Markus Visarius

An XML format based integration infrastructure for IP based design

IP based design comprises two main steps. First, a suitable IP has to be found. Second, the IP has to undergo further processing before it can be included in existing designs. Since IP providers use different formats and design tools require different parts of the IP for their services it is hard to find an IP format that satisfies and is exchangeable between all parties. This paper presents such a unified format. It can be used to search for, deliver and exchange IPs between the designer and external IP service providers. A tool chain based on the format was implemented and evaluated. The results prove its applicability.

Self-reconfiguration of communication interfaces

Designers of modern system implementations more and more have to consider the aspect of reconfigurability in their designs. These systems have to cope with changing environments and user requirements. Furthermore, increasing development costs and the high time-to-market pressure require adaptable systems. Introducing reconfigurability mechanisms, different applications can be realized. When functionality is reconfigured, the communication aspect becomes important. In many cases the communication interfaces also have to be reconfigured. In our approach, we suggest a memory-based solution where the interface, which is implemented on a Xilinx FPGA, is reconfigured by a self-triggered reconfiguration process. To realize this process we base our approach on a highly efficient interface architecture template. First case studies show the applicability of our approach.

Generic integration infrastructure for IP-based design processes and tools with a unified XML format

In the field of IP-based design, a SoC designer usually searches for IPs and after he has purchased some, he needs to further process them before they can be included in existing designs. Since IP providers use different formats and design tools require different parts of the IP for their services it is hard to find an IP description format that satisfies and is exchangeable between all parties. This paper presents such a unified format. It can be used to search for, deliver and exchange IPs between the designer and external IP service providers. An integration infrastructure based on the format was implemented and evaluated. The results prove its applicability.

A design methodology for application-specific real-time interfaces

The complexity of embedded systems has increased rapidly during the last years. Several design approaches, including system-level design as well as IP-based design, have improved the design process. The rising number of instantiated components implicates a set of complex interfaces. High-speed data transmission rates, fault tolerance and predictability are key challenges for interface design. Thus high sophisticated interfaces have to be generated with respect to the different applications. In this paper we present a design methodology for application-specific real-time interfaces. The high-level design specification is done in a UML-based formalism. An interface-block (IFB) is derived from this specification. The IFB handles data sequencing and protocol generation. Both parts are controlled hierarchically. Within the IFB all application specific restrictions, channel features, and target platform characteristics are taken into account. Our approach is illustrated by a case study implementing a real-time communication between two interacting robots.

Dynamic reconfiguration of IP based systems

The design of embedded systems is a complex iterative process. To shorten the design cycles, it is useful to utilize suitable intellectual properties (IPs). At some point during the service life of a product, the owner of the product might wish for additional functions in the device, even if the device is still fully functional. This can be realized by the technique of reconfiguration, a capability usually supported by prototyping platforms such as FPGAs. Automation of various portions of the embedded system design process is necessary in order to make effective use of IPs and reconfiguration capabilities. This implies the specification of a new design flow. In this paper we propose such a design flow and describe the mechanisms we developed for automation. We present relevant aspects for composing an optimized system based on IPs and detail the automatic generation of the system implementation on a prototyping platform. Finally, we give an example, which illustrates the applicability of the proposed design flow.

Rapid prototyping of real-time communication. A case study: interacting robots

The implementation of real-time communication within the design of embedded systems is becoming the real system bottleneck. For this reason the evaluation of the communication characteristics is very essential in an early design stage. In this paper we present an evaluation method for real-time communication based on rapid prototyping. Key points are the ISO/OSI layer conform implementation, exchangeable hardware and software modules and the adaptation of a wide range of real-time protocols. These aspects are implemented and illustrated in our case study: two interacting robots with five degrees of freedom each.

A Consistent Design Methodology for Configurable HW/SW-interfaces in Embedded Systems

In the embedded systems domain predictability, fault tolerance and high-speed data transmission rates are key challenges for the interface design. Multiple tasks and channels communicate through different protocols with each other. In this paper we present a consistent design approach for configurable real-time interfaces. An interface design methodology therefore should regard the relationship between distributed tasks, channels and supported protocols within a HW/SW Codesign scenario. The model dependent parameters are important information for this process and are represented in a formal UML-based way. As result of the design process an interface-block (IFB) is generated which considers all these parameters. A complex embedded system in the context of a case study implements a collision avoidance algorithm for two interacting robots. It demonstrates the usability of this concept for an implementation of HW/SW-interfaces with respect to the real-time restrictions..

An IPQ Format based Toolbox to Support IP based Design (Ein IPQ Format basierter Werkzeugsatz zur Unterstützung von IP basiertem Entwurf)

Summury In the field of IP based design, a SoC designer usually searches for IPs and after he has purchased some, he needs to further process them. To support these steps, a unified data exchange format like the IPQ Format is necessary. Based on this format, a toolbox has been developed which makes use of current Web Service technologies. Its concept supports a dynamic set of usable IP related Web Services. This enables the toolbox to be extended at any time without changing the code of the existing tools. It can be used to search for, parameterize, deliver, simulate, exchange IPs, etc. The results prove the applicability of the toolbox in the field of IP based design.