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In this paper we present a new hardware/software co-design methodology for embedded systems, where software components written in Specification and Description Language (SDL) execute on a soft-model of a hardware platform, a so called Virtual Prototype (VP). The proposed approach enables fast exploration of different hardware and software design options at high level of abstraction in order to make early system design decisions. We prove our approach by considering the Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication stack as a use case for the architectural exploration of our mobile terminal. The open source L4/Fiasco microkernel is deployed as a Real-Time OS to run the modem application represented by the LTE SDL-modelled protocol stack. We profile and analyze the system performance by measuring average and maximum packet processing times under various hardware and software conditions. Thereby, we are able to rapidly obtain an efficient design point that provides 80 % packet processing speedup against other unoptimized implementations while meeting the required timing constraints and maintaining a good balance between area and power consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]