UML 2.0 - Overview and Perspectives in SoC Design

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential of UML 2.0 as a modeling tool to improve design productivity in System-on-Chip (SoC) design by exploring its application and adaptation for hardware and hardware/software co-design.

Contribution

It provides an overview of UML 2.0 and perspectives on how it can be extended or adapted for efficient SoC design and hardware/software co-design.

Findings

UML 2.0 offers a promising foundation for SoC design modeling.

Current applications of UML in hardware design are limited.

Understanding UML's capabilities is essential for effective adaptation.

Abstract

The design productivity gap requires more efficient design methods. Software systems have faced the same challenge and seem to have mastered it with the introduction of more abstract design methods. The UML has become the standard for software systems modeling and thus the foundation of new design methods. Although the UML is defined as a general purpose modeling language, its application to hardware and hardware/software codesign is very limited. In order to successfully apply the UML at these fields, it is essential to understand its capabilities and to map it to a new domain.