An MPEG-2 decoder case study as a driver for a system level design methodology

We present a case study on the design of a heterogeneous architecture for MPEG-2 video decoding. The primary objective of the case study is the validation of the SPADE methodology for architecture exploration. The case study demonstrates that this methodology provides a structured approach to the efficient evaluation of the performance of candidate architectures for selected benchmark applications. We learned that the MPEG-2 decoder can conveniently be modeled as a Kahn Process Network using a simple API. Abstract models of architectures can be constructed efficiently using a library of generic building blocks. A trace driven simulation e enables the use of these abstract models for performance analysis with correct handling of data dependent behavior. We performed a design space exploration to derive how the performance of the decoder depends on the busload and the frame rate.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1999
• Where: CODES
• Authors: Pieter van der Wolf, Paul Lieverse, Mudit Goel, David La Hei, Kees A. Vissers
• Keywords: Abstract Models, Architectures, Case Study, CODES 1999, Software Engineering