Analiza factorilor de cost în spaţiul de proiectare a sistemelor încorporate

Abstract

Architectures can be evaluated by their cost and performance. While there are computer designs where costs tend to be ignored, specifically supercomputers, cost-sensitive designs are of growing importance. Embedded systems are usually cost sensitive. The paper presents a cost model for embedded systems. Because absolute cost measured in currency is changing every year, it is reasonable to define cost in terms of such parameters that influence cost. Our analysis considers the key factors that affect system cost. The proposed model cannot account for all the factors which affect cost, but it offers the possibility to isolate the most important ones, especially when comparing two closely related architectures. Our intention is to focus on the differences and discuss the ways they affect the cost factors. In this way, we can estimate the influence of the design decision on the hardware cost of embedded system.