Adaptive computing systems (ACSs) can serve as flexible hardware accelerators for applications in domains such as image and digital signal processing. However, the mapping of applications onto ACSs using the traditional methods can take months for a hardware engineer to develop and debug. To enable application designers to map their applications automatically onto ACSs, a software design environment called CHAMPION was developed at the University of Tennessee. This environment permits high-level design entry using the Cantata graphical programming environment from KRI and hides from the user the low-level details of the hardware architecture. Thus, ACSs can be utilized by a wider audience and application development can be accomplished in less time. Furthermore, CHAMPION provides the means to map onto multiple ACS platforms, thereby exploiting rapid advances being made in hardware. 1

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Don Bouldin, for his support and guidance in this project. Without him, this work could never have been completed. Special thanks to Dr. Chandra Tan for his effort and assistance which contributed greatly to this work. I would also like to thank Dr. Mike Langston, Dr. Danny Newport, and Dr. Dan Koch for serving as members of my thesis committee. I also