In this paper, we propose a novel architecture synthesis method for SoC using VCores. VCores are reusable and configurable high-level descriptions. An initial SoC architecture, which consists of a CPU, buses, and peripherals, is generated based on an architecture template. The hardware and software tradeoff is possible on the architecture model after assignment of software VCores or hardware VCores. The assignment is based on the results of the architecture's performance estimation. We present a prototype of the synthesis for SoC architecture using VCores and an architecture level design experiment using this prototype.

The design reuse methodology, which has been developed at the VCDS Project, is a SoC design methodology to reduce the SoC design time using high level design intellectual properties named as Virtual Cores (VCores). In this paper, we propose the VCore based design methodology to synthesize the SoC architecture from the system level specification. This synthesis methodology generates an initial architecture that consists of a CPU, buses, I/Os peripherals, and RTOS (Real Time Operating System), and makes tradeoffs between hardware and software on assigned software VCores and hardware VCores models to the architecture. The results of an architecture level design experiment using the proposed methodology shows that the partial automation of the communication refinement process, allied with design reuse, accelerates the architecture synthesis, thus reducing the design time required to design an architecture.