Synchronization of multiple simulation domains in an EDA simulation environment

#The present invention pertains to the field of electronic design automation (EDA). More particularly, this invention relates to synchronizing multiple simulation domains within an EDA simulation environment.

#Electronic design automation (EDA) has long been used to design and verify electronic hardware such as integrated circuits. Increasingly, however, new circuit designs have both a hardware component and a software component. For instance, an “embedded” system often includes a special-purpose hardware component that is installed in a general-purpose host computer system. A software component is developed to execute on one or more processors in the host system to allow the host system to interact with the installed hardware component.

#One familiar example of an embedded system is a “software” modem. A software modem uses the software processing power of a host computer system to process data traffic. A software modem only needs enough special-purpose hardware to pass data back and forth between the computer system's processor and a telephone network. As with most embedded systems, the special-purpose hardware in a software modem is significantly less complicated than the hardware of a typical hardware modem. Simplifying the hardware usually results in smaller components and a lower price point, which is one reason hardware/software circuit designs are so popular.

#Examples of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, however, do not limit the scope of the present invention. Similar references in the drawings indicate similar elements.

#FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a hardware/software co-simulation environment according to the teachings of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a hardware system to implement a multi-domain simulation environment.

#In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details, that the present invention is not limited to the depicted embodiments, and that the present invention may be practiced in a variety of alternate embodiments. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail.

#Parts of the description will be presented using terminology commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Also, parts of the description will be presented in terms of operations performed through the execution of programming instructions. As well understood by those skilled in the art, these operations often take the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, and otherwise manipulated through, for instance, electrical components.

#Various operations will be described as multiple discrete steps performed in turn in a manner that is helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily performed in the order they are presented, nor even order dependent. Lastly, repeated usage of the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may.