Configurable Switch for Dynamic Verification IP Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emulation systems for testing electronic circuits are limited in their ability to dynamically reconfigure switches, making it difficult and time-consuming to test functionalities of interface protocols like PCIe, especially when a root complex (RC) component needs to communicate with multiple endpoint (EP) components or vice versa.
Innovation Solution
A software-based emulation system that dynamically configures a switch to connect multiple RC and EP components with a functional module, allowing for flexible and efficient testing by operating with different subsets of proxies and using transaction responders and switching logic to enable various transactions between verification components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a typical emulation system connects a root complex (RC) component with only one endpoint (EP) component, then the system structure is simple, but the testing capability is limited and cannot verify communication with multiple EP components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configurable switch as an intermediary component between the RC component and multiple EP components. This switch dynamically routes communication signals between different verification components, enabling the RC to communicate with multiple EPs simultaneously without requiring a fixed complex hardware structure. The switch acts as a mediator that provides flexibility in connection topology while maintaining system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamically reconfigurable switch that can change its connection topology during runtime based on testing requirements. The switch's routing table can be programmatically modified to establish different communication paths between verification components, allowing the system to adapt between various testing scenarios (single EP, multiple EPs, different RC-EP pairings) without physical reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the emulation system is reconfigured to test different connection topologies, then the testing versatility improves, but the reconfiguration process becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures multiple verification components (RC components, EP components, and switch components) in the emulation system before actual testing begins. The configurable switch is pre-loaded with routing capabilities and the system is prepared with all necessary verification IP components, so that when testing different scenarios is required, the system can quickly reconfigure by modifying software-controlled routing tables rather than performing time-consuming hardware reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical hardware reconfiguration mechanisms with software-controlled configuration of the configurable switch. Instead of physically reconnecting hardware components to change testing topologies, the system uses software to programmatically modify the switch's routing behavior, dramatically reducing reconfiguration time from minutes or hours of hardware work to seconds of software execution.
3Reliability
If multiple verification components are connected to enable comprehensive testing, then the testing coverage improves, but the system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the configurable switch to serve multiple functions: it can route traffic between RC and EP components, support different communication topologies, and enable various testing scenarios with a single component. The verification components themselves are designed to be multi-functional, where the same RC or EP verification IP can be used in different testing configurations by simply changing the switch's routing configuration, reducing the need for duplicate specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the verification system into modular components (RC verification components, EP verification components, and a configurable switch) that can be independently configured and combined. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive testing coverage by selectively activating and connecting only the necessary components for each specific testing scenario, rather than requiring all components to be permanently connected, thus managing complexity through modularity.
Data Source
AI summary
An emulator system and a method for emulating functionalities of an integrated circuit design are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a plurality of verification components each comprising circuitry configured to perform transactions with at least another verification component. The system can include a plurality of proxies, each executing on a processor and corresponding to a respective one of the verification components. The system can include a switch that is communicatively coupled with the proxies, the switch dynamically configurable to, in a first time duration, operate with a first subset of the proxies to enable a first transaction between a functional module of the design and a first verification component. The switch can be dynamically configurable to, in a second time duration, operate with a second subset of the proxies to enable a second transaction between the functional module and a second verification component.