C-API instrumentation for HDL models

• US 20030191869A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Roesner, Wolfgang, Williams, Derek Edward, Gabele, Carol Ivash
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/33 Design verification, e.g. functional simulation or model checking

Abstract

A method and system for instrumenting testcase execution processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model using a simulation control program. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a set name application program interface (API) entry point is called wherein the set name API entry point includes program instructions for naming a simulation control program in association with testcase execution of the HDL model. A create event API entry point is called, wherein the create event API entry point includes an event identifier input parameter which identifies a testcase execution event with respect to the named simulation control program. In response to executing a testcase simulation cycle, signal values are retrieved from the HDL model into an instrumentation code block, wherein the instrumentation code block includes program instructions for processing the retrieved signals to detect whether the testcase execution event has occurred during the testcase simulation cycle.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring testcase execution processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model using a simulation control program, said method comprising:

calling a set name application program interface (API) entry point that includes program instructions for naming a simulation control program in association with testcase execution of said HDL model; and

calling a create event API entry point that includes an event identifier input parameter which identifies a testcase execution event with respect to said named simulation control program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to executing a testcase simulation cycle, retrieving signals from said HDL model into an instrumentation code block, wherein said instrumentation code block includes program instructions for processing said retrieved signals to detect whether said testcase execution event has occurred during said testcase simulation cycle.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, responsive to detecting an occurrence of said testcase execution event, calling a trigger event API entry point to record the occurrence of said testcase execution event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said simulation control program controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said method further comprising, in response to said calling a create event API entry point, generating a testcase execution event data structure within said HDL model simulator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said generating a testcase execution event data structure within said HDL model simulator further comprises:

generating a disable flag that disables said testcase execution event in response to a testcase execution event disable signal set by said simulation control program; and

generating an event result field for storing results of said testcase execution event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said simulation control program controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said method further comprising, in response to calling a create event API entry point, generating an event list data structure within said HDL model simulator, wherein said event list data structure lists the event identifiers for each of a plurality of testcase execution events.

7. A system for monitoring testcase execution processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model using a simulation control program, said system comprising:

processing means for calling a set name application program interface (API) entry point that includes program instructions for naming a simulation control program in association with testcase execution of said HDL model; and

processing means for calling a create event API entry point that includes an event identifier input parameter which identifies a testcase execution event with respect to said named simulation control program.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising, processing means responsive to executing a testcase simulation cycle, for retrieving signals from said HDL model into an instrumentation code block, wherein said instrumentation code block includes program instructions for processing said retrieved signals to detect whether said testcase execution event has occurred during said testcase simulation cycle.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising, processing means responsive to detecting an occurrence of said testcase execution event, for calling a trigger event API entry point to record the occurrence of said testcase execution event.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said simulation control program controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said system further comprising, processing means responsive to said calling a create event API entry point, for generating a testcase execution event data structure within said HDL model simulator.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said processing means for generating a testcase execution event data structure within said HDL model simulator further comprises:

processing means for generating a disable flag that disables said testcase execution event in response to a testcase execution event disable signal set by said simulation control program; and

processing means for generating an event result field for storing results of said testcase execution event.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said simulation control program controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said system further comprising, processing means responsive to calling a create event API entry point, for generating an event list data structure within said HDL model simulator, wherein said event list data structure lists the event identifiers for each of a plurality of testcase execution events.

13. A program product for monitoring testcase execution processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model using a simulation control program, said program product comprising:

program instruction means for calling a set name application program interface (API) entry point that includes program instructions for naming a simulation control program in association with testcase execution of said HDL model; and

program instruction means for calling a create event API entry point that includes an event identifier input parameter which identifies a testcase execution event with respect to said named simulation control program.

14. The program product of claim 13, further comprising, program instruction means responsive to executing a testcase simulation cycle, for retrieving signals from said HDL model into an instrumentation code block, wherein said instrumentation code block includes program instructions for processing said retrieved signals to detect whether said testcase execution event has occurred during said testcase simulation cycle.

15. The program product of claim 14, further comprising, program instruction means responsive to detecting an occurrence of said testcase execution event, for calling a trigger event API entry point to record the occurrence of said testcase execution event.

16. The program product of claim 13, wherein said simulation control program controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said program product further comprising, program instruction means responsive to said calling a create event API entry point, for generating a testcase execution event data structure within said HDL model simulator.

17. The program product of claim 16, wherein said program instruction means for generating a testcase execution event data structure within said HDL model simulator further comprises:

program instruction means for generating a disable flag that disables said testcase execution event in response to a testcase execution event disable signal set by said simulation control program; and

program instruction means for generating an event result field for storing results of said testcase execution event.

18. The program product of claim 13, wherein said simulation control program controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said program product further comprising, program instruction means responsive to calling a create event API entry point, for generating an event list data structure within said HDL model simulator, wherein said event list data structure lists the event identifiers for each of a plurality of testcase execution events.