Exploring real-time thread parallelism for embedded SMP

ABSTRACT

The embedded world is quickly embracing multicore technology. Almost all of the major silicon vendors active in embedded development are offering multicore chips, which include ARM (Cortex A9), PowerPC (QorIQ), MIPS (1004K MT ), and Intel (Atom)1-5 to name a few. Contrary to the progression of multicore technology in general purpose computing, performance demands are not the only factor behind this trend. In fact, embedded systems cannot afford high-performance at the cost of elevating the power budget or compromising the legacy software. Embedded silicon providers are therefore, initially, focusing on a small number of cores (usually no more than eight). Already there are systems in mobile and networking markets such as handheld devices and high-speed switches/routers respectively, that adhere to this new multicore paradigm.