A Java processor architecture for embedded real-time systems

  • Authors:
  • Martin Schoeberl

  • Affiliations:
  • Institute of Computer Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Austria

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Systems Architecture: the EUROMICRO Journal
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

Architectural advancements in modern processor designs increase average performance with features such as pipelines, caches, branch prediction, and out-of-order execution. However, these features complicate worst-case execution time analysis and lead to very conservative estimates. JOP (Java Optimized Processor) tackles this problem from the architectural perspective - by introducing a processor architecture in which simpler and more accurate WCET analysis is more important than average case performance. This paper presents a Java processor designed for time-predictable execution of real-time tasks. JOP is the implementation of the Java virtual machine in hardware. JOP is intended for applications in embedded real-time systems and the primary implementation technology is in a field programmable gate array. This paper demonstrates that a hardware implementation of the Java virtual machine results in a small design for resource-constrained devices.