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CO101 Lec02 ComputerLevelHierarchy

The document describes the six levels of the computer hierarchy from digital logic circuits at level 0 up to the user level at level 6. Each level provides an abstraction of the lower levels and executes its own instructions by calling on lower levels. The levels progress from basic circuitry and control units to high-level programming languages and the user interface.

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8 views

CO101 Lec02 ComputerLevelHierarchy

The document describes the six levels of the computer hierarchy from digital logic circuits at level 0 up to the user level at level 6. Each level provides an abstraction of the lower levels and executes its own instructions by calling on lower levels. The levels progress from basic circuitry and control units to high-level programming languages and the user interface.

Uploaded by

Nightcore Witch
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Level Hierarchy

Computer Organizations – CO 101 pjvr – 2nd Semester 2020-2021


The Computer Level Hierarchy
Computer system organization uses an approach called the Principle of Abstraction.

DON’T REPEAT YOURSELF.

Writing complex programs requires a “divide and conquer” approach, where each program
module solves a smaller problem.

Complex computer systems employ a similar technique through a series of virtual machine
layers.
▪ Each virtual machine layer is an abstraction of the level below it.
▪ The machines at each level execute their own instructions, calling upon machines at
lower levels to perform tasks as required.
▪ Computer circuits ultimately carry out the work.
Computer Organizations – CO 101 2
The Computer Level Hierarchy
Computer system organization uses an approach called the Principle of Abstraction.

Computer Organizations – CO 101 3


The Computer Level Hierarchy
Level 0: Digital Logic Level
- This level is where we find digital circuits (the chips).
– Digital circuits consist of gates and wires.
– These components implement the
mathematical logic of all other levels.

Level 1: Control Level


– A control unit decodes and executes instructions and moves data through the system.
– Control units can be microprogrammed or hardwired.
– A microprogram is a program written in a low-level language that is implemented by the
hardware.
– Hardwired control units consist of hardware that directly executes machine instructions.

Computer Organizations – CO 101 4


The Computer Level Hierarchy
Level 2: Machine Level
– Also known as the Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) Level
– Consists of instructions that are particular to the architecture of the machine.
– Programs written in machine language need no compilers, interpreters, or
assemblers.

Level 3: System Software Level


– Controls executing processes on the system.
– Protects system resources.
– Assembly language instructions often pass through Level 3 without modification.

Computer Organizations – CO 101 5


The Computer Level Hierarchy
Level 4: Assembly Language Level
– Acts upon assembly language produced From Level 5, as well as instructions programmed directly
at this level.

Level 5: High-Level Language Level


– The level with which we interact when we write programs in languages such as C, Pascal,
Lisp, and Java.

. Computer Organizations – CO 101 6


The Computer Level Hierarchy
Level 5: High-Level Language Level
– The level with which we interact when we write programs in languages such as C, Pascal,
Lisp, and Java.

Computer Organizations – CO 101 7


The Computer Level Hierarchy
Level 6: The User Level
– Program execution and user interface level.
– The level with which we are most familiar.
.

Computer Organizations – CO 101 8


Quiz

tinyurl.com/comporgq02

Computer Organizations – CO 101 9

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