System and method for measuring temporal coverage detection

A method for determining temporal coverage of a simulation model during a test verification process by a user, the simulation model being constructed from a plurality of coverage items, the steps of the method being performed by a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a coverage group for examining during the test verification process, said coverage group including at least one coverage item of the simulation model;
• (b) providing a triggering event in time determined according to a temporal expression, said temporal expression being constructed by the user, for determining when a state of said at least one coverage item of said coverage group is collected during the test verification process;
• (c) detecting said triggering event;
• (d) determining said state of said at least one coverage item as a collected coverage value;
• and
• (e) determining the temporal coverage at least according to a set of said collected coverage values, such that a coverage hole is determined according to an absence of a particular state of said at least one coverage item in said collected coverage value.

A method for examining behavior of at least one selected variable over time in a simulation model for a device under test (DUT) in a test environment during a test verification process, the simulation model being constructed from a plurality of variables, the steps of the method being performed by a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a coverage group for examining during the test verification process, said coverage group including at least one variable of the simulation model;
• (b) providing a triggering event for determining when a state of said at least one variable of said coverage group is collected during the test verification process;
• (c) detecting said triggering event;
• (d) determining said state of said at least one variable as a collected coverage value;
• and
• (c) determining the behavior of at least one selected variable over time at least according to a set of said collected coverage values, such that a coverage hole is determined according to an absence of a particular state of said at least one variable in said collected coverage values.