Concurrent hardware-software co-simulation
First Claim
1. A digital logic simulation/emulation system comprising:
- a computer program digital-logic simulation process executed by a digital computer for modeling a hardware system that includes digital logic; and
a hardware pod that;
is adapted for being coupled to a digital logic circuit;
includes a plurality of stimulus/response cells for providing stimulus signals to the digital logic circuit during a stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving responses from the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle; and
further includes a communication port for receiving stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process to be transmitted to the stimulus/response cells for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving response data generated by the digital logic circuit in response to stimulation thereof during the stimulation-response cycle for transmission from said hardware pod to said digital-logic simulation process;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being coupled together in the simulation/emulation system for exchanging stimulation-control data and response data;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being operable in an engaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process first transmits stimulation-control data to said hardware pod for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit by the stimulus/response cells during a single stimulation-response cycle, and then receives from said hardware pod response data that reports the response of the digital logic circuit to stimulation during that stimulation-response cycle; and
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod also being operable in a disengaged operating mode which commences in response to a disengagement event occurring in said hardware pod while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process are operating in the engaged operating mode, upon occurrence of the disengagement event said hardware pod transmitting a disengagement message to said digital-logic simulation process indicating to said digital-logic simulation process that said hardware pod is entering the disengaged operating mode and is commencing execution of stimulation-response cycles without receiving additional stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process, and said digital-logic simulation process upon receiving the disengagement message from the hardware pod commencing operation in the disengaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process continues execution without receiving response data from said hardware pod; and
while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process operate in the disengaged operating mode;
said hardware pod;
when an engagement event occurs within the hardware pod that requires communication with said digital-logic simulation process, both transmits an engagement message to said digital-logic simulation process, and enters the engaged operating mode; and
enters the engaged operating mode upon receiving an engagement message from said digital-logic simulation process; and
said digital-logic simulation process;
when an engagement event occurs within the digital-logic simulation process that requires communication with said hardware pod, both transmits an engagement message to said hardware pod, and enters the engaged operating mode; and
enters the engaged operating mode upon receiving an engagement message from said hardware pod.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital logic simulation/emulation system (20) operates in an engaged operating mode in which a digital-logic simulation process (22) transmits stimulation-control data to a hardware pod (32) for controlling stimulation of a digital logic circuit. In response to the stimulation-control data, the hardware pod (32) performs a stimulation-response cycle, and then sends response data from the digital logic circuit to the simulation process (22). The simulation process (22) and the hardware pod (32) may also operate in a disengaged operating mode in which each operates independently of the other without exchanging stimulation-control data or response data. Operation of the system (20) in the disengaged mode commences if a disengagement event occurs in the hardware pod (32). Operation of the system (20) in the disengaged mode terminates if the simulation process (22) sends stimulation-control data to the hardware pod (32), or if the hardware pod (32) sends response data to the simulation process (22).
144 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A digital logic simulation/emulation system comprising:
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a computer program digital-logic simulation process executed by a digital computer for modeling a hardware system that includes digital logic; and
a hardware pod that;
is adapted for being coupled to a digital logic circuit;
includes a plurality of stimulus/response cells for providing stimulus signals to the digital logic circuit during a stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving responses from the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle; and
further includes a communication port for receiving stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process to be transmitted to the stimulus/response cells for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving response data generated by the digital logic circuit in response to stimulation thereof during the stimulation-response cycle for transmission from said hardware pod to said digital-logic simulation process;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being coupled together in the simulation/emulation system for exchanging stimulation-control data and response data;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being operable in an engaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process first transmits stimulation-control data to said hardware pod for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit by the stimulus/response cells during a single stimulation-response cycle, and then receives from said hardware pod response data that reports the response of the digital logic circuit to stimulation during that stimulation-response cycle; and
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod also being operable in a disengaged operating mode which commences in response to a disengagement event occurring in said hardware pod while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process are operating in the engaged operating mode, upon occurrence of the disengagement event said hardware pod transmitting a disengagement message to said digital-logic simulation process indicating to said digital-logic simulation process that said hardware pod is entering the disengaged operating mode and is commencing execution of stimulation-response cycles without receiving additional stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process, and said digital-logic simulation process upon receiving the disengagement message from the hardware pod commencing operation in the disengaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process continues execution without receiving response data from said hardware pod; and
