Parallel processing enables the real-time emulation of DSP ASICs

The CASE tool GRAPE (GRAphical Programming Environment) is presented which allows for easy programming, compiling, debugging and evaluating high frequency real-time DSP algorithms. Its main distinctive feature is that the tool spans the whole design process, ranging from analysis over simulation and emulation up to implementation on general purpose DSP multiprocessors or integration on an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The DSP multiprocessor can be the target hardware or can be used for real-time emulation or accelerated simulation of an ASIC. The paper mainly focuses on the CASE tool and on the design of a flexible multiprocessor board for the real-time emulation of DSP ASIC´s