Jack Whitham

		JACK WHITHAM PhD MEng Professional Activities - Publications - Software - Articles

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Professional Activities

An overview and a detailed list of my recent activities at work.

Publications

A list of my peer-reviewed academic publications; most are available for download.

Software

Software written by myself, not necessarily work-related.

Articles

Written works that are not formal publications.

Personal Details

Address:
Jack Whitham
Real-time Systems Group
Sally Baldwin Buildings, SBD118
University of York
Heslington, York, YO10 5DD
United Kingdom

dob. 5.4.1981
Nationality: British
Age: 29

Email Address

Personal Statement

Following the completion of my PhD in real-time embedded systems, I am working as a research associate at the University of York.

I enjoy challenging work that allows me to apply research and technical skills. I welcome opportunities for industrial and research experience in the fields of embedded systems, hardware design and real-time systems.

Education

2004-2008 Real-time Systems Group, Computer Science Department, University of York
Full-time PhD course:
My PhD thesis examines the problem of worst-case execution time (WCET) reduction for real-time embedded software. A configurable CPU architecture with highly predictable timing is proposed, designed, implemented and tested, using simulation models written in C and Python, and FPGA hardware models written in VHDL. An extension to the implicit path enumeration technique (IPET) for WCET analysis is combined with an implementation of trace scheduling targeted at a wide "trace scratchpad" allow execution times to be reduced without dependence on dynamic optimisation technologies such as caches and superscalar issue. The thesis work provided an opportunity to learn about a wide range of previous work in the fields of timing analysis, run-time reconfigurable hardware, embedded systems, CPU design, multi-core architectures and VLIW code generation. I also gained experience in both written and verbal communications by presenting my work to others, and the thesis work helped me to improve time and risk management skills.
Result: Pass with minor corrections.
2000-2004 Computer Science Department, University of York
MEng (Hons) degree course in Computer Systems and Software Engineering:
During this course, I studied algorithms, data structures, digital and analogue electronics, embedded systems, compiler design, cryptology and network security.
Result: First class degree.
1998-1999 Henbury High School Sixth Form, Macclesfield
1999 A-Level Results: Physics (A), Chemistry (A), Mathematics (A), General Studies (A).
1993-1997 Henbury High School, Macclesfield
1997 GCSE Results: English (A,A*), Mathematics (A*), Information Systems (A), Science (A*A*), CDT and Electronics (A), Expressive Arts (A*), French (A), History (A).
1992-1993 Kings School, Macclesfield

Employment and Work Experience

2008- Computer Science Department, University of York (Research associate)
2004-2007 Computer Science Department, University of York (Part-time work)
Worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for courses on embedded systems, electronics, compiler design and C programming. This involved providing undergraduate students with help and advice as they worked on written problems, programs and electronic hardware. The work helped me to develop my communication skills.
2003 Computer Science Department, University of York (Summer work)
Working with another student, I helped to develop a toolkit using VHDL and Handel C for Xilinx FPGAs to support an embedded systems course. The development work required regular interaction with the lecturer teaching the course.
2002 Thales Underwater Systems, Cheadle Heath (Summer work)
The majority of my work was concerned with developing a test tool for a sonar system, written in C++ using STL. The tool generated dummy data that could be used to drive a user interface, replacing a DSP-based real-time sonar data processing system. It was important to understand both the operation of the sonar system and the user interface in order to do this, so my work led me to do a great deal of research within the company, working with mathematicians, user interface designers, and DSP programmers.
2001 IBM UK Software Laboratory, Hursley (Summer work)
Worked as a part of a world-wide team on part of a Java management toolkit for various IBM products. My part of the project involved developing some middleware to connect the Java-based management framework to some legacy software on the AIX platform, which required me to learn about using both Java Native Methods, and Java Management Extensions - a recent addition to the Java specification.
1999-2000 IBM UK Software Laboratory, Hursley (Gap year work)
Worked for the Voice Systems group, initially as a software tester of the DirectTalk for AIX product. This helped me improve my Unix/AIX skills. Later, worked as part of a small team on the development of a GUI to allow easier set-up of DirectTalk systems for IBM customers. Written in C, the GUI used Motif on the X Window System, and provided a front end to a DB/2 database.
1999 Lincoln Software Ltd., Macclesfield (Vacation work)
1998 Lincoln Software Ltd., Macclesfield (Work experience)
1996 Spectus, Macclesfield (Work experience)
1995-1997 Data Capture Handheld Ltd (Vacation work)

Computer Skills

Operating Systems: Competent with Linux, AIX, Solaris and Microsoft platforms.
Software Programming Languages: Fluent in C, C++ and Python, having used all three for commercial and research software engineering. Competent in Java and Ada along with Z80, ARM, OpenRISC and Microblaze assembly code, Perl and Unix shell scripting.
Hardware Programming Languages and Tools: Fluent in VHDL. Familiar with Xilinx ISE and EDK tools (IDE and command-line). Competent in Verilog.
Other skills: Power user of standard office software, such as Latex, Word, Lotus Notes, Excel, Quattro Pro, Wordperfect, and Lotus 123. Good understanding of IBM DB/2 and MySQL databases.

Publications

Studying the Applicability of the Scratchpad Memory Management Unit
    IEEE Real-time and Embedded Technology and Applications Symposium, 2010
Implementing Time-predictable Load and Store Operations
    Int'l Conference on Embedded Software, 2009
Using Hardware Methods to Improve Time-predictable Performance in Real-time Java Systems
    Int'l Workshop on Java Technologies for Real-time and Embedded Systems, 2009
Predictable Out-of-order Execution Using Virtual Traces
    IEEE Real-time Systems Symposium, 2008
Forming Virtual Traces for WCET Analysis and Reduction
    IEEE Embedded and Real-Time Computing Systems and Applications, 2008
Traces as a Solution to Pessimism and Modeling Costs in WCET Analysis
    Int'l Workshop on Worst-Case Execution Time Analysis, 2008
Using Trace Scratchpads to Reduce Execution Times in Predictable Real-Time Architectures
    IEEE Real-time and Embedded Technology and Applications Symposium, 2008
Limitations of Adaptable Systems for WCET Reduction
    Workshop on Adaptive and Reconfigurable Embedded Systems, 2008
MCGREP - A Predictable Architecture for Embedded Real-time Systems
    IEEE Real-time Systems Symposium, 2006
Integrating Custom Instruction Specifications into C Development Processes
    Applied Reconfigurable Computing, 2006

Interests

Film Worked as a projectionist at the University of York's award winning student cinema society.
Music A wide range of musical tastes spanning classical, industrial and electronic music.
Books Enjoy science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.
Software Have contributed to the development of various open source software projects.

Other Achievements

Awards I won a Best Student Paper award from the IEEE Real-time Systems Symposium 2006 for a paper based on my PhD research.
Driving licence Clean UK driving licence since November 1998.


		Copyright (C) Jack Whitham 1997-2010