Specification components: reusability at the HW/SW system specification level

Reusability at the system specification level is analyzed. By system specification, we mean the executable specification used as input for the HW/SW co-design process. The macros to be reused in different applications are called specification components. They have a wider reusability than the RT-level soft macros used currently as they can be reused in a larger number of different applications with very different design constraints in terms of performance, cost, power consumption, etc. Moreover, their adaptability to new technologies and or design approaches is maximal. The design-for-reuse constraints for these kinds of blocks are discussed. A system specification example is presented with the aim of demonstrating the proposed embedded system design-for-reuse methodology