Combining Virtual Benchmarking with Rapid System Prototyping for Real-Time Embedded Multiprocessor Signal Processing System Codesign

The codesign of embedded real-time signal processing systems is complex. The use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) multiprocessor (MP) hardware and software can reduce codesign complexity. Further complexity reduction can be obtained with emerging rapid system prototyping (RSP) frameworks, which can generate deployable code by leveraging vendor communication and computation libraries. However, these RSP frameworks are inadequate in providing a sound specification and design methodology (SDM) because they require the designer to first choose the implementation target before specification and design exploration. We have developed a new SDM known as MAGIC that allows the designer to capture the specification in an executable model that can then be used in design exploration to find the optimal COTS MP technology and architecture before committing to that technology. The MAGIC SDM exploits emerging open-standards based VSIPL computation middleware and MPI communication middleware to provide connectivity between specification and design with RSP frameworks for implementation.