Engineering the Complex SOC (ePub)

Engineering the Complex SOCThe first unified hardware/software guide to processor-centric SOC designProcessor-centric approaches enable SOC designers to complete far larger projects in far less time. Engineering the Complex SOCis a comprehensive, example-driven guide to creating designs with configurable, extensible processors. Drawing upon Tensilica's Xtensa architecture and TIE language, Dr. Chris Rowen systematically illuminates the issues, opportunities, and challenges of processor-centric design.Rowen introduces a radically new design methodology, then covers its essential techniques: processor configuration, extension, hardware/software co-generation, multiple processor partitioning/communication, and more. Coverage includes: Why extensible processors are necessary: shortcomings of current design methods; Comparing extensible processors to traditional processors and hardwired logic; Extensible processor architecture and mechanisms of processor extensibility; Latency, throughput, coordination of parallel functions, hardware interconnect options, management of design complexity, and other issues; Multiple-processor SOC architecture for embedded systems; Task design from the viewpoints of software andhardware developers; Advanced techniques: implementing complex state machines, task-to-task synchronization, power optimization, and more; Toward a "sea of processors": Long-term trends in SOC design and semiconductor technology.For all architects, hardware engineers, software designers, and SOC program managers involved with complex SOC design; and for all managers investing in SOC designs, platforms, processors, or expertise.