Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080201128 | Method and System for Performing Ternary Verification - A method and system for performing ternary verification is disclosed. Initially, a ternary model is generated from a binary model of a logic circuit design. The pairings used to encode the ternary model are then recorded. Next, the number of the recorded gate pairings is reduced by removing all invalid gate pairings. A ternary verification is performed on the ternary model having a reduced number of gate pairings. | 08-21-2008 |
20080209389 | Method, System and Program Product Supporting Sequential Encoding for Relational Analysis (SERA) of a Software Model - A method of verifying a software system includes receiving a description of a software system described utilizing a high-level modeling language, and responsive thereto, parsing the description and constructing an abstract syntax graph. The abstract syntax graph is transformed into a sequential logic representation of the software system, and following the transforming, the software system is verified based upon the sequential logic representation. Following verification, results of verification of the software system are output. | 08-28-2008 |
20080216029 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING TARGET ENLARGEMENT IN THE PRESENCE OF CONSTRAINTS - A method for performing verification is disclosed. The method includes receiving a design, including one or one or more targets, one or more constraints, one or more registers and one or more inputs. A first function of one of the one or more targets over the one or more registers and the one or more inputs is computed. A second function of one or more of the one or more constraints over the one or more registers and the one or more inputs is computed. The inputs of the first function and the second function are existentially quantified. A bounded analysis is performed to determine if the one of the one or more targets may be hit while adhering to the constraints. A preimage of the inputs of the first function and a preimage of the inputs of the second function is existentially quantified to create a synthesizable preimage. The synthesizable preimage is simplified and synthesized to create an enlarged target. Verification of the enlarged target is performed. | 09-04-2008 |
20080222590 | Method and System for Building Binary Decision Diagrams Optimally for Nodes in a Netlist Graph Using Don't-Caring - An improved method, system and computer-readable medium for constructing binary decision diagrams for a netlist graph is disclosed. The method comprises traversing a netlist graph in a depth-first manner. At least one binary decision diagram is built for one input of a node of the netlist graph using a binary decision diagram for the other input of that node as a don't-care condition. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228694 | PREDICATE SELECTION IN BIT-LEVEL COMPOSITIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS - A method for performing verification includes selecting a first set containing a seed register and adding to a second set a result of a subtraction of a fanout of the first set from a fanin of the first set. A third set is rendered equal to a result of a subtraction of a fanin of the second set from a fanout of the second set, and whether a combination of the first set and the third set is equivalent to the first set is determined. In response to determining that the combination of the first set and the second set is not equivalent to the first set, a min-cut of the first set and the second set containing a minimal set of predicates between a first component and the logic to which the component fans out, wherein the logic is bordered by the second set is returned. | 09-18-2008 |
20080229263 | PERFORMING UTILIZATION OF TRACES FOR INCREMENTAL REFINEMENT IN COUPLING A STRUCTURAL OVERAPPROXIMATION ALGORITHM AND A SATISFIABILITY SOLVER - A method, system and computer program product for performing verification are disclosed. The method includes creating and designating as a current abstraction a first abstraction of an initial design netlist containing a first target and unfolding the current abstraction by a selectable depth. A composite target is verified, using a satisfiability solver and, in response to determining that the verifying step has hit the composite target, a counterexample is examined to identify one or more reasons for the first target to be asserted. One or more refinement pairs are built by examining the counterexample and a second abstraction is built by composing the refinement pairs. A new target is built over one or more cutpoints in the first abstraction that is asserted when the one or more cutpoints assume values in the counterexample, and the new target is verified with the satisfiability solver. | 09-18-2008 |
20080235637 | METHOD FOR HEURISTIC PRESERVATION OF CRITICAL INPUTS DURING SEQUENTIAL REPARAMETERIZATION - A method, system, and computer program product for preserving critical inputs. According to an embodiments of the present invention, an initial design including one or more primary inputs which cannot be eliminated, one or more primary inputs which can be eliminated, one or more targets, and one or more state elements are received. A cut of said initial design including one or more cut gates is identified, and a relation of one or more values producible to said one or more cut gates in terms of said one or more primary inputs which cannot be eliminated, said one or more primary inputs which can be eliminated and said one or more state elements is computed. Said relation is synthesized to form a gate set, and an abstracted design is formed from said gate set. Verification is performed on said abstracted design to generate verification results. | 09-25-2008 |
20080256499 | USING CONSTRAINTS IN DESIGN VERIFICATION - A method for generating a constraint for generating a constraint for use in the verification of an integrated circuit design includes identifying a target in a netlist (N) of the design and creating an overapproximate abstraction (N′) of the netlist. A space state (S′) is created by enumerating the states of N′ from which the identified target may be asserted. A constraint space C′ is then derived from the state space S′, where C′ is the logical complement of S′. The process is repeated for multiple selected targets and the constraint spaces from each iteration are logically ANDed. Creating an overapproximate abstraction may include replacing a sequential gate with a random gate. Identifying a sequential gate may include selecting a target in the netlist, performing underapproximate verification of the target, and, if a spurious failure occurs, selecting a gate further down the fanin chain of the currently selected gate. | 10-16-2008 |
