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This paper presents an extensive survey of trends in embedded processor use with an emphasis on emerging applications in wireless communication, multimedia, and general telecommunications. We demonstrate the importance of application-specific instructionset processors (ASIP's) in high-volume, low cost applications. We also examine some of the underlying trends of the applications in which embedded processors are used. This is followed by a description of embedded software development tool requirements. High-performance software compilation emerges as a key requirement. Finally, specific industrial case studies of products in MPEG, videophone, and low-cost digital signal processor (DSP) applications are used to illustrate the architecture design tradeoffs, and highlight specific tool requirements. A companion paper in this issue [1] presents a comprehensive survey of embedded software development tools, focusing mostly on retargetable software compilation.

Abstract. This paper describes the trends in DSP (Digital Signal Processing) for telecommunications design at Bell Northern Research (BNR) 1 and the tools needed to address them. The paper is in three parts: First, we present the results of a three month survey of DSP design practices at BNR. We briefly describe the characteristics of the designs, as well as the DSP design tools used. However, the emphasis is on the main bottlenecks in the design process, and the tools required to address them in the future. Then, we present a proposal for a next generation DSP design environment for telecommunication applications, based on the survey results. Particular emphasis will be given to code generation, system-level simulation, and behavioral synthesis, the three most requested design tools. Finally, we provide a description of FlexWare, an embedded software development system which is being developed internally. This system addresses one important aspect of this next generation environment, namely design tools for application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIP). FlexWare is composed of two main components: CodeSyn, a retargetable microcode synthesis system; and Insulin, a VHDL-based instruction set simulation system.

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International audienceThe increasing use of embedded software, often implemented on a core processor in a single-chip system, is a clear trend in the telecommunications, multimedia, and consumer electronics industries. A companion paper in this issue presents a survey of application and architecture trends for embedded systems in these growth markets. However, the lack of suitable design technology remains a significant obstacle in the development of such systems. One of the key requirements is more efficient software compilation technology. Especially in the case of fixed-point digital signal processor (DSP) cores, it is often cited that commercially available compilers are unable to take full advantage of the architectural features of the processor. Moreover, due to the shorter lifetimes and the architectural specialization of many processor cores, processor designers are often compelled to neglect the issue of compiler support. This situation has resulted in an increased research activity in the area of design tool support for embedded processors. This paper discusses design technology issues for embedded systems using processor cores, with a focus on software compilation tools. Architectural characteristics of contemporary processor cores are reviewed and tool requirements are formulated. This is followed by a comprehensive survey of both existing and new software compilation techniques that are considered important in the context of embedded processors

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