Exploiting the model-driven engineering approach to improve design space exploration of embedded systems
Marcio F. S. Oliveira, Ronaldo Rodrigues Ferreira, Francisco Assis de Oliveira Nascimento, Franz Josef Rammig, Flávio Rech Wagner · 2009
This paper proposes a design space abstraction, in order to decouple the exploration algorithm from the design space, which allows the application of the design space exploration (DSE) tool in different design scenarios and is appropriate for representing simultaneous and interdependent design alternative. From this new abstraction, the Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) approach is exploited to extract design information and compose the design space to be explored. Our approach uses model-to-model transformation rules as DSE constraints, which prune the available design space. These constraints are automatically generated from the UML model by translating design decisions pre-specified in UML diagrams into model transformation rules. In addition, non-functional requirements specified in UML as stereotypes are used to generate constraints in order to remove invalid solutions proposed during the DSE process. Finally, our approach offers an easy way for the designer to extend the set of constraints by using a well-accepted MDE toolset. A real application running on top of an MPSoC is used as case study to illustrate the proposed method.