Open FPGA-based development platform for fuzzy systems with applications to communications

Soft computing techniques are gaining momentum as tools for network traffic modeling, analysis and control. Efficient hardware implementations of these techniques that can achieve real-time operation in high-speed communications equipment is however an open problem. This paper describes a platform for the development of fuzzy systems with applications to communications systems, namely network traffic analysis and control. An FPGA development board with PCI interface is employed to support an open platform that comprises open CAD tools as well as IP cores. For the development process, we set up a methodology and a CAD tools chain that cover from initial specification in a high-level language to implementation on FPGA devices. PCI compatible fuzzy inference modules are implemented as SoPC based on the open WISHBONE interconnection architecture. We outline results from the design and implementation of fuzzy analyzers and regulators for network traffic. These systems are shown to satisfy operational and architectural requirements of current and future high-performance routing equipment.