Logical Channel Segmentation for Circuit Co-Verification Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the co-verification of complex electronic circuit designs, the communication bandwidth between hardware emulators and software simulators is limited by the fixed number of physical contacts, leading to slow data transfer rates and increased communication overhead.
Innovation Solution
Organizing communication signals into logical channels based on shared parameters such as change frequency, location, or functionality, and physically grouping corresponding components close together to reduce selection time and enable efficient data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data signals are transmitted over fixed physical contacts between emulator and simulator, then communication reliability is maintained, but data transfer rate is limited and communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communication signals into different logical channels (data channels and control channels) that can be independently managed and transmitted. This segmentation allows for optimized transmission strategies for each channel type, improving overall data transfer efficiency while maintaining reliable communication through dedicated control channel management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic channel allocation and signal routing where the emulator and simulator can adaptively manage which signals are transmitted over which physical contacts based on current communication needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize data transfer rates by allocating communication resources flexibly rather than being constrained by fixed physical contact assignments.
2Productivity
If multiple communication signals are transmitted over limited physical contacts, then device complexity is reduced, but signal selection time increases and data transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing communication signals into distinct logical channels, the patent eliminates the need for time-consuming signal selection and multiplexing. Each physical contact can be dedicated to specific channel types, allowing signals to be transmitted directly without selection delays, thereby improving verification speed while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces logical channel abstraction as an intermediary layer between the physical contacts and the actual communication signals. This intermediary organization allows for efficient signal routing and transmission without requiring complex real-time selection processes, thus reducing signal selection time and improving overall verification efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Related communication signals between a simulator and an emulator are organized into logical channels. The signals in each channel are then be transmitted only as needed, reducing the use of the communication pathways between the simulator and the emulator. Further, the circuit components that will receive the communication signals to be shared on a channel are be physically located close together within the emulator, thereby reducing the time required to select and enable components of the emulator to receive the signals sent by the simulator. Similarly, emulator components that send communication signals to be shared on a channel are physically located close together within the emulator, thereby reducing the time required to select and enable components of the emulator to send these signals to the simulator.