ECE 4530 - Hardware-Software Codesign (3C)

An introduction to the design of mixed hardware-software systems, focusing on common underlying modeling concepts, the design of hardware-software interfaces, and the trade-offs between hardware and software components. Students will use simulation tools to conduct experiments with mixed hardware-software systems in the area of embedded systems.

In classic embedded system design, hardware and software components are developed independently by separate design teams. This leads to a slow and inefficient design process. There is general agreement in the design community that a combined consideration of hardware and software design issues will lead to more efficient systems and a more efficient design process. This course, targeted at computer engineers, addresses these issues.The course provides an introduction in hardware-software co-design. It outlines the basic strengths of hardware and software implementations, and shows how to combine those into a successful system design. The focus is on the commonalities in the design process of hardware and software, as well as on the design of hardware-software interfaces.