20080270086 | PREDICATE-BASED COMPOSITIONAL MINIMIZATION IN A VERIFICATION ENVIRONMENT - A system for performing verification includes a means for: importing a design netlist containing component(s), computing output function(s) for the component(s), generating output equivalent state set(s) from the output function(s), identifying next-state function(s) for the component(s), means for producing image equivalent state set(s) for the next-state function(s), means for classifying output-and-image equivalent state set(s) for the image equivalent state set(s) and the output equivalent state set(s), getting a preimage from the next-state function(s) and the output-and-image equivalent state(s) to generate a preimage of the output-and-image equivalent state(s), partitioning over original state(s) of the component(s), and equivalent class input set(s) of the component(s). Moreover, the system includes a means for: selecting input representative(s) of the equivalent input set(s), forming an input map from the input representative(s), synthesizing the input map, and injecting the input map back into the netlist to generate a modified netlist. | 10-30-2008 |
20080282207 | Method and System for Conjunctive BDD Building and Variable Quantification Using Case-Splitting - A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for conjunctive binary decision diagram building and variable quantification using case-splitting are presented. A BDD building program builds a BDD for at least one node in a netlist graph representation of a circuit design. One or more variables are selected for case-splitting. The variable is set to a constant logical value and then the other. A BDD is built for each case. The program determines whether the variable is scheduled to be quantified out. If so, the program combines the BDDs for each case according to whether the quantification is existential or universal. If the variable is not scheduled to be quantified, the program combines the BDDs for each case so that the variable is introduced back into the resulting BDD, which has a reduced number of peak live nodes. | 11-13-2008 |
20080288901 | Formally deriving a minimal clock-gating scheme - The present invention provides a fully automatic method for obtaining a circuit having minimized power consumption due to clock-gating. A circuit design to be optimized is modified to a reduced power modified design and associated with a clock gating scheme. Verification tools compare the modified design with the original design to a predetermined trigger-events to determine if the modified design can be used. Further modifications may be made iteratively until an optimal design is achieved. | 11-20-2008 |
20080307372 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING MINIMIZATION OF INPUT COUNT DURING STRUCTURAL NETLIST OVERAPPROXIMATION - A method for performing verification is disclosed. The method includes selecting a set of gates to add to a first localization netlist and forming a refinement netlist. A min-cut is computed with sinks having one or more gates in the refinement netlist and sources comprising one or more inputs of an original netlist and one or more registers registers of the original netlist which are not part of the refinement netlist. A final localized netlist is obtained by adding one or more gates to the refinement netlist to grow the refinement netlist until reaching one or more cut-gates of the min-cut. | 12-11-2008 |
20090049416 | Computer Program Product for Extending Incremental Verification of Circuit Design to Encompass Verification Restraints - An incremental verification method includes eliminating verification constraints from a first netlist and using the resulting netlist to create a constraint-free composite netlist suitable for determining equivalence between the first netlist and a second netlist of a design. Eliminating a constraint from a netlist may include adding a modified constraint net where the modified constraint net is FALSE for all cycles after any cycle in which the original constraint is FALSE. The method may include, instead of eliminating constraints, determining that the verification result is a target-not-asserted result and that the second netlist constraints are a superset of the first netlist constraints or that the verification result is a target-asserted result and that the first netlist constraints are a superset of the second netlist constraints. In either case, the method may include creating the composite netlist by importing all of the original constraints into the composite netlist. | 02-19-2009 |
20090089730 | Scalable Dependent State Element Identification - Methods, systems and software products are provided to enhance the scalability of dependent state analysis element identification. In a method of partitioning a model representing a state machine, a variable is selected from the variables of the model, and a first set of variables are identified that support the selected variable. Then a second set of variables is identified that have overlapping support of the first set of variables. The second set of variables is a partition suitable for use in determining an overapproximation of the reachable states of the selected variable. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094563 | Method and System for Enhanced Verification By Closely Coupling a Structural Satisfiability Solver and Rewriting Algorithms - A method, system and computer program product are disclosed. The method includes initializing a first variable to limit a rewrite time for rewrite operations with respect to an initial design by a rewriting module, a second variable to limit a time for satisfiability solver operations with respect to said initial design by a satisfiability solver module and a third variable to limit a maximum number of rewrite iterations with respect to said initial design. A timer is called to track said rewrite time and a local logic rewriting operation is run on said initial design with said rewrite module. In response to determining that all of all targets for said initial design netlist are not solved, whether a rewrite time is expired is determined. In response to determining that said rewrite time is not expired, AND refactoring is run. In response to determining that said rewrite time is not expired, XOR refactoring is run. | 04-09-2009 |
