Perhaps nothing characterizes the inherent heterogeneity in embedded sys tems than the ability to choose between hardware and software implementations of a given system function. Indeed, most embedded systems at their core repre sent a careful division and design of hardware and software parts of the system To do this task effectively, models and methods are necessary functionality. to capture application behavior, needs and system implementation constraints. Formal modeling can be valuable in addressing these tasks. As with most engineering domains, co-design practice defines the state of...

ESL or Electronic System Level is a buzz word these days, in the electronic design automation (EDA) industry, in design houses, and in the academia. Even though numerous trade magazine articles have been written, quite a few books have been published that have attempted to de?ne ESL, it is still not clear what exactly it entails. However, what seems clear to every one is that the Register Transfer Level (RTL) languages are not adequate any more to be the design entry point for today s and tomorrow s complex electronic system design. There are multiple reasons for such thoughts. First, the c-...