ESIDE - embedded system integrated design environment based on Eclipse platform

Traditional embedded system design procedure involves a mixture of design tools to cope with software and hardware design at several abstract levels. Data exchange between tools and cooperation between designers are difficult in such environment. This paper presents an embedded system integrated design environment (ESIDE), which applies a top-down design flow and integrates design tools at different abstract levels. It provides a consistent mechanism for the data exchange between tools and an efficient way to manage various kinds of intellectual property (IP) components with an IP database. ESIDE supports design exchange and management between various designers so that a large number of designers are able to collaborate efficiently in a complex embedded system design.