Download Hardware-Software Co-Design for Sensor Nodes in Wireless

Simulation step is launched after configuration. Since the network contains TOSSIM nodes
and co-sim nodes, the simulation contains Network Domain Simulation (simulating TOSSIM
nodes) and Software and Hardware Domain Simulation (simulating co-sim nodes) accordingly. In Network Domain Simulation, real application modules, abstract TinyOS modules
and abstract hardware modules are running on the nodes. To be specific, real network applications are running on the nodes simulated by TOSSIM. Since TOSSIM only simulates
sensor nodes’ applications at coarse-grained level, TOSSIM can only simulate sensor nodes
with abstract TinyOS modules and abstract hardware modules. In Software and Hardware
Domain Simulation, co-sim nodes are evaluated by real application modules, real TinyOS
modules and simulated hardware architecture. Different from nodes simulated by TOSSIM,
Real TinyOS Modules are simulated by SW & HW domain simulation at cycle-level accuracy.
We call SW & HW domain simulation as P-Sim for short. By cross-domain simulation, sensor
nodes’ hardware and software performance as well as network performance can be simulated
in SUNSHINE simulator.
After getting satisfactory simulation results, the prototype is ready to be realized. The binaries run on cycle-level co-sim nodes can be loaded to actual sensor boards. In detail, TinyOS
application is compiled to intermediate C file through nesC compiler and is then compiled
to binary images through microprocessor-related cross compiler. The binary images can be
loaded to the microcontroller on the sensor node. The GEZEL codes running on FPGA can
be first generated to VHDL codes and then be compiled to binary images through corresponding FPGA design tool. The binary images are loaded to the FPGA on the sensor node.
As a result, real application modules, real TinyOS modules and real hardware platforms can
be profiled on wireless sensor network environment.
21