Abstract—In this paper we present a model of computer architecture. The proposed model uses a triplet to describe the static structures of a computing machine; the more dynamic parts of the architecture are modeled as relations between the triplet components. A recursive formalism of the model is developed to facilitate the hierarchical representation of an entire machine’s architecture or the architecture of its components. A simple, but functional, 8-bit microprocessor architecture is used to show how the formalisms of the model may be applied to existing architectures. Two additional applications of the model are presented to describe microprogramming and virtualization.
Index Terms—Computer architecture, formal models, instruction sets, ISA, microprogramming, virtualization.
C. Mutigwe is with the School of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa 9320 (e-mail: cmutigwe@ ieee.org).
J. Kinyua is with the School of Computer Information Systems, Virginia International University, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA (e-mail: jkinyua@viu.edu).
F. Aghdasi is with the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa 5700 (e-mail: faghdasi@ufh.ac.za).
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Cite:Charles Mutigwe, Johnson Kinyua, and Farhad Aghdasi, "A Model of Computer Architecture with Applications," International Journal of Computer Theory and Engineering vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 683-689, 2013.
