International Business Machines Corporation

International Business Corporation

Carol Ivash Gabele

Derek E Williams

Wolfgang Roesner

Stephen Thomas Quay

Michael Lee Behm

Paul Gerard Villarrubia

Parsotam Trikam Patel

Alexander K Spencer

Clay Chip Smith

Jean-Paul Watson

At a simulation client, a design is simulated utilizing a hardware description language (HDL) simulation model by stimulating the HDL simulation model with a testcase. The HDL simulation model includes instrumentation not forming a portion of the design that includes a plurality of count event counters that count occurrences of count events in the design during stimulation by the testcase. At multiple intervals during stimulation of the HDL simulation model by the testcase, the simulation client records count values of the plurality of count event counters. The simulation client determines, for each of the multiple intervals, a temporal statistic regarding the count values of the plurality of count event counters and outputs a report containing temporal statistics for the multiple intervals.

Reporting temporal information regarding count events of a simulation

A design is simulated utilizing a hardware description language (HDL) simulation model by stimulating the HDL simulation model with a testcase. The HDL simulation model includes instrumentation not forming a portion of the design that includes a count event counter for a count event in the design, and the simulation includes counting occurrences of the count event in the count event counter to obtain a count event value. A threshold is also established for an aggregate count event value for the count event counter. After completion of the testcase, a determination is made whether addition of the count event value to the aggregate count event value for the count event counter would cause the aggregate count event value to exceed the threshold. If not, the count event value is recorded in a testcase data storage area, and the count event value is accumulated in the aggregate count event value. If so, the count event value is discarded without recording the count event value in the testcase data storage area.

Defining and recording threshold-qualified count events of a simulation by testcases

A system and computer program product for providing centralized access to count event information from testing of a hardware simulation model within a batch simulation farm which includes simulation clients and an instrumentation server. Count event data for said hardware simulation model is received by the instrumentation server from one or more simulation clients. A first and a second counter report are generated for the hardware simulation model, in which the first and second counter reports are derived from the count event data received by the instrumentation server. The first counter report is compared to the second counter report, and responsive to this comparison, a counter difference report is generated within the instrumentation server that conveys count event trends associated with the simulation model under different simulation testcases.

Tracking converge results in a batch simulation farm network

According to one method of simulation processing, instrumentation code, such as an runtime executive (rtx), receives one or more statements describing an count event and identifying the count event as an outlying count event. While simulating a design utilizing the HDL simulation model, occurrences of the outlying count event are counted to obtain a count event value. Simulation result data obtained from simulating the design is then received and processed. In the processing, the count event value is recorded within a data storage subsystem responsive to a determination of whether or not the count event value of the outlying count event exceeds a previously recorded count event value.

Program product for defining and recording minimum and maximum event counts of a simulation utilizing a high level language

Disclosed herein is a method of managing data results of simulation processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model based upon keywords. In accordance with the method, a restriction list associated with the HDL model is received. The HDL model has a maximum number of possible keyword/value pairs sets for which result data can be obtained, and the restriction list specifies a fewer number of keyword/value pair sets for which the result data can be queried based upon at least one keyword. In response to receipt of result data obtained by simulation of the HDL model, the result data are stored within a data storage subsystem by reference to the restriction list, such that particular result data attributable to each of the plurality of keyword/value sets is separately accessible.

Method and system for reducing storage requirements of simulation data via KEYWORD restrictions

According to one method of simulation processing, a count event counter for a count event is created within instrumentation of a hardware description language (HDL) simulation model of a design and a threshold greater than 1 is established for the count event counter. The design is then simulated utilizing the HDL simulation model, and occurrences of the count event are accumulated in the count event counter to obtain a count event value. Thereafter, an indication of whether the count event value of the count event exceeds the threshold is recorded within a data storage subsystem.

Method, system and program product for defining and recording threshold-qualified count events of a simulation by testcases

Method, system and program product for defining and recording minimum and maximum event counts of a simulation utilizing a high level language

Method and system for reducing storage requirements of simulation data via keyword restrictions

A method and system for providing centralized access to count event information from testing of a hardware simulation model within a batch simulation farm which includes simulation clients and an instrumentation server. Count event data for said hardware simulation model is received by the instrumentation server from one or more simulation clients. A first and a second counter report are generated for the hardware simulation model, in which the first and second counter reports are derived from the count event data received by the instrumentation server. The first counter report is compared to the second counter report, and responsive to this comparison, a counter difference report is generated within the instrumentation server that conveys count event trends associated with the simulation model under different simulation testcases.

Tracking converage results in a batch simulation farm network

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.

C-API instrumentation for HDL models

Disclosed herein is a method of storing data results of simulation processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model based upon keywords. In accordance with the method, result data obtained by simulation of at least one HDL model are received. In association with the result data, a plurality of value sets is received, where each value set includes at least one keyword having an associated value. Each keyword identifies a parameter external to the HDL model that affected the result data. The data results are stored within a data storage subsystem in association with the plurality of value sets such that particular result data are attributable to particular ones of the plurality of value sets. In one embodiment, a keyword table is built in the data storage system that indicates which data subdirectories store result data associated with particular value sets. The result data can then be queried based upon selected keywords of interest, for example, by reference to the keyword table.

Method and system for selectively storing and retrieving simulation data utilizing keywords

A simulation control program receives a hardware description language (HDL) model including design entities and count event registers. Each count event registers is associated with a respective instance of an event. The count event registers include first and second registers for counting occurrences of a same replicated event generated within different instances of a same design entity having a same hierarchical level within the HDL model. The simulation control program also receives a correlation data structure indicating which count event registers are associated with instances of the same replicated event. During simulation processing, each of the count event registers maintains a respective count value representing a number of times an associated event instance occurs. The simulation control program sums count values of the first and second count event registers in accordance with the correlation data structure and outputs a count event data packet containing the aggregate count value.

Method and system for reducing storage and transmission requirements for simulation results

A method and system for tracking instances of a testcase execution event within a hardware description language (HDL) model using a simulation control program. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a design entity list is generated within the HDL model, wherein the design entity list identifies all design entities instantiated within the HDL model. One or more instrumentation code modules are dynamically loaded into the simulation control program, wherein the instrumentation code modules generate and process testcase execution events associated with at least one of the identified design entities.

Dynamic loading of C-API HDL model instrumentation

A method and system for associating instrumentation data with a simulation model within a batch simulation farm in which a simulation client communicates with an instrumentation server to process simulation data with respect to the simulation model. In accordance with the method of the present invention, an instrumentation eventlist is delivered from the simulation client to the instrumentation server. The eventlist contains instrumentation event information for the simulation model. Next, within the instrumentation server, a digital signature is computed that uniquely identifies contents of the instrumentation eventlist as being associated with the simulation model. Responsive to receiving simulation data from the simulation client, the digital signature is utilized to associate the simulation data with the simulation model.

Maintaining data integrity within a distributed simulation environment

A method and system for minimizing redundancy in collected harvest event testcases from a batch simulation farm which includes a harvest testcase server that collects simulation data for a simulation model from at least one simulation client. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a testcase is executed on the simulation model within a simulation client. Responsive to the testcase triggering a harvest event, the harvest event is compared with a list of harvest events that have previously been triggered within the simulation model. In response to determining that the harvest event has not been previously triggered within the simulation model, the testcase is delivered to the harvest testcase server.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Carol Ivash Gabele