Core-based design methodology for reconfigurable computing applications

In reconfigurable computing applications, cores are mapped on and off a reprogrammable device to support computation. The paper examines the design and management of two types of cores: routed and reconfigurable cores. Routed cores are fully implemented components which can be entirely added to or removed from a programmable device during application execution, whilst sections of reconfigurable cores can be modified during execution. It is argued that routed cores represent point solutions of traditional soft, firm or hard cores, and thus cores made using existing design flows can be used in reconfigurable computing applications. The use of custom tools to automatically translate soft, firm or hard cores into routed cores is discussed, whilst the design and run-time management of reconfigurable cores is illustrated with an application example