University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

BROAD: bold and reliable online approximate computing framework for diverse applications

Zhong, Liulin

Content Files
Liulin_Zhong.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/72789

Description

Title
BROAD: bold and reliable online approximate computing framework for diverse applications
Author(s)
Zhong, Liulin
Issue Date
2015-01-21
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Kumar, Rakesh
Department of Study
Electrical & Computer Eng
Discipline
Electrical & Computer Engr
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2015-01-21T19:48:13Z
Keyword(s)
  • Approximate Computing
  • Performance
  • Reliability
  • Design
Abstract
Approximate computing is an emerging computing paradigm that leverages the inherent resilience of applications while designing energy-efficient computing systems. Approximate computing systems must satisfy user-provided requirements for quality of service (QoS), a quantitative criterion imposed on the output of an application such that the output is qualitatively useful. Previous software frameworks for approximate computing rely on the assumptions that approximation errors do not propagate through applications and that occasional QoS violations are acceptable. In this thesis, we explore the application of software approximations to applications for which these assumptions do not hold. We also observe that to avoid unacceptable QoS degradation (i.e., degradation beyond the QoS requirement), previous frameworks had to include a static approximation level guardband, which reduces the benefits to energy-efficiency. We propose BROAD, a Bold and Reliable Online Approximate Computing Framework for Diverse Applications. BROAD explicitly provides a checkpoint/rollback mechanism to allow applications to recover from QoS violations and error accumulation. The checkpoint/rollback mechanism further obviates BROAD from having a static approximation level guardband by allowing BROAD to operate near the QoS requirement without concern for permanent QoS degradation.
Graduation Semester
2014-12
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/72789
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2014 Liulin Zhong

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dissertations and Theses in Electrical and Computer Engineering