VCC Supports Unix, Windows NT

Now available for both Unix and Windows NT users, Cierto virtual component co-design (VCC) environment enables designers to integrate virtual components representing both hardware and software, explore hardware/software tradeoffs, analyze product performance, and evaluate architectures early in the development cycle. New enhancements include: software- estimation technology that automatically estimates the performance of embedded software using virtual-processor models; performance modeling that allows evaluation of a function's performance in the context of the system; and interface-communication-synthesis technology that supports both top-down and reuse design flow and allows mix-and-match of virtual components from various sources. The application also links to the company's Affirma hardware/software verifier, allowing designs to be exported at a lower level of abstraction for co-verification of its hardware and software components. A comprehensive package of products and services aimed at building an effective design system is included. Pricing starts at $110,000.