Accurate timed RTOS model for transaction level modeling

In this paper, we present an accurate timed RTOS model within transaction level models (TLMs). Our RTOS model, implemented on top of system level design language (SLDL), incorporates two key features: RTOS behavior model and RTOS overhead model. The RTOS behavior model provides dynamic scheduling, inter-process communication (IPC), and external communication for timing annotated user applications. While the RTOS behavior model is running, all RTOS events, such as context switch and interrupt handling, are passed to RTOS over-head model to adopt the overhead during system execution. Our RTOS overhead model has processor- and RTOS-specific pre-characterized overhead information to provide cycle approximate estimation. We demonstrate the applicability of our model using a multi-core platform executing a JPEG encoder. Experimental results show that the proposed RTOS model provides the high accuracy, 7% off compared to on-board measurements while simulating at speeds close to the reference C code.