IPCHINOOK: an integrated IP-based design framework for distributed embedded systems

IPCHINOOK is a design tool for distributed embedded systems. It gains leverage from the use of a carefully chosen set of design abstractions that raise the level of designer interaction during the specification, synthesis, and simulation of the design. IPCHINOOK focuses on a component-based approach to system building that enhances the ability to reuse existing-software modules. This is accomplished through a new model for constructing components that enables composition of control-flow as well as data-flow. The designer then maps the elements of the specification to a target architecture: a set of processing elements and communication channels. IPCHINOOK synthesizes all of the detailed communication and synchronization instructions. Designers get feedback via a cosimulation engine that permits rapid evaluation. By shortening the design cycle, designers are able to more completely explore the design space of possible architectures and/or improve time-to-market. IPCHINOOK is embodied in a system development environment that supports the design methodology by integrating a user interface for system specification, simulation, and synthesis tools. By raising the level of abstraction of specifications above the low-level target specific implementation, and by automating the generation of these difficult and error-prone details, IPCHINOOK lets designers focus on global architectural and functionality decisions.