Architecture exploration of a large scale system

An approach for exploring the architecture of large scale systems is presented here. It focuses on a particular application domain: high throughput signal processing and was applied during the preliminary design phase of a radio telescope. This approach is supported by a framework in which a system model can be composed and estimated in terms of performance/cost. In this way qualitative comparisons can be made reusing information obtained from targeted prototyping. This allows designers in a team to conduct an exploration of multiple architecture scenarios while steering the developments and adapting to technology changes at a high level of abstraction.