Modeling and Design of Video Codecs Using Ptolemy

The key contribution of this project is a realization of modular, scalable and extensible simulation and design paradigm for video codec based on the system-level modeling and its implementation on extensible framework. To support this new simulation and design paradigm, generic dataaow of video codec system is modeled by homogeneous synchronous dataaow HSDF and implemented on the heterogeneous framework such as Ptolemy. As a result of HSDF modeling, generic video codec is decomposed into ten basic modules which are fully composable. Since the design paradigm is modular and extensible, any video codec standards e.g., H.263, MPEG-4 can be mapped on that basis targeting for various hardware architecture including DSP and ASIP. The developed video codec libraries are dynamically linked to Ptolemy for simulation, and once the codec parameter is xed during simulation level those libraries can be statistically linked for permanent use for design or retargeting level. The models of computation and the proposed design paradigm of video codec algorithm also helps automate partitioning of the design into hardware and software.