GRAPE: a CASE tool for digital signal parallel processing

The use of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools for stream-oriented real-time digital signal processing (DSP) applications is discussed. These applications are characterized by a continuous stream of data samples or a continuous stream of blocks of data samples arriving at the processing facility at time instances completely determined by the outside world. An overview of existing development tools for DSP is given. The CASE tool GRAPE (graphical programming environment), which allows for easy programming, compiling, debugging and evaluating of high-frequency real-time DSP systems, is presented. Its main distinctive feature is that the tool spans the whole design process, ranging from analysis over simulation and emulation up to implementation on general-purpose DSP multiprocessors or integration on an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The DSP multiprocessor can be the target hardware or can be used for real-time emulation or accelerated simulation of an ASIC.<>