System Level Modeling Environment for SMEs

Purpose and goal

The SYSMODEL project aims at providing SMEs with system level modeling tools for the design and implementation of time and power critical, heterogeneous systems. The vision is to allow SMEs to build costefficient ambient intelligence systems with optimal performance, high confidence, reduced time to market and faster deployment. The focus is on the development of modeling concepts, methods and tools that master systems complexity by allowing cost-efficient mapping of applications and product variants onto an embedded platform; while respecting constraints in terms of resources (time, energy, memory, etc.), safety, security and quality of service.

Expected results and effects

The initial focus is on applications mastered by the SMEs directly involved in the project, i.e. RFID, wireless systems, telecom, VoIP and audiology applications. It is expected that high level system modeling tools could increase the design productivity by 30% in these SMEs. The main results of the project will be: A system-level model and a modeling framework supported by two point tools for building and analyzing heterogeneous systems A library of model components A methodology supported by the developed prototype tools A set of courses and training activities supporting the developed models and methodology including a text book on system level modeling. The general availability of the modeling methodologies will be facilitated by the open source and/or free software approach, where all tools will be made available free of charge. In other words the modeling methodologies developed will be based on open pre-existing knowledge and tools. In order to disseminate the modeling methodologies and tools to a wider group of SMEs an extensive training programme is defined including awareness as well as dedicated tools training.

Planned approach and implementation

SYSMODEL will be organized in four phases as described below: Phase I: The project will start by performing a classification of the systems produced by the SMEs. This selection will be based on their technological and scientific challenges, as well as on their representativeness for the SMEs. Phase II: The emphasis in Phase II will be to develop the system-level models and a supporting modeling framework. The important issues will be to select and integrate different modeling paradigms, such that they are based on well founded theories which allows for both analytical and simulation based system analysis. Furthermore, a library of model components (or modules) which supports the cases will be developed. Phase III: Verification of the system-level models by means of verification cases selected among the core group of SMEs. The verification cases will be carefully selected in order to represent a wide variety of modeling problems. The cases will include applications such as RFID, wireless systems, VoIP and audiology. Phase IV: Following the modeling activity a dedicated training programme will be developed and implemented in order to disseminate the system-level model, the methodology and the supporting tools to a large community of SMEs.