power estimation and energy profiling of DSP processors

Freescale Semiconductors, India (May 2005 – August 2007)

Development of a power estimation tool and an energy profiler for StarCore VLIW DSP

The goal of this project was to develop an accurate power model integrated with a fast simulator of the StarCore DSP platform. The model can be used by software developers to obtain a function-wise energy cost profile of software applications. I developed a large suite of DSP benchmarks like filters, FFT, codecs and control codes for testing and validating the energy model. I conducted a case study performing energy optimization of ITU-T G.729 speech codec application and have written a white paper for customers. I applied several optimization techniques like function-inlining, multi-sampling, loop optimizations, cache prefetching, energy aware organization of specific data in the memory, etc., in order to determine effect of such techniques on the energy cost of the application.

I validated the energy model by carrying out silicon power measurements. Since the DSP platform was embedded in a SoC containing several other peripherals and an ARM-based platform, this work required a detailed study of entire SoC and careful strategies to isolate energy/power variations of the DSP platform. A scaling factor on the entire energy model was derived based on the physical measurements.

Profile

I am looking for an internship position for the summer of 2008. I am currently pursuing PhD in Computer Science in University of California, Irvine. My research interests are in performance analysis and modeling of heterogeneous multi-core and single-core systems. Previously, I have worked in Freescale Semiconductors in performance analysis of PowerPC cores and energy model for Starcore VLIW DSP processor. I have also worked in ST Microelectronics and developed signal processing modules and codecs for 3G wireless cellular networks. I have done my M.Tech [Masters in Technology] from Indian Institute of Technology [IIT], Bombay in Electronic Systems, with a focus on embedded system design and signal processing. I want to work in system performance analysis and power/ performance/ temperature modeling for single-core and multi-core systems or a related are.