A system-level reuse methodology for embedded data-dominated applications

Abstract

This paper presents a system-level reuse methodology for data-dominated applications. A formalism is developed that structures the algorithmic specification in parts combining arithmetic and low-level control constructs that can be reused at the structural VHDL level without change and parts that combine the costly data-access-related constructs which are kept at higher levels in the code hierarchy. In this way, they retain the essential part of the design exploration freedom such that a global system-level data transfer and storage exploration phase can still be applied. The important power and area savings resulting from our approach compared to a traditional approach with fully predefined reusable blocks, are illustrated on examples of the video and modem world.