Undergraduate Program Subject Outline

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences

http://my.uowdubai.ac.ae

SUBJECT CODE: ECTE331      SUBJECT NAME: REAL-TIME EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

SESSION: SPRING YEAR: 2020 SECTION: N.A.
NO OF CREDIT POINTS: 6
PRE-REQUISITE(S): ECTE233 & CSCI291 CO-REQUISITE(S): N.A.
FINAL EXAM PASSING REQUIREMENT:40%

LECTURE INFORMATION

Day: Sunday
Time: 8:30 – 10:30
Location: Block 14 Room 1.25

TUTORIAL INFORMATION
Tutorial
Day: Tuesday
Time: 12:30 – 14:30
Location: Block 14 Room 2.08

COMPUTER LAB INFORMATION

Computer Lab A
Day: Monday
Time: 8:30 – 10:30
Location: Block 5 Room 1.39

TEACHING STAFF INFORMATION

Lecturer’s Name & Subject Abdsamad Benkrid

Coordinator:
Building & Office No: Block 15 Office 1.24
E-mail Address: abdsamadbenkrid@uowdubai.ac.ae
Consultation Days and Times: Thursdays , 11:30-13:30
     
Tutor’s Name: Kiyan Afsari
Building & Office No: Block 5 Office 127
E-mail Address: abigailcopiaco@uowdubai.ac.ae

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 1
 Consultation Days and Times: TBA

1 SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
This subject enables students to analyse, design and implement real-time embedded systems. The subject will
consider topics including multi-tasking, real-time networking and communications, real-time operating systems,
timing analysis, pre-emptive and non-pre-emptive scheduling, and real-time programming languages. In particular,
material will address embedded devices such as mobile phones and other internet-aware devices. The subject
initially familiarises students with the fundamentals of programming for real-time embedded systems. A laboratory
will provide students with guided experiments that investigate the opportunities and challenges of programming on
embedded devices and platforms.

2 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this subject, a student should be able to:

1. Design and implement a program for a real-time engineering problem;
2. Deploy embedded systems in real-time applications;
3. Debug and troubleshoot embedded programs; and
4. Demonstrate appropriate practical laboratory and problem solving skills.

3 SUBJECT SCHEDULE
3.1 LECTURE
Session Lecture Topic(s) Related Text Chapter(s)

1 Real-time Systems Introduction Burns & Wellings ch. 1, 2

2 RTS Modeling & Introduction to Java n.a.

3 Java & Object-Oriented Principles n.a.

4 Handling Exceptions Burns & Wellings ch. 3

5 Concurrent Programming Burns & Wellings ch. 4

6 Synchronization and Communication Burns & Wellings ch. 5, 6

7 Jamaica Java and RTSJ Burns & Wellings ch. 10, 14

8 Memory Management Burns & Wellings ch. 14

9 Clocks and Time, Scheduling and Schedulable Objects Burns & Wellings ch. 9, 11, 12

10 Asynchronous Events and Handlers, Real-time Threads Burns & Wellings ch. 3

11 Resource Control, Schedulability Analysis Burns & Wellings ch. 8

12 Asynchronous Transfer of Control Burns & Wellings ch. 7

13 Revision n.a.

3.2 TUTORIAL/LAB
Session Tutorial/Computer Lab Activities Tests/ Assignments
2 Tutorial 1 / Lab 1a      
3 Tutorial 2 / Lab 1b      
4 Tutorial 3 / Lab 2a      
5 Tutorial 4 / Lab 2b      

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 2
 6 Tutorial 5 / Lab 3a
7 Tutorial 6 / Lab 3b Midterm Exam
8 Tutorial 7 / Lab 4a
9 Tutorial 8 / Lab 4b
10 Tutorial 9 / Lab 5a
11 Tutorial 10 / Lab 5b
12 Tutorial 11 /
13 Programming Assignment Submission

4 TEXTS
4.1 REQUIRED TEXTS
No Text.

Required texts can be purchased from the University Bookshop located in Block 5 Ground Floor.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: The University of Wollongong in Dubai complies with UAE Federal Law No. (7) of 2002
pertaining to Copyrights and Neighboring Rights. Severe penalties apply for copyright violations. No copied
materials will be allowed on campus, except where permitted as per UAE Federal Law No. (7) of 2002. Any copied
materials that violate UAE Laws or UOWD Policies will be confiscated in the first instance and disciplinary actions
may be taken against the person(s) involved.

