A state-based modeling approach for fast performance evaluation of embedded system architectures

Abstract models are means to assist system architects in the evaluation process of hardware/software architectures and then to cope with the still increasing complexity of embedded systems. Efficient methods are necessary to correctly model system architectures and to make possible early performance evaluation and fast exploration of the design space. In this paper, we present the use of a specific modeling approach to improve evaluation of non-functional properties of embedded systems. The contribution is about a computation method defined to improve modeling of properties used for assessment of architecture performances. This method favors creation of abstract transaction level models and leads to significantly reducing simulation time but still preserving accuracy of results. The benefits of the proposed approach for evaluation of performances of system architectures are highlighted through analysis of two specific case studies.