System-on-chip (SoC) design has changed dramatically in the last decade, especially in terms of size, complexity, and number of intellectual-property (IP) blocks. Meeting functional-safety requirements like ISO 26262 adds to this challenge.
At a high level, the view of a SoC design is conceptually simple. Logical functions are captured and described as functional blocks called IP blocks. SoC designers typically acquire processor IP from one vendor and additional IPs, such as memory interfaces (e.g., double-data-rate, or DDR, controllers), as well as communications interfaces like USB, Ethernet, and PCIe, from other trusted vendors.