Design Methods for Reactive Real-Time Systems CoDesign

In this paper, we propose adesign methodology for real-time mixed hardware-software system that stresses system design issues rather then specific softwareorhardwareaspects. We propose that aunified mathematical model based on interacting FSMs be used as arepresentation ofthe beha vior. This underlying model is used as the basis to perform all steps ofthe design process, namely verification, simulation, software-hardwarepartitioning synthesis, and technology mapping. The common modelallows thedescription to be technology independent thus enhancingtheflexibility of the design. Our approach is based on the knowledge ofthe techniques used to design embedded controllers for automotive applications and on the synthesis and verification offinite state machi nes. We demonstrate the method on afew examples from the automotive industry.