4.2 RECOMMENDED READINGS

Real-Time Systems and Programming Languages (Fourth Edition) Ada 2005, Real-Time Java and C/Real-Time
POSI, Alan Burns and Andy Wellings, April 2009, Addison Wesley Longmain, ISBN: 978-0-321-41745-9

Concurrent and Real-Time Programming in Java,Andy Wellings, Published by Wiley, 2004, ISBN 0-470-84437-X

Real-Time Java Programming: With Java RTSJun 1, 2009 by Eric J. Bruno and Greg Bollella, ISBN-13:
978-0137142989, ISBN-10: 0137142986

Real-Time Embedded Components and Systems with Linux and RTOS (Engineering) 2nd Edition, Sam Siewert
and John Pratt, ISBN-13: 978-1942270041,ISBN-10: 1942270046

Java for Engineers and Scientists, S. Chapman, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2003.

All of the recommended readings above are available at the UOWD Library located on the first floor in Block 14.

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 3
 4.3 LECTURE NOTES
All teaching materials can be downloaded from Moodle: https://moodle.uowplatform.edu.au/

5 ASSESSMENT
5.1 ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning Outcome Measures (Elements of Assessment)

Design and implement a program for a Final Exam, Midterm Exam, Programming Assignment, Continuous
real-time engineering problem; Assessment
Deploy embedded systems in real-time Final Exam, Midterm Exam, Programming Assignment, Continuous
applications; Assessment
Debug and troubleshoot embedded
Programming Assignment, Continuous Assessment
programs; and
Demonstrate appropriate practical Final Exam, Midterm Exam, Programming Assignment, Continuous
laboratory and problem solving skills. Assessment

5.2 ASSESSMENT TASKS SUMMARY

Assessment Task Weight Date

Continuous Assessment 10% 5 laboratory sessions from Week 2 to 11.

Programming Assignment 20% Submission during Week 13.

Midterm Exam 20% 2 hours, Week 7.

Final Exam 50% 3 hours, during University Exam Period.

5.3 ASSESSMENT TASKS

Assessment Task: Continuous Assessment (5 sessions)

Type: Individual
Description: In-lab and progress on assigned tasks and written quiz.
Learning Outcome Measured: 1, 2, 3, 4
Total Marks: 60
Weighting: 10%

OUTLINE AND REQUIREMENTS

Method: Individual assessment of in-lab and progress on assigned tasks within the scheduled sessions.
Aim: This assessment ascertains the real-time system design skills working on practical implementation tasks.
Outcomes: Students should be able to implement and verify programs for embedded systems given a set of
functional specification and requirements.
MARKING CRITERIA
Students will be marked according to effort and progress in implementing and testing their programs. Evaluation is
based on question sheet distributed in the last 30 minutes of the second lab session.

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 4
 Assessment Task: Programming Assignment
Type: Individual
Description: Java Real-time Multithreading Application, project files and report
online submission.
Learning Outcome Measured: 1, 2, 3, 4
Total Marks: 100
Weighting: 20%
Due Date: Week 13

OUTLINE AND REQUIREMENTS

Method: Individual project on design and implementation of a Java Multithreading application with real-time
constraints, online submission of soft copy of project files and report.
Aim: This assessment ascertains the real-time system design skills working on practical implementation tasks.
Outcomes: Students should be able to implement and verify programs for embedded systems given a set of
functional specification and requirements.
MARKING CRITERIA
The projects are marked based on implementation functionality, presentation and documentation.

Assessment Task: Midterm Exam

Type: Individual
Description: Written exam paper with open-ended questions and problems.
Learning Outcome Measured: 1, 2, 4
Total Marks: 100
Weighting: 20%
Due Date: Week 7

OUTLINE AND REQUIREMENTS

Method: Individual written exam including open-ended questions and problems.
Aim: This assessment ascertains the level of understanding of ream-time embedded systems principles of
operation and design.
Outcomes: Students should be able to solve, in an examination environment, a variety of design, analysis, and
implementation problems, proving competencies for individual assessment.
MARKING CRITERIA
Students will be marked according to the correctness, work, and reasoning of the response.

Assessment Task: Final Exam

Learning Outcome Measured: 1, 2, 4
Total Marks: 100
Weighting: 50%
Date: To be held during the official examination period. Please refer to the
Exam Timetable available on the Student Online Resources website
(http://my.uowdubai.ac.ae) closer to the exam period.

