On-Chip Memory Architecture Exploration Framework for DSP Processor-Based Embedded System on Chip

Kumar, Rajesh TS and Govindarajan, R and Ravikumar, CP (2012) On-Chip Memory Architecture Exploration Framework for DSP Processor-Based Embedded System on Chip. In: ACM TRANSACTIONS ON EMBEDDED COMPUTING SYSTEMS, 11 (1).

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Abstract

Today's SoCs are complex designs with multiple embedded processors, memory subsystems, and application specific peripherals. The memory architecture of embedded SoCs strongly influences the power and performance of the entire system. Further, the memory subsystem constitutes a major part (typically up to 70%) of the silicon area for the current day SoC. In this article, we address the on-chip memory architecture exploration for DSP processors which are organized as multiple memory banks, where banks can be single/dual ported with non-uniform bank sizes. In this paper we propose two different methods for physical memory architecture exploration and identify the strengths and applicability of these methods in a systematic way. Both methods address the memory architecture exploration for a given target application by considering the application's data access characteristics and generates a set of Pareto-optimal design points that are interesting from a power, performance and VLSI area perspective. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive work on memory space exploration at physical memory level that integrates data layout and memory exploration to address the system objectives from both hardware design and application software development perspective. Further we propose an automatic framework that explores the design space identifying 100's of Pareto-optimal design points within a few hours of running on a standard desktop configuration.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	ACM TRANSACTIONS ON EMBEDDED COMPUTING SYSTEMS
Publisher:	ACM
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to the ACM
Keywords:	Design; Design space exploration; genetic algorithm; logical and physical memory architectures; memory architecture exploration; system-on-chip
Department/Centre:	Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Supercomputer Education & Research Centre
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2012 09:43
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2012 09:43
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/44525

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