while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process operate in the disengaged operating mode;
said hardware pod;
when an engagement event occurs within the hardware pod that requires communication with said digital-logic simulation process, both transmits an engagement message to said digital-logic simulation process, and enters the engaged operating mode; and
enters the engaged operating mode upon receiving an engagement message from said digital-logic simulation process; and
said digital-logic simulation process;
when an engagement event occurs within the digital-logic simulation process that requires communication with said hardware pod, both transmits an engagement message to said hardware pod, and enters the engaged operating mode; and
enters the engaged operating mode upon receiving an engagement message from said hardware pod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A digital logic simulation/emulation system comprising:
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a computer program digital-logic simulation process executed by a digital computer for modeling a hardware system that includes digital logic; and
a hardware pod that;
is adapted for being coupled to a digital logic circuit;
includes a plurality of stimulus/response cells for providing stimulus signals to the digital logic circuit during a stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving responses from the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle; and
further includes a communication port for receiving stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process to be transmitted to the stimulus/response cells for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving response data generated by the digital logic circuit in response to stimulation thereof during the stimulation-response cycle for transmission from said hardware pod to said digital-logic simulation process;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being coupled together in the simulation/emulation system for exchanging stimulation-control data and response data;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being operable in an engaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process first transmits stimulation-control data to said hardware pod for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit by the stimulus/response cells during a single stimulation-response cycle, and then receives from said hardware pod response data that reports the response of the digital logic circuit to stimulation during that stimulation-response cycle; and
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod also being operable in a disengaged operating mode which commences in response to a disengagement event occurring in said hardware pod while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process are operating in the engaged operating mode, upon occurrence of the disengagement event said hardware pod transmitting a disengagement message to said digital-logic simulation process indicating to said digital-logic simulation process that said hardware pod is entering the disengaged operating mode and is commencing execution of stimulation-response cycles without receiving additional stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process, and said digital-logic simulation process upon receiving the disengagement message from the hardware pod commencing operation in the disengaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process continues execution without receiving response data from said hardware pod; and
while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process operate in the disengaged operating mode, said hardware pod, when an engagement event occurs within the hardware pod that requires communication with said digital-logic simulation process, transmits an engagement message to said digital-logic simulation process, and enters the engaged operating mode.
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9. A digital logic simulation/emulation system comprising:
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a computer program digital-logic simulation process executed by a digital computer for modeling a hardware system that includes digital logic; and
a hardware pod that;
is adapted for being coupled to a digital logic circuit;
includes a plurality of stimulus/response cells for providing stimulus signals to the digital logic circuit during a stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving responses from the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle; and
further includes a communication port for receiving stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process to be transmitted to the stimulus/response cells for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit during the stimulation-response cycle, and for receiving response data generated by the digital logic circuit in response to stimulation thereof during the stimulation-response cycle for transmission from said hardware pod to said digital-logic simulation process;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being coupled together in the simulation/emulation system for exchanging stimulation-control data and response data;
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod being operable in an engaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process first transmits stimulation-control data to said hardware pod for controlling stimulation of the digital logic circuit by the stimulus/response cells during a single stimulation-response cycle, and then receives from said hardware pod response data that reports the response of the digital logic circuit to stimulation during that stimulation-response cycle; and
said digital-logic simulation process and said hardware pod also being operable in a disengaged operating mode which commences in response to a disengagement event occurring in said hardware pod while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process are operating in the engaged operating mode, upon occurrence of the disengagement event said hardware pod transmitting a disengagement message to said digital-logic simulation process indicating to said digital-logic simulation process that said hardware pod is entering the disengaged operating mode and is commencing execution of stimulation-response cycles without receiving additional stimulation-control data from said digital-logic simulation process, and said digital-logic simulation process upon receiving the disengagement message from the hardware pod commencing operation in the disengaged operating mode in which said digital-logic simulation process continues execution without receiving response data from said hardware pod; and
while said hardware pod and said digital-logic simulation process operate in the disengaged operating mode, said digital-logic simulation process, when an engagement event occurs within the digital-logic simulation process that requires communication with said hardware pod, transmits an engagement message to said hardware pod, and enters the engaged operating mode.
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Specification