A methodology to design a multimedia processor core

Modems and other network interfaces are critical devices in a network infrastructure. While software modems would be the ideal solution for flexibility and low cost, they miss the speed performance requirement. On the other hand, the usual hardware specific approach is not adapted to the fast evolution of protocols in modern multimedia network applications, in which very high data rates, flexibility, reliability and low cost designs are the target keywords. Designing a new processor architecture based on a pseudosystolic MIMD approach is a promising road to explore in order to find an effective trade-off between all these requirements. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology to design such a complex and specific device and to introduce an useful set of CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools.