A Code Transformation-Based Methodology for Improving I-Cache Performance of DSP Applications

Abstract

This paper focuses on I-cache behaviour enhancement through the application of high-level code transformations. Specifically, a flow for the iterative application of the I-Cache performance optimizing transformations is proposed. The procedure of applying transformation is driven by a set of analytical equations, which receive parameters related to code and I-cache structure and predict the number of I-cache misses. Experimental results from a real-life demonstration application shows that order of magnitude reductions of the number of I-cache misses can be achieved by the application of the proposed methodology.