 Review Questions

 1.1. What, in general terms, is the distinction between computer

organization and computer architecture?
 1.2. What, in general terms, is the distinction between computer structure
COA-Chapter One. and computer function?
 1.3. What are the four main functions of a computer?
 1.4. List and briefly define the main structural components of a computer.
 1.5. List and briefly define the main structural components of a processor.
In describing computers, a distinction is often made between computer
architecture and computer organization.
Computer architecture refers to those attributes of a system visible to a
programmer or, put another way, those attributes that have a direct impact on
the logical execution of a program.
Computer organization refers to the operational units and their
interconnections that realize the architectural specifications.
Examples of architectural attributes include the instruction set, the number of
bits used to represent various data types (e.g., numbers, characters), I/O
mechanisms, and techniques for addressing memory.
Organizational attributes include those hardware details transparent to the
programmer, such as control signals; interfaces between the computer and
peripherals; and the memory technology used
ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE
 For example, it is an architectural design issue whether a computer will
have a multiply instruction.
 It is an organizational issue whether that instruction will be implemented
by a special multiply unit or by a mechanism that makes repeated use of
the add unit of the system.
1.1 STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
 A computer is a complex system; contemporary computers contain millions of elementary
electronic components.
 A hierarchical system is a set of interrelated subsystems, each of the latter, in turn,
hierarchical in structure until we reach some lowest level of elementary subsystem.
 At each level, the system consists of a set of components and their interrelation ships.
 The behavior at each level depends only on a simplified, abstracted characterization of the
system at the next lower level. At each level, the designer is concerned with structure and
function:
○ Structure: The way in which the components are interrelated
○ Function: The operation of each individual component as part of the structure
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION…
 In terms of description, we have two choices: starting at
the bottom and building up to a complete description, or
beginning with a top view and decomposing the system
into its subparts.
 Evidence from a number of fields suggests that the top
down approach is the clearest and most effective
 Function
 Both the structure and functioning of a computer are, in
essence, simple. Figure 1.1 depicts the basic functions that a
computer can perform.
 In general terms, there are only four:
- Data processing
- Data storage
- Data movement
- Control
 Function ………..

 The computer, of course, must be able to process data.

 The data may take a wide variety of forms, and the range of processing
requirements is broad.
 However, we shall see that there are only a few fundamental methods or
types of data processing.
 It is also essential that a computer store data. Even if the computer is
processing data on the fly (i.e., data come in and get processed, and the
results go out immediately), the computer must temporarily store at least
those pieces of data that are being worked on at any given moment.
 Thus, there is at least a short-term data storage function.
 Equally important, the computer performs a long-term data storage function.
Files of data are stored on the computer for subsequent retrieval and
update.
Function ………..

 The computer must be able to move data between itself and the
outside world.
 The computer’s operating environment consists of devices that serve
as either sources or destinations of data.
 When data are received from or delivered to a device that is directly
connected to the computer, the process is known as input–output (I/O),
and the device is referred to as a peripheral.
 When data are moved over longer distances, to or from a remote
device, the process is known as data communications.
 Finally, there must be control of these three functions.
 Ultimately, this control is exercised by the individual(s) who provides
the computer with instructions.
 Within the computer, a control unit manages the computer’s
resources and orchestrates the performance of its functional parts in
response to those instructions.
Function ……..

 At this general level of discussion, the number of possible

operations that can be performed is few.
 Figure 1.2 depicts the four possible types of operations.
 The computer can function as a data movement device (Figure
1.2a), simply transferring data from one peripheral or
communications line to another.
 It can also function as a data storage device (Figure 1.2b), with
data transferred from the external environment to computer
storage (read) and vice versa (write).
 The final two diagrams show operations involving data
processing, on data either in storage (Figure 1.2c) or en route
between storage and the external environment (Figure 1.2d).
Function ……..
 Structure
 Figure 1.3 is the simplest possible depiction of a computer.
 The computer interacts in some fashion with its external
environment. In general, all of its linkages to the external
environment can be classified as peripheral devices or
communication lines.
 We will have something to say about both types of linkages.
 But of greater concern in this book is the internal structure of
the computer itself, which is shown in Figure 1.4.
There are four main structural components:
1) Central processing unit (CPU): Controls the operation of the
computer and performs its data processing functions; often
simply referred to as processor.
2) Main memory: Stores data.
3) I/O: Moves data between the computer and its external
environment.
4) System interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for
communication among CPU, main memory, and I/O.
5) A common example of system interconnection is by means of a
system bus, consisting of a number of conducting wires to which
all the other components attach.
The Computer top level structure
 Structure…..
 Each of these components will be examined in some detail in Part Two.
However, for our purposes, the most interesting and in some ways the most
complex component is the CPU.
 Its major structural components are as follows:
 Control unit: Controls the operation of the CPU and hence the computer
 Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU): Performs the computer’s data processing
functions
 Registers: Provides storage internal to the CPU
 CPU interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for communication
among the control unit, ALU, and registers