DSP Architectures: An introduction for 'regular' architects

1/2 Day

David C. Baker, A6labs, inc.
Tom Conte, NC State University

There is a prevailing view that the architecture of desktop computers is
largely explored and civilized, whereas the architecture of embedded systems
remains uncharted wild territory. Digital Signal Processors are the
cornerstone of many embedded systems.  These devices have the same
expectations as supercomputers of just a few generations ago, but must be
small, meet real time constraints, have modest code size, and run off power
supplies equivalent to two AA cells.  This workshop will present DSP
architectures for regular architects by first reviewing the applications
DSPs are being asked to execute; then the current commercial architectures
including remaining architectural challenges; and finally discussing the
compiler-microarchitecture interface.

Topics:

- DSP Applications: What are DSPs being asked to do these days?  An overview
of some prevailing DSP application workloads and what makes DSP
architectures unique.  Note: you do NOT need to be a signal processing guru
to understand this material.

- DSP Architectures and applications: Current offerings from TI, Equator,
StarCore, BOPS and their common and not so common attributes.  Also a survey
of DSP applications will be presented.

- DSP Compilation: To say that DSPs are a little harder to program by hand
is to say that quantum mechanics is a little harder than freshman physics.  
In reaction to the complexity, most DSPs also use aggressive compilation
approaches. We will review the existing compilation approaches and some of
the remaining challenges.