Specification and Design Methodology for Real Time Embedded

Book

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SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN METHODOLOGY FOR REAL TIME EMBEDDED SYSTEMS By Randall S. Janka, Kluwer Academic Press, 2002. Specification and Design Methodology for Real Time Embedded Systems is an update of the doctoral dissertation “A Model Continuous Specification and Design Methodology for Embedded Multiprocessor Signal Processing Systems,” that the author, Randall S. Janka, defended at Georgia Tech in 1999. Specification and Design Methodology for Real Time Embedded Systems will be of use to researchers and practitioners who are working in the area of hardware/software codesign. System architects and design engineers working in the embedded systems industry will certainly appreciate the contents of this book. This book addresses the lack of specification and design methodology for designing real-time embedded systems, where primarily a lot of signal processing has to be performed. The book starts out explaining the problems involved in designing large real-time embedded systems. The author explains how the use of a typical waterfall design process in the design lifecycle has powerful frameworks for each individual phase of the design process, but when it comes to enabling these frameworks to work together coherently, there is a lack of continuity that may lead to design errors propagating from one phase of the design process to another phase. ■ 38

The author expresses a need for a single domain specification and design methodology that uses existing frameworks (rules/tools), uses the right tool at the right time, and establishes model continuity to maximize executability with minimum loss of system design detail. Methodology applying generation, integration, and continuity (MAGIC), the new specification and design methodology formulated by Randall Janka, is a design methodology for the specification and design of commercial, off-the-shelf, multiprocessor-based digital systems used for real-time embedded signal processing. It overcomes the methodological shortcomings of the state-of-the-art frameworks by integrating them with the tools that capture requirements and explore alternate architectures before committing to a specific vendor target. This methodology provides model continuity using computation and communication middleware generated by the requirements specification tool in the design analysis and implementation frameworks, as well as an “executable workbook” that links specification and design. This new methodology begins with translating the natural language requirements specification into an executable requirements specification. Information iterates between the executable requirements specification phase and design analysis phase. When design analysis is complete, the executable requirements specification plus the design analysis framework provide the inputs necessary for creating an executable design specification. The research work in this area is an overlap of digital systems design, signal processing, and computer engineering. Different threads of research, design, and development converge in this

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research, which has been contributed by key individuals and projects. A case study involving the validation of MAGIC specification and design methodology using a synthetic aperture radar processor is provided, which helps the reader to understand the practical implementation analysis of the MAGIC methodology. Most of the terminology/technical aspects covered in this book may seem totally new to readers who are neither embedded-system engineers/researchers working specifically in this field. The book also uses many acronyms, which are totally new, especially to general audiences. I recommend going through the List of Acronyms whenever faced with a new acronym. This book contains an invaluable wealth of information for the current embedded-systems industry for designing large real-time systems. Though this book is the product of research, the author has been a practicing engineer, and the book reflects his experience resulting from design, development, and research interests and activities over a period of 20 years. Additionally, this book is worth a read for every practicing systems engineer. Dharmendra Lingaiah Cranes Software International Limited Bangalore

LANGUAGES FOR DIGITAL EMBEDDED SYSTEMS By Stephen A. Edwards, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000. This book is a broad survey of hardware and software description languages for embedded system design with emphasis on successful and widely-used design languages. The author puts more emphasis on the fact that different problems demand different types of lanIEEE CIRCUITS & DEVICES MAGAZINE

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MARCH/APRIL 2004