System-Level Design Methodology for Embedded Signal Processors
Edward A. Lee · 1997
This project focuses on design methodology for complex real-time systems in which a variety of design methodologies and implementation technologies must be combined. Design methodologies are encapsulated in models of computation, whereas implementation technologies are implemented as synthesis tools. Applications that use more than one model of computation and/or more than one synthesis tool are heterogeneous. Hardware/software codesign is one example of heterogeneous design. 2. Technical Approach The key idea in the Ptolemy project is to mix models of computation, implementation languages, and design styles, rather than trying to develop one all-encompassing technique. The rationale is that specialized design techniques are (1) more useful to the system-level designer and (2) more amenable to high-quality high-level synthesis of hardware and software. 3. Technical Contributions We support heterogeneity by defining formal models of computation such as dataflow and finite-state machines at arbitrary levels of granularity, hierarchical mechanisms to compose models into complex systems, and algorithms to synthesize systems in hardware and software. We address: • Algorithm Specification: graphical/algebraic specification [1]; algorithm restructuring [1]