OpenDF - A Dataflow Toolset for Reconfigurable Hardware and Multicore Systems

Shuvra S. Bhattacharyya (1) , Gordon Brebner (2) , Jörn W. Janneck (2) , Johan Eker (3) , Carl von Platen (3) , Marco Mattavelli (4) , Mickaël Raulet (5)

1 University of Maryland [College Park]
2 Xilinx Inc.
3 Ericsson - Ericsson Research
4 EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
5 IETR - Institut d'Électronique et des Technologies du numéRique

This paper presents the OpenDF framework and recalls that dataflow programming was once invented to address the problem of parallel computing. We discuss the problems with an imperative style, von Neumann programs, and present what we believe are the advantages of using a dataflow programming model. The CAL actor language is briefly presented and its role in the ISO/MPEG standard is discussed. The Dataflow Interchange Format (DIF) and related tools can be used for analysis of actors and networks, demonstrating the advantages of a dataflow approach. Finally, an overview of a case study implementing an MPEG-4 decoder is given.

Domains: Embedded Systems

Shuvra S. Bhattacharyya, Gordon Brebner, Jörn W. Janneck, Johan Eker, Carl von Platen, et al.. OpenDF - A Dataflow Toolset for Reconfigurable Hardware and Multicore Systems. Multi-Core Computing. MCC 2008. First Swedish Workshop on, Nov 2008, Ronneby, Sweden. pp.CD. ⟨hal-00340437⟩