bits
o        Punch card                                   numeric data input (each card stores 5 15-digit decimal
numbers)
 
·         Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was built between 1943 and 1946
by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert with the following features:
o        Memory with storage of 20 numbers with 20-digits each
o        ROM capable of storing additional 100 numbers
o        Decimal arithmetic calculations
o        Vacuum tube binary switching
o        Punch card input
o        Printing device
o        Contains 18,000 vacuum tubes, occupy 15,000 square feet, and weighted more than 30
tons
·         ENIAC is generally considered as the first all-electronic digital computer
·         In 1945, John von Neumann, propose few fundamental improvements to the ENIAC design
o        Memory that can hold both code and data
o        Binary processing and storage of data to simplify the computer design
o        CPU that includes an ALU, memory, and CU components
o        I/O handling mechanism
o        Instruction set
 
·         John von Neumann improvements provided the foundation for the modern computer architecture
·         In 1951-1952 EDVAC and IAS computers was build based on John von Neumann concepts
·         The success of EDVAC and IAS led to the development of the first commercial computer by IBM
·         Modern computer design still reflect the work done on the ABC, ENIAC, EDVAC, and IAS
concepts
·         Today small, sophisticated, and high performance computers was made possible by the invention
of the transistor and the integrated circuit
·         New inventions in the computer technology is mainly concerned with improving the performance
and capacity of the computer and not necessary changing the basic architecture
·         Operating system software advancements was made to take advantage of improvements in the
hardware technology
·         Operating systems went through many important improvements:
o        From early mainframe single-user batch processing
o        To today’s interactive, multi-tasking, multi-user, multi-processing, networked,
distributed processing, graphical user interface, and multimedia