High-level system modeling and architecture exploration with SystemC on a network SoC: S3C2510 case study

This paper presents a high-level design methodology applied on a network SoC using SystemC. The topic will emphasize on high-level design approach for intensive architecture exploration and verifying cycle accurate SystemC models comparative to real Verilog RTL models. Unlike many high-level designs, we started the project with working Verilog RTL models in hands, which we later compared our SystemC models to. Moreover, we were able to use the on-chip test board performance simulation data to verify our SystemC-based platform. This paper illustrates that in high-level design, we could have the same accuracy as RTL models but achieve over one hundred times faster simulation speed than that of RTL's. The main topic of the paper will be on architecture exploration in search of performance degradation in source.