Hardware design protocol and system
OwnerClifford R. Johns, David A. Pierceinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of designing hardware includes entering source code into a source code file. The source code uses a context-free grammar that describes a job the hardware being designed has to do rather than describing an implementation of the hardware. The method also includes compiling the source code file to generate an output file which describes an optimized state machine for implementing the hardware. The output file is written in a C-based code which is then translated to a HDL (e.g., VHDL or Verilog).
Claims15
A method of designing hardware, said method comprising:
- (a) entering source code into a source code file, said source code using a context-free grammar that describes a job the hardware being designed has to do rather than describing an implementation of the hardware;
- and,
- (b) compiling the source code file to generate an output file which describes an optimized state machine for implementing the hardware, said output file being written in a C-based code.
Residing on a computer-readable medium, computer software for designing hardware, said software comprising:
- a compiler which generates from source code an output file that describes an optimized state machine for implementing hardware, said source code using a context-free grammar that describes a job that the hardware being designed has to do, and said output file being written in a C-based language.
A system for designing hardware, said system comprising:
- a computer having means for entering an input file written in a source code, said source code using a context-free grammar which describes a job that hardware being designed has to do;
- and,
- a compiler which runs on the computer, said compiler selective converting the input file into an output file which is written in a C-based code, said output file describing an optimized state machine for implementing the hardware being designed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.