Processor-core based design and test

This paper responds to the rapidly increasing use of various cores for implementing systems-on-a-chip. It specifically focusses on processor cores. We give some examples of cores, including DSP cores and application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs). We mention market trends for these components, and we touch design procedures, in particular the use of compilers. Finally, we discuss the problem of testing core-based designs. Existing solutions include boundary scan, embedded in-circuit emulation (ICE), the use of processor resources for stimuli/response compaction and self-test programs.