Method and system for providing hierarchical self-checking in ASIC simulation
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsBryan Keith Bullis, Raj Kumar Singh, Foster Beaver White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for providing simulation of an integrated circuit during development of the integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit has an island that includes an interface. The method and system include a snooper, a checker and a generator. The snooper is coupled with an interface and is for obtaining an output provided by the island during simulation. The checker is coupled with an interface and is for checking the output to determine whether the output is a desired output. The generator is coupled with an interface and is for providing an input to the interface during simulation. The generator is coupled with a test case that directs the generator.
Claims23
A system for providing simulation of an integrated circuit during development of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit having an island including an interface, the system comprising:
- a snooper coupled with the interface for monitoring the interface and obtaining an output provided by the island during simulation;
- a checker, coupled with the interface, for checking the output to determine whether the output is a desired output;
- a generator coupled with the island for providing an input to the island during simulation;
- and
- at least one test case coupled with the generator and for providing data and a request that the generator perform a particular simulation on the island without the test case including logic for directly controlling functions of the snooper, the generator and the checker;
- wherein the checker further calculates the desired output based upon the input;
- and
- wherein the generator further includes intelligence to provide the input to the island based only upon the data and the request.
A method for providing simulation of an integrated circuit during development of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit having an island including an interface, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring the interface to obtain an output provided by the island during simulation utilizing a snooper;
- checking the output to determine whether the output is a desired output utilizing a checker, the checking step further including the step of
- calculating the desired output based upon an input;
- providing the input to the island during simulation using a generator;
- and
- directing the providing of the input using at least one test case by providing data and a request that a generator perform a particular simulation on the island without the test case including logic for directly controlling functions of the generator, the snooper, and the checker;
- wherein the input is provided to the island using the generator including intelligence to provide the input to the island based only upon the data and the request.
A computer-readable medium having a program for providing simulation of an integrated circuit during development of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit having an island including an interface, the program comprising instructions for:
- monitoring the interface to obtain an output provided by the island during simulation using a snooper;
- checking the output to determine whether the output is a desired output using a checker, the checking step further including the step of
- calculating the desired output based upon an input;
- providing the input to the island during simulation using a generator;
- and
- directing the providing of the input using at least one test case by providing data and a request that the generator perform a particular simulation on the island without the test case including logic for directly controlling functions of the generator, the snooper, and the checker;
- wherein the input is provided to the island using the generator including intelligence to provide the input to the island based only upon the data and the request.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.