Flexible architectures for engineering successful SOCs

This paper focuses on a particular SOC design technology and methodology, here called the advanced or processor-centric SOC design method, which reduces the risk of SOC design and increases ROI hy using configurahle processors to implement onchip functions while increasing the SOC's flexibility through software programmability. The essential enabler for this design methodology is automatic processor generation-the rapid and easy creation of new microprocessor architectures, complete with efficient hardware designs and comprehensive software tools. The high speed of the generation process and the great flexibility of the generated architectures underpin a fundamental shift of the role of processors in system architecture.