Formalized three-layer system-level model and reuse methodology forembedded data-dominated applications

摘要

In embedded data-dominated applications, a global system-levelndata transfer and storage exploration phase is crucial in obtaining ancost- and performance-efficient solution. We have developed a novelnformalism to describe reusable blocks such that the essential part ofnthe design exploration freedom is retained. This formalism is the basisnfor a system-level reuse methodology which allows reusing large parts ofnthe design as heavily optimized structural VHDL or assembly code andndescribes the costly data access-related constructs at higher levels innthe code hierarchy. Compared to a reuse approach based on fixed blocks,nconsiderable power and area savings can be obtained, as demonstrated onnreal-life video and modem applications