Would-be users of transaction-level models (TLMs) and electronic system-level (ESL) design approaches in general face a major hurdle. Traditionally, it has been difficult to construct TLMs that serve the needs of early software development, hardware designers, and system architects. These users need somewhat different views of the system to do their jobs. To date, TLMs haven't translated well among those views. With the release of a standards-based modeling library, CoWare gives users of its ConvergenSC ESL design tools an infrastructure for user-defined and highly reusable TLMs of system peripherals. The SystemC Modeling Library (SCML) helps separate TLM communication, storage, timing, and behavior within the peripheral model, making code more modular and more efficient to develop and test. Models can be defined simply and annotated for timing when required.
Unlike proprietary modeling approaches, SCML is based on current IEEE SystemC, Open SystemC Initiative, and Open Core Protocol International Partnership standards. This helps protect users' modeling investments. Also, new TLM platform examples and transactors come standard with ConvergenSC to shorten the learning curve and to provide a starting point for designers.
ConvergenSC, with its native SystemC architecture, can support the multiple levels of abstraction required for platform-driven ESL design. As a result, the tool allows reuse of user-defined SCML peripherals across design tasks and in combination with a broad range of SystemC processor and peripheral IP.
The ConvergenSC Platform Architect package, including SCML, starts at $35,000 per seat for a one-year license. ConvergenSC Model Designer, including SCML, starts at $10,000.
CoWare
www.coware.com