Object-oriented development framework for distributed hardware simulation

A method for testing a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• and
• including within the test class a destructor member function which, when executed by a test object of the test class within a selected one of the one or more tests, relinquishes reservation of one or more devices which are reserved to the selected test.

A method for testing a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• defining a device class which includes specification of one or more device member functions which can be performed by a device object, which is a member of the device class and which simulates a device of the circuit design, wherein one or more of the device object member functions implement the communication protocol through invocation of one or more of the test object member functions;
• and
• including within the device class a constructor member function which, when executed by the device object within a selected one of the one or more tests, reserves to the selected test the device of the circuit design simulated by the device object.

A method for testing a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• defining a device class which includes specification of one or more device member functions which can be performed by a device object, which is a member of the device class and which simulates a device of the circuit design, wherein one or more of the device object member functions implement the communication protocol through invocation of one or more of the test object member functions;
• and
• including within the device class a destructor member function which, when executed by the device object within a selected one of the one or more tests, relinquishes a reservation of the device of the circuit design simulated by the device object.

A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:

• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• and
• including within the test class a constructor member function which, when executed by the test object within a selected one of the one or more tests, establishes communication with a hub process wherein the hub process coordinates the testing of the circuit design by the one or more tests and one or more simulation systems.

A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:

• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• and
• including within the test class a destructor member function which, when executed by a test object of the test class within a selected one of the one or more tests, relinquishes reservation of one or more devices which are reserved to the selected test.

A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:

• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• defining a device class which includes specification of one or more device member functions which can be performed by a device object, which is a member of the device class and which simulates a device of the circuit design, wherein one or more of the device object member functions implement the communication protocol through invocation of one or more of the test object member functions;
• and
• including within the device class a constructor member function which, when executed by the device object within a selected one of the one or more tests, reserves to the selected test the device of the circuit design simulated by the device object.

A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:

• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• defining a device class which includes specification of one or more device member functions which can be performed by a device object, which is a member of the device class and which simulates a device of the circuit design, wherein one or more of the device object member functions implement the communication protocol through invocation of one or more of the test object member functions;
• and
• including within the device class a destructor member function which, when executed by the device object within a selected one of the one or more tests, relinquishes a reservation of the device of the circuit design simulated by the device object.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory operatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• a test builder which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:
• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• and
• including within the test class a constructor member function which, when executed by the test object within a selected one of the one or more tests, establishes communication with a hub process wherein the hub process coordinates the testing of the circuit design by the one or more tests and one or more simulation systems.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory operatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• a test builder which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:
• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• and
• including within the test class a destructor member function which, when executed by a test object of the test class within a selected one of the one or more tests, relinquishes reservation of one or more devices which are reserved to the selected test.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory operatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• a test builder which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed by the processor causes the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:
• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• defining a device class which includes specification of one or more device member functions which can be performed by a device object, which is a member of the device class and which simulates a device of the circuit design, wherein one or more of the device object member functions implement the communication protocol through invocation of one or more of the test object member functions;
• and
• including within the device class a constructor member function which, when executed by the device object within a selected one of the one or more tests, reserves to the selected test the device of the circuit design simulated by the device object.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory operatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• a test builder which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to test a circuit design using one or more tests and one or more simulation systems by performing the steps of:
• configuring one or more of the tests in an object-oriented programming environment;
• defining a test class which includes specification of one or more test object member functions which can be performed by a test object, which is a member of the test class, wherein one or more of the test object member functions implement a communication protocol through which the test object can interact with one or more of the simulation systems;
• defining a device class which includes specification of one or more device member functions which can be performed by a device object, which is a member of the device class and which simulates a device of the circuit design, wherein one or more of the device object member functions implement the communication protocol through invocation of one or more of the test object member functions;
• and
• including within the device class a destructor member function which, when executed by the device object within a selected one of the one or more tests, relinquishes a reservation of the device of the circuit design simulated by the device object.