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 5
 5.4 GRADES AWARDED
The approved grades of performance and associated ranges of marks for undergraduate subjects are:
High Distinction (HD) 85 – 100%
Distinction (D) 75 – 84%
Credit (C) 65 – 74%
Pass (P) 50 – 64%
Pass Supplementary(PS) 50%
Fail (F) 0 – 49%(and not meeting the attendance requirements)
Technical Fail (TF) Not meeting the final exam passing requirements – see the Assessment Policy
PP-REG-DB-2.1

5.5 SATISFACTORY COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

In order to be considered for a grade of Pass (P) or better in this subject, students must achieve the minimum
required mark in the Final Examination (see page 1 for required score); students who obtain a composite
mark greater than or equal to 50% but do not satisfy the Final Examination minimum pass requirements in the final
examination will be awarded a “Technical Fail” grade.

Students must ‘reasonably’ complete all assessment tasks (including the required score for the Final
Examination,) and submit these as specified in the subject outline. ‘Reasonable’ completion of an assessment
task will be determined based on the instructions given to the student including: word length, demonstration of
research and analysis where required, adherence to the Plagiarism Policy guidelines, and completion of each
section/component of the assessment. Failure to submit all assessment tasks may result in a Fail grade awarded
for the subject.

6 RELEVANT POLICIES AND DOCUMENTS

All students must read and be familiar with the following UOWD policies and documents, which are available on
the Student Online Resources (my.uowdubai.ac.ae) website by following the Policies link:

● Academic Grievance Policy

● Academic Integrity Policy
● Campus Access and Order Rules
● Code of Conduct – Library Users
● Code of Practice – Students
● Copyright Policy
● Intellectual Property Policy
● Library Regulations
● Minimum Rate of Progress
● Music, Video and Software Piracy
● Non-Discriminatory Language and Practice & Presentation Policy and Guidelines Copyright Policy
● Special Consideration Policy & Procedure
● Student Attendance Policy
● Student Conduct Rules
● Rules for use of UOWD ITTS Facilities
● Tertiary Literacies
● Teaching and Assessment: Code of Practice – Teaching
● Teaching and Assessment: Assessment and Feedback Policy

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 6
 ● Teaching and Assessment: Subject Delivery Policy

7 SSP
SSP (Student Support Program) is a program committed to assisting students in developing their academic
skills and getting the most out of their studies. As part of their services, SSP provides Peer Tutoring Program
and Academic Workshops (https://my.uowdubai.ac.ae/ssd/index.php).

For further information, please contact:

SSP Admin Assistant
Room 032A, Block 5.
ssp@uowdubai.ac.ae

8 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Plagiarism and cheating are serious offences that can lead to expulsion from the university. Students must be
familiar with the Academic Integrity policy which outlines the procedure that will be followed in case of academic
misconduct including cheating and plagiarism. Please refer to How to Avoid Plagiarism available on the Student
Online Resources website (http://my.uowdubai.ac.ae).
8.1 TURNITIN
Students are required to submit all written assignments in soft copy through the TurnItIn system which is available
online at www.turnitin.com. Every student must have a TurnItIn account. Failure to submit an assignment through
TurnItIn will result in marks for that assignment being withheld. Students do NOT need to hand in a printed
copy of the TurnItIn Originality Report. More information about TurnItIn (including how to create an account and
add a class) will be provided in the first lecture. Students can download Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about
TurnItIn from the SSP section of UOWD website
(https://www.uowdubai.ac.ae/academic-resources/student-support-programs).

TurnItIn information required to add this subject:

Class ID:      
Password:      

8.2 REFERENCE & IN-TEXT CITATION

For information about referencing and in-text citation please review the Academic Writing Presentation available on
the Student Online Resources website (http://my.uowdubai.ac.ae).
8.3 UOWD RULES & POLICIES
For information about UOWD Rules and Policies, please go to the Student Online Resources website
(http://my.uowdubai.ac.ae) and click on the POLICIES link.

9 ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance in this subject is compulsory. Failure to attend all tutorials and computer labs as per the Student
Attendance Policy may result in a FAIL grade. Students are strongly encouraged to become familiar with this policy
(which can be found on the Online Resources website at my.uowdubai.ac.ae).

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 7
10 TUTORIAL/COMPUTER LAB ENROLMENTS
All students must sign up for one tutorial and/or computer lab in Week 1. Admission to a tutorial/computer lab will
not be possible unless the student’s name is on the Attendance List for that class. No changes will be allowed
once a student has enrolled in a tutorial/computer lab.

11 SUPPLEMENTARY ASSESSMENTS
A supplementary assessment may be offered to students whose performance in this subject is close (45-49 in the final
examination and 48-49 in the composite score) to that required to pass the subject, and are otherwise identified as
meriting an offer of a supplementary assessment. The precise form of a supplementary assessment will be determined
at the time the offer of a supplementary is made.

ECTE331 Real-time Embedded Systems – Spring 2020 Subject Outline

Page 8