RASSP Virtual Prototyping of DSP Systems

This paper describes a top-down hierarchical simulation process that dramatically accelerates the design-evolution of DSP systems when compared with traditional physical prototyping methods. A summary of the model abstraction hierarchy and purposes for the various types of models provides critical guidance in selecting appropriate abstractions to achieve accurate yet efficient simulations. The simulations enable rapid exploration of many more alternative software and hardware solutions than would be practical using conventional gate-level simulation technologies. The result is improved design adaptations and quality. I