Efficient simulation and utilization of a parallel digital signal processing architecture

Abstract

In this study we discuss the development and validation of an efficient and accurate execution-driven simulation of the Texas Instruments Odyssey System, a parallel configuration of digital signal processors. We also evaluate the performance of a high-level parallel programming interface, Odyssey Concurrent C, designed to effectively utilize the parallelism available in the Odyssey architecture. Parallel versions of three dissimilar algorithms--merge sort, 2-dimensional convolution, and successive over-relaxation--have been run on both the Odyssey and the simulator. Quantitative differences between performance results obtained on the Odyssey and those predicted by simulation are enumerated, and shown to validate the accuracy of the execution-driven approach. The simulation is also shown to be efficient relative to the degree of accuracy obtainable. Finally, the Odyssey Concurrent C utilities are shown to provide a flexible and effective mechanism for managing parallelism in the Odyssey environment.