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INTRODUCTION

The design of embedded systems, that is, circuits designed for specific applications, is based on a series of decisions as well as on the use of several types of development techniques. For example:

• Selection of the data representation
• Generation or selection of algorithms
• Selection of hardware platforms
• Hardware–software partitioning
• Program generation
• New hardware synthesis
• Cosimulation, coemulation, and prototyping

Some of these activities have a close relationship with the study of arithmetic algorithms and circuits, especially in the case of systems including a great amount of data processing (e.g., ciphering and deciphering, image processing, digital signature, biometry).