Automated Internal Interface Generation for Hardware Modules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The design of internal data interfaces in hardware systems is a time-consuming process that requires expertise in bus protocols and hardware synthesis tools, making it challenging for designers to automate and efficiently communicate data between modules in complex systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that automate the generation of internal data interfaces by identifying gateway-in and gateway-out modules, assigning interface protocols, analyzing data types and propagation, and transforming these into input/output interfaces, with integrated code generation for hardware realization, reducing the need for manual intervention and expertise in bus protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual construction of internal data interfaces is performed, then interface functionality is achieved, but design time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating internal data interfaces through protocol analysis and code synthesis. The tool analyzes data types, propagation characteristics, and protocol requirements, then autonomously generates the interface code without requiring manual designer intervention for each interface construction task.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of constructing interfaces is replaced by an automated computational system. The invention substitutes the manual designer's mechanical work with an automated tool that performs protocol analysis, data type inference, and code generation, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual construction process while maintaining interface functionality.
2Reliability
If manual interface construction is used, then interface functionality is achieved, but complexity of the design process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex protocol analysis and interface generation tasks from the manual design process. By isolating these complex functions into an automated tool that handles data type analysis, propagation characterization, and protocol compliance verification, the system removes the burden of complexity from the designer while preserving the necessary interface functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated tool acts as an intermediary between the high-level data model and the detailed interface implementation. It mediates the complex transformation by analyzing data types and propagation, selecting appropriate protocols, and generating the intermediate code that connects modules, thereby simplifying the overall design process while ensuring functional correctness.
3Productivity
If automated interface generation is implemented, then design effort is reduced, but expertise in bus protocols becomes less critical
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing data types, determining propagation characteristics, and generating protocol-compliant interface code. This self-service capability enables high productivity by eliminating manual intervention while maintaining the necessary expertise within the automated tool itself, allowing designers to benefit from automation without needing deep protocol knowledge.
Data Source
AI summary
A method relating generally to computer aided design is disclosed. In such method, a block-based model of a hardware realizable system is obtained. An internal gateway-in and an internal gateway-out of a module of the block-based model are identified. An interface protocol is assigned for the internal gateway-in and the internal gateway-out. Data type and data propagation for the module at the internal gateway-in and the internal gateway-out are analyzed. The internal gateway-in and the gateway-out are transformed into an input/output interface. Integrated code is generated for subsequent realization of the input/output interface in hardware.