The general goal of the project is to investigate novel processor architectures that enables a ubiquitous (i.e., anywhere and anytime) and unobtrusive (i.e., without much user intervention) communication environment. In order to achieve this, we focus on the following (intertwined) research topics:

• Arachne network processor: This entails the specification of the Arachne network processor. In a truly ubiquitous communication environment, the communication devices are not located in a fixed geographical location and therefore may encounter different communication settings during their utilization. For example, moving from a GSM/UMTS network to a Wi-fi network to a Bluetooth network. Instead of incorporating a multitude of heterogeneous and application-specific network processors, we seek to provide a single solution that adapts itself depending on its surroundings in order to lower design complexity and costs of such devices. Herein, we focus on the design of complex hardware units that are able to perform the required functions and on the utilization of reconfigurable hardware technologies, e.g. field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Furthermore, we focus on low-power implementations of the Arachne network processor that are intended to be incorporated in battery-powered handheld devices. Finally, the research in this project also focus on other communication devices other than wireless handheld devices as suggested previously. Examples of such devices include wireless base stations, network routers, network gateways, etc.. Therefore, we investigate the possibility of a single and scalable solution that can be incorporated in these devices. This means covering bandwidths from several kilobits to several tens of Gigabits.

• Internet and protocol processing: This entials the investigation into the functional and temporal requirements of Internet-related applications, such as web-based databases, database mining, content-based processing (e.g., multimedia stream processing), voice-over-IP, videoconferencing, e-learning. In addition, we investigate the requirements associated with the processing of protocols, e.g., IPv4/IPv6, TCP, RTP/RTCP, SIP, etc. and their derivatives that govern and enable the previously mentioned applications on top of the internet. The research performed entails ranging from the modeling and profiling of applications to modeling of the Arachne processor to the design of specialized hardware units.

• Software and design tools: The research performed entails the development of software tools that allow (faster) modeling and profiling of Internet applications and the Arachne network processor with the purpose of investigating the attainable performance and power requirements/consumption. Related research topics include: simulation tools development, benchmarking, application and processor modeling. In addition, special attention must be paid in the integration of these tools as they provide a valuable source of information prior to the definition of the Arachne network processor (targeting a specific network environment or application set) or to the actual design of specialized hardware units. Finally, design tools must be developed that incorporate the earlier determined profiling information.