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Introduction to Embedded Systems Design Using

Course Details

Title Introduction to Embedded Systems Design Using Virtual Prototyping
Presenter Dr Rami Mukhtar, NICTA
Dates 8 June 2010
Location Brisbane
Venue Mantra On Queen, 570 Queen Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Reference Number     080610
Fees AU$ 0
How to register

To register for this course visit the Upcoming courses page, then either:

  • click on the "Register by fax / email" button, fill out the registration form, then scan and email it to industryeducation@nicta.com.au or fax it to +61-8-8343-8711;
  • or click on the "Register Online" button and fill in your details.

Course Description

Increasingly aggressive product lifecycles and an increase in the embedded software content are demanding closely integrated hardware and software development methodologies.  This short course introduces the state of the art in contemporary embedded system design tools and methodologies. 

Participants will be given a critical comparison of common Electronic System Level (ESL) design tools followed by a detailed worked example of a device design using ESL techniques.  The advantages and limitations of using ESL tools will be demonstrated. 

The short course is presented by world experts in ESL tools and technologies.  Use of ESL tools will be demonstrated live through detailed worked examples.

Assumed Knowledge

This course assumes the audience have some experience in the specification and design of embedded systems. This assumed knowledge includes:

  • An understanding of micro-electronic embedded systems, including on chip bus architectures, common peripheral components (timers, DMA controllers, interrupt controllers, etc.), and processors.
  • C software development for embedded systems.

Brief Course Outline

Advances in Tools and Design Definition Languages

  • The V-model for verification and validation of micro-electronic systems;
  • Electronic System Level Design:
    • Introduction;
    • Motivation for an executable specification;
    • Rapid system level exploration and design validation;
    • Partial system models based on heterogeneous abstraction.
  • Introduction to virtual prototyping:
    • Abstraction: structural versus behavioural modelling
    • Features and advantages
    • Limitations and caveats.
  • An overview of popular abstract hardware modelling languages: SystemC and SystemVerilog
    • Modelling paradigms
    • Support for hardware abstraction
    • Flexibility and limitations
  • Model and IP Core re-use through specification languages: SPIRIT IP-XACT
    • Specification motivation
    • Applications and use cases
    • Tool support
  • Overview and comparison of popular virtual prototyping tools: VaST, CoWare, Synopsis, Carbon, OSCI SystemC;
    • Feature comparison;
    • Differences in methodologies;
    • Model libraries;
    • How they fit in the tool flow.
Concurrent HW-SW design using integrated virtual prototyping and VSP-RTL co-simulation
  • Overview of the concurrent HW-SW design and development methodology;
  • Designing SW for concurrent HW-SW development;
  • Unit testing;
    • SW designed for testing;
    • Host based unit testing using CUTE;
    • Regression test construction.
  • Integration testing;
    • Integration testing via HAL abstraction;
    • Test harness design for complete development cycle regression testing;
    • Effective test case design;
  • System testing;
    • Test harness design for complete development cycle testing;
    • Validating design, implementation and modelling assumptions;
  • VSP-RTL co-simulation and SW-HW signoff
    • Cross verification and validation of RTL and model components;
    • Test vector generation for regression testing.
Virtualization Tutorial
  • Complete design worked example;
    • Requirements mapping;
    • SW/HW partitioning;
    • Different example topologies;
  • Virtual platform construction;
    • Transactional interfaces
    • Higher levels abstraction: interface models;
    • Importing systemC models into a non-systemC environment;
  • Debugging SW on a virtual platform;
    • Connection to a target debugger
    • Advantages of a virtual target
    • Multi-processor debugging
  • Example: identification of HW bottlenecks on SW performance;

Cancellation policy

At least four weeks notice is required for cancellation of a place in a short course for full reimbursement. If cancellation is later than 4 weeks then the place can either be given to another person or the registrant can be provided with a credit towards other NICTA training.

For further information please contact:
Anne-Marie Eliseo
Industry Education Manager
phone: +61-8-8343-8710
email: industryeducation@nicta.com.au

NICTA is able to deliver in-house training.