Executing a hardware simulation and verification solution

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides systems and techniques to execute a hardware simulation and verification solution on a multiprocessor system. The hardware simulation and verification solution can be partitioned into different modules which can include a simulation kernel to simulate changes in signal values, a value change dump module to store the changes in the signal values on a computer-readable storage medium, a functional coverage module to check functionality, a toggle coverage module to check signal toggling, an assertion engine to check complex behaviors, and a testbench module to generate test scenarios. Embodiments of the present invention can execute different modules on different processors, thereby improving performance.

主权项

1. A method for executing a hardware simulation and verification solution on multiple processors, wherein the hardware simulation and verification solution includes a simulation kernel to simulate changes in signal values for a design under test (DUT) and a toggle coverage module to check signal toggling for the DUT, the method comprising:
compiling source files which describe the DUT to obtain the simulation kernel, wherein the simulation kernel exposes a callback interface which is used to install callback functions which are invoked when specific events occur, wherein compiling the source files includes installing a first callback function which is invoked whenever the simulation kernel generates the value change data, and wherein the first callback function includes: (1) instructions for collecting the value change data, and (2) instructions for storing the value change data so that a second processor can access the value change data; executing the simulation kernel on a first processor, thereby causing the first processor to:
generate value change data which represents changes in a set of signal values which are used in a toggle coverage model for the DUT; andstore the value change data so that the second processor, which is different from the first processor, is able to access the value change data; and executing the toggle coverage module on the second processor, thereby causing the second processor to:
determine a toggle coverage metric using the toggle coverage model and the value change data; andreport the toggle coverage metric.