Design support system and method therefor

A design support system comprising:

• logic simulation execution means for executing logic simulation for each verification item to be executed by giving test data for logic verification of design data to said design data which is an object of the verification item to be executed, the verification item verifying functions of a computer system;
• table storage means for relationally storing, for each verification item, at least:
• (i) a pertinent verification item number for identifying said verification item,
• (ii) information for management of said verification item including a prerequisite verification item number for identifying a prerequisite verification item whose confirmation is a prerequisite for execution of verification of said verification item,
• (iii) confirmation information indicating that logical verification for said prerequisite verification item has been completed without detection of a failure,
• (iv) failure state information indicating whether a failure occurred in the last logic simulation on the verification item, and
• (v) design data history indicating a design data version used in the last logic simulation of said verification item;
• and
• instruction means for determining, by searching said table storage means, before logic simulation executed by said logic simulation execution means, whether said logic simulation can be executed or not,
• in response to the determination from the confirmation information, said instruction means does not permit said logic simulation execution means to perform execution in a case where a failure state is generated by the last logic simulation of the verification item to be executed and where the design data version used in the current logic simulation is identical with the design data version stored in said table storage means.

A design support method in a design support system having a processor for performing logic simulation on the basis of design data as a subject of logic verification and test data for logic verification of said design data, and a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

• relationally storing in a table storage means, for every verification item to be executed, the verification item verifying functions of a computer system, at least:
• (i) a verification item number for identifying the verification item,
• (ii) a prerequisite verification item number for identifying a prerequisite verification item which must be confirmed as a prerequisite for execution of verification of said verification item,
• (iii) confirmation information indicating whether a failure has been confirmed in the prerequisite verification item, and
• (iv) design data history indicating a design data version used in a latest logic simulation of said verification;
• before executing a logic simulation, with said processor, searching the table storage means to determine (i) whether the prerequisite verification item corresponding to the verification item to be executed has been already confirmed or has not yet been confirmed and (ii) whether the design data history is a newest design data history;
• and
• in response to the prerequisite verification item having been confirmed, and the design data history being confirmed as the newest design data history, executing said logic simulation.

A design support system for logically verifying each of a plurality of verification items, which verify functions of a computer system, to which logical verification can be performed independently for each verification item, comprising:

• a design data file for holding design data as an object of logic verification;
• a test data file for holding test data for logic verification with respect to said design data;
• input means for designating one of the verification items to be subjected to logic verification;
• first storage means for relationally storing, for each verification item to be executed, a prerequisite verification item number for identifying a prerequisite verification item, confirmation information for indicating the fact that no failure has been confirmed in the prerequisite verification item;
• execution means for executing logic simulation on the basis of said design data and said test data with respect to the designated pertinent verification item, and design data history indicating a design data version used in a latest logic simulation of the verification item;
• second storage means for storing an expected value for test data with respect to the designated verification item to be executed;
• determination means for comparing the result of execution by said execution means with said expected value to determine success or failure of verification;
• and
• updating means for writing the result of the determination by said determining means into said first storage means to thereby update the contents of said first storage means, including writing a newest design data history of the verification item registered in the verification management table.