Method, system and program product for providing a configuration specification language supporting incompletely specified configuration entities

• US 20060004556A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Bradley S., Roesner, Wolfgang, Williams, Derek Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/33 Design verification, e.g. functional simulation or model checking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

In a hardware definition language (HDL) file among one or more files, one or more design entities containing a functional portion of a digital system are specified. The one or more design entities logically contain a plurality of latches having a respective plurality of different possible latch values that each corresponds to a different configuration of the functional portion of the digital system. With one or more statements in the one or more files, a multi-level Dial tree is defined that includes a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level that is associated with at least one design entity. The SCDial entity has a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of the plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of the Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for the plurality of Dial outputs. At least one set of output values in the mapping table specifies output values for fewer than all of the plurality of Dial outputs. Each specified output value reflects a setting of at least one lower level Dial, and settings of the lower level Dials reflect which of the plurality of different possible configuration values is loaded in the plurality of configuration latches.

Claims

1. A method of specifying, in one or more files, a configurable system that is one of the set of a simulated system and a hardware system, said method comprising:

in at least one hardware definition language (HDL) file among the one or more files, specifying at least one design entity containing a functional portion of the system, said at least one design entity logically containing a plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible configuration values that each corresponds to a different configuration of said functional portion of said digital system; and

with one or more statements in said one or more files;

defining a multi-level Dial tree including a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level, said SCDial entity having a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of said plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of said Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for said plurality of Dial outputs, wherein at least one set of output values in said mapping table specifies output values for fewer than all of said plurality of Dial outputs, and wherein each specified output value reflects a setting of at least one lower level Dial and settings of said lower level Dials reflect which of said plurality of different possible configuration values is loaded in said plurality of configuration latches; and

associating the SCDial entity with said at least one design entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating the SCDial entity comprises associating the SCDial entity with said at least one design entity in a configuration specification statement that specifies said SCDial.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein all of said plurality of possible input values comprise string input values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a simulated system, said method further comprising compiling said one or more files to generate said simulated system.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

generating, from said one or more files, a configuration database including said mapping; and

configuring said system by reference to said mapping included within said configuration database.

6. A system for specifying, in one or more files, a configurable system that is one of the set of a simulated system and a hardware system, said system comprising:

means for specifying, in at least one hardware definition language (HDL) file among the one or more files, at least one design entity containing a functional portion of the system, said at least one design entity logically containing a plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible configuration values that each corresponds to a different configuration of said functional portion of said digital system;

means for defining, with one or more statements in said one or more files, a multi-level Dial tree including a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level, said SCDial entity having a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of said plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of said Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for said plurality of Dial outputs, wherein at least one set of output values in said mapping table specifies output values for fewer than all of said plurality of Dial outputs, and wherein each specified output value reflects a setting of at least one lower level Dial and settings said lower level Dials reflects which of said plurality of different possible configuration values is loaded in said plurality of configuration latches; and

means for associating, with one or more statements in said one or more files, the SCDial entity with said at least one design entity.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said means for associating the SCDial entity comprises means for associating the SCDial entity with said at least one design entity in a configuration specification statement that specifies said SCDial.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein all of said plurality of possible input values comprise string input values.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said system comprises a simulated system, said system further comprising means for compiling said one or more files to) generate said simulated system.

10. The system of claim 6, and further comprising:

means for generating, from said one or more files, a configuration database including said mapping; and

means for configuring said system by reference to said mapping included within said configuration database.

11. A program product for specifying, in one or more files, a configurable system that is one of the set of a simulated system and a hardware system, said program product comprising a computer usable medium including:

means for specifying, in at least one hardware definition language (HDL) file among the one or more files, at least one design entity containing a functional portion of the system, said at least one design entity logically containing a plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible configuration values that each corresponds to a different configuration of said functional portion of said digital system;

means for defining, with one or more statements in said one or more files, a multi-level Dial tree including a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level, said SCDial entity having a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of said plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of said Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for said plurality of Dial outputs, wherein at least one set of output values in said mapping table specifies output values for fewer than all of said plurality of Dial outputs, and wherein each specified output value reflects a setting of at least one lower level Dial and settings said lower level Dials reflects which of said plurality of different possible configuration values is loaded in said plurality of configuration latches; and

means for associating, with one or more statements in said onecor more files, the SCDial entity with said at least one design entity.

