Improving SoC design flow by means of MDA and UML profiles (original) (raw)
Related papers
Integrating the SysML and the SystemC-UML profiles in a model-driven embedded system design flow
Design Automation for Embedded Systems, 2012
Modern embedded systems development, due to systems complexity and multifaceted nature, requires flexible high-level design techniques and notations. In this context, model-driven approaches are gaining popularity, both in industry as well as in academy, since they offer a high degree of abstraction and provide a common framework for the design, simulation and configuration management of complex heterogeneous systems. Moreover, a great variety of languages have been emerging as customization (or profiles) of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) for the embedded system and System-on-Chip (SoC) domains.
Combining SystemC, IP-XACT and UML/MARTE in model-based SoC design
2011
Modern SoC design may rely on models, or on highlevel description languages. Although very close, the benefits obtained from either sides can be substantially different (and mismatch may occur). The IP-Xact formalism, now a standard (IEEE 1685), was introduced to help assemble component IP from distinct sources into an integrated design. Components could be expressed in high-level HDLs such as SystemC, so should be the full design after translation. Experience shows that in fact this is hardly the case, specially in publicly available methods and tools. The present contribution goes one step into linking SystemC designs to their IP-Xact structural representation by translation. It then exports the resulting IP-Xact model into the UML/MARTE profile modeling framework, to allow to annotating existing models with additional information (again in a publicly available fashion, as opposed to vendor extensions). Even if our approach is still far from being complete, it bridges a number of gaps induce by the combined uses of SystemC and IP-Xact.
A SoC design methodology involving a UML 2.0 profile for SystemC
2005
Abstract In this paper, we present a SoC design methodology joining the capabilities of UML and SystemC to operate at system-level. We present a UML 2.0 profile of the SystemC language, exploiting the MDA capabilities of defining modeling languages, platform independent and reducible to platform dependent languages. The UML profile captures both the structural and the behavioral features of the SystemC language, and allows high level modeling of system-on-a-chip with straightforward translation to SystemC code.
A SoC design flow based on UML 2.0 and SystemC
2005
Abstract. In this paper we show how to improve the system level design flow for System-on-Chip currently used at STMicroelectronics exploiting the use of lightweight modeling methods, like UML, to be used as higher system-level languages operating in synergy with some other lower level languages, like SystemC. Such an improvement it was possible through the definition of a UML 2.0 profile for SystemC.
A Model-driven Co-design Flow for Embedded Systems
Advances in Design and Specification Languages for Embedded Systems
The UML (Unified Modeling Language), with the enhancements in UML 2.0, is receiving interest by an increasing number of industrial and academic groups from the EDA, embedded software and hardware systems, who look at it and at its extension mechanisms as a practical and standard means to define family of languages targeted to specific application domains and levels of abstraction, while providing unification. In the Embedded Systems and SoC (System-on-Chip) area, we defined a model-driven design methodology based on UML 2.0, UML profiles and C/C++/SystemC. In this paper, we extend this design flow in order to support the platform-based design principles. We also present the architecture of a prototype tool, which provides a graphical representation in UML (from a highlevel functional model down to RTL) of hardware and software components, C/C++/SystemC code generation from UML models, and a reverse engineering process from C/C++/SystemC code to UML models.
UML2.0 Profiles for Embedded Systems and Systems On a Chip (SOCs)
Journal of Object Technology, 2009
Recent embedded systems and SOCs design is confronted with the problem of the socalled productivity gap. In order to cope with this problem, authors emphasize on using UML as a system level language, so higher level of abstraction is achieved. However UML in its current form has not yet achieved the maturity necessary to enable its efficient use within current embedded systems and SOCs CAD environments. Consequently a proper tuning of UML to the specificities of such systems has became mandatory. To meet this requirement, many UML profiles have been proposed by both academia and industry. On the other hand enhancements included in UML2.0 has increased UML opportunities to model embedded systems. UML2.0 is qualified to be a component-based which is more suitable for hardware modeling. In this paper we review and compare the most known UML2.0 profiles for embedded systems and SOCs. For each profile, we try to show its defined stereotypes and the corresponding design flow if it exists. We use some objective criteria to highlight the benefits and the pitfalls of each profile.
A UML 2.0 profile for SystemC: toward high-level SoC design
2005
Abstract In this paper we present a UML 2.0 profile for the SystemC language, which is a consistent set of modeling constructs designed to lift both structural and behavioral features (including events and time features) of the SystemC language to UML level. The main target of this profile is to provide a means for software and hardware engineers to improve the current industrial Systems-on-a-Chip (SoC) design methodology joining the capabilities of UML and SystemC to operate at system-level.
Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering, 2009
We employ the principles of model-driven engineering to assist the design of system-on-chip (SoC) architectures. As a concrete example, we look at the MICAS architecture, for which we propose a graphical specification language, defined via metamodeling techniques, that models the architecture at different abstraction levels. Model transformations are defined to support the refinement of MICAS specification towards implementation. In addition, several libraries are put in place, to enable reuse and automation throughout the design process. Tool support for editing the specifications, enforcing their consistency, and for running the transformations is provided via the Coral modeling framework. The approach shows that model-driven engineering can be seen as an enabler in providing computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool support and automation for the development of SoC architectures.
Challenges in Combining SysML and MARTE for Model-Based Design of Embedded Systems
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2009
Using model-based approaches for designing embedded systems helps abstract away unnecessary details in a manner that increases the potential for easy validation and verification, and facilitates reuse and evolution. A common practice is to use UML as the base language, possibly specialized by the so-called profiles. Despite the ever increasing number of profiles being built in many domains, there is still insufficient focus on discussing the issue of combining multiple profiles. Indeed, a single profile may not be adequate to cover all aspects required in the multidisciplinary domain of embedded systems. In this paper, we assess possible strategies for combining the SysML and MARTE profiles in a common modelling framework, while avoiding specification conflicts. We show that, despite some semantic and syntactical overlapping, the two are highly complementary for specifying embedded systems at different abstraction levels. We conclude, however, that a convergence agenda is highly desirable to align some key language features.