A unified HW/SW interface model to remove discontinuities between HW and SW design

ABSTRACT

One major challenge in System-on-Chip (SoC) design is the definition and design of interfaces between hardware and software. Traditional ASIC designer and software designer model HW/SW interface twice. Using two separate models introduces a discontinuity between hardware and software. This paper introduces a unified HW/SW component model to describe different parts of HW/SW interface at different abstraction levels. The benefits of using the proposed model are two fold: first, it provides a single model to present system design from abstract specification to mixed HW/SW implementation and second, it enables full system simulation at different abstraction level during refinement flow.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.4 INPUT/OUTPUT AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS
      B.4.2 Input/Output Devices

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Languages, Standardization

Keywords:
embedded systems, hardware dependent software, hardware/software interfaces