12. The program product of claim 11, wherein said means for associating the SCDial entity comprises means for associating the SCDial entity with said at least one design entity in a configuration specification statement that specifies said SCDial.

13. The program product of claim 11, wherein all of said plurality of possible input values comprise string input values.

14. The program product of claim 11, wherein said system comprises a simulated system, said system further comprising means for compiling said one or more files to generate said simulated system.

15. The program product of claim 11, and further comprising:

means for generating, from said one or more files, a configuration database including said mapping; and

means for configuring said system by reference to said mapping included within said configuration database.

16. A method of configuring a configurable system that is one of the set of a simulated system and a hardware system, wherein said system includes at least one design entity containing a functional portion of the system, said at least one design entity logically containing a plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible configuration values that each corresponds to a different configuration of said functional portion of said digital system, said method comprising:

defining, in a configuration database, a multi-level Dial tree including a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level that is associated with said at least one design entity, said SCDial entity having a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of said plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of said Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for said plurality of Dial outputs, wherein at least one set of output values in said mapping table specifies output values for fewer than all of said plurality of Dial outputs, and wherein each specified output value reflects a setting of at least one lower level Dial and settings of said lower level Dials reflect which of said plurality of different possible configuration values is loaded in said plurality of configuration latches; and

configuring said plurality of configuration latches by setting said SCDial by reference to said configuration database.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein all of said plurality of possible input values comprise string input values.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said system comprises a simulated system, and wherein configuring said plurality of configuration latches comprises placing configuration values in said simulation model.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said system comprises a hardware system, and wherein configuring said plurality of configuration latches comprises placing configuration values in said plurality of configuration latches in said hardware system.

20. A system for configuring a configurable system that is one of the set of a simulated system and a hardware system, wherein said configurable system includes at least one design entity containing a functional portion of the system, said at least one design entity logically containing a plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible configuration values that each corresponds to a different configuration of said functional portion of said digital system, said system comprising:

a configuration database defining a multi-level Dial tree including a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level that is associated with said at least one design entity, said SCDial entity having a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of said plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of said Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for said plurality of Dial outputs, wherein at least one set of output values in said mapping table specifies output values for fewer than all of said plurality of Dial outputs, and wherein each specified output value reflects a setting of at least one lower level Dial and settings of said lower level Dials reflect which of said plurality of different possible configuration values is loaded in said plurality of configuration latches; and

means for configuring said plurality of configuration latches by setting said SCDial by reference to said configuration database.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein all of said plurality of possible input values comprise string input values.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said system comprises a simulated system, and wherein said means for configuring said plurality of configuration latches comprises means for placing configuration values in said simulation model.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said system comprises a hardware system, and wherein said means for configuring said plurality of configuration latches comprises means for placing configuration values in said plurality of configuration latches in said hardware system.

24. A program product for configuring a configurable system that is one of the set of a simulated system and a hardware system, wherein said configurable system includes at least one design entity containing a functional portion of the system, said at least one design entity logically containing a plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible configuration values that each corresponds to a different configuration of said functional portion of said digital system, said program product comprising a computer usable medium including:

a configuration database defining a multi-level Dial tree including a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level that is associated with said at least one design entity, said SCDial entity having a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of said plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of said Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for said plurality of Dial outputs, wherein at least one set of output values in said mapping table specifies output values for fewer than all of said plurality of Dial outputs, and wherein each specified output value reflects a setting of at least one lower level Dial and settings of said lower level Dials reflect which of said plurality of different possible configuration values is loaded in said plurality of configuration latches; and

means for configuring said plurality of configuration latches by setting said SCDial by reference to said configuration database.

25. The program product of claim 24, wherein all of said plurality of possible input values comprise string input values.

26. The program product of claim 24, wherein said system comprises a simulated system, and wherein said means for configuring said plurality of configuration latches comprises means for placing configuration values in said simulation model.

27. The program product of claim 24, wherein said system comprises a hardware system, and wherein said means for configuring said plurality of configuration latches comprises means for placing configuration values in said plurality of configuration latches in said hardware system.