20090100385 | Optimal Simplification of Constraint-Based Testbenches - Methods and systems are provided for determining redundancies in a system model such as a complex circuit design including gates that are state components. A candidate redundant gate is selected, and a merged model is built that eliminates the candidate redundant gate. If the candidate redundant gate is within the merged constraint cone the pre-merge model is used to validate redundancy of the candidate redundant gate. However, if the candidate redundant gate is not within the merged constraint cone the merged model is instead used to validate redundancy of the candidate redundant gate. | 04-16-2009 |
20090138837 | System and Method for Sequential Equivalence Checking for Asynchronous Verification - A system and method for performing sequential equivalence checking for asynchronous verification are provided. A first model of the integrated circuit design is provided that has additional logic in it to reflect the possible variance in behavior of the asynchronous crossings. A second model of the integrated circuit design is provided that does not have this asynchronous behavior logic but instead correlates to the simplest synchronous model that is usually used for non-asynchronous functional verification tasks. Sequential equivalence checking is performed to verify that the two models are input/output equivalent. In order to address non-uniform arrival times of bus strands, logic is provided for identifying bus strands that have transitioning bits, determining a representative delay for these strands, comparing the representative delays for all of the bus strands to determine the maximum delay for the entire bus, and applying this maximum delay to one of the models. | 05-28-2009 |
20090164965 | Method and System for Building Binary Decision Diagrams Efficiently in a Structural Network Representation of a Digital Circuit - A method, system and computer program product for building decision diagrams efficiently in a structural network representation of a digital circuit using a dynamic resource constrained and interleaved depth-first-search and modified breadth-first-search schedule is disclosed. The method includes setting a first size limit for a first set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function and setting a second size limit for a second set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function. The first set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is then built with one of the set of a depth-first technique or a breadth-first technique until the first size limit is reached, and a second set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is built with the other technique until the second size limit is reached. In response to determining that a union of first set and the second set of m-ary decision representations do not describe the logic function, the first and second size limits are increased, and the steps of building the first and second set are repeated. In response to determining that the union of the first set of m-ary decision representations and the second set of m-ary decision representations describe the logic function, the union is reported. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164966 | Method and System for Building Binary Decision Diagrams Efficiently in a Structural Network Representation of a Digital Circuit - A method, system and computer program product for building decision diagrams efficiently in a structural network representation of a digital circuit using a dynamic resource constrained and interleaved depth-first-search and modified breadth-first-search schedule is disclosed. The method includes setting a first size limit for a first set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function and setting a second size limit for a second set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function. The first set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is then built with one of the set of a depth-first technique or a breadth-first technique until the first size limit is reached, and a second set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is built with the other technique until the second size limit is reached. In response to determining that a union of first set and the second set of m-ary decision representations do not describe the logic function, the first and second size limits are increased, and the steps of building the first and second set are repeated. In response to determining that the union of the first set of m-ary decision representations and the second set of m-ary decision representations describe the logic function, the union is reported. | 06-25-2009 |
20090259705 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR PROVABLY FAIR RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR - A random number generator includes a fairness checker and correction module that ensures that a complete random sequence within a predetermined period of time will be output by the random number generator. | 10-15-2009 |
20090282178 | Bounded Starvation Checking of an Arbiter Using Formal Verification - A system for formal verification of bounded fairness properties of pseudo random number generators and arbiters that use random priority-based arbitration schemes. The formal verification system determines an upper bound of a request-to-grant delay of an arbiter in terms of a number of complete random sequences. The formal verification system also determines, in terms of a number of clock cycles, an upper bound and a lower bound of a length of a complete random sequence in the random number sequence generated by a random number generator used by the arbiter. The formal verification system then determines a worst case request-to-grant delay bounds of the arbiter system, in terms of a number of clock cycles, by combining the upper bound of the request-to-grant delay of the arbiter with the upper bound of the length of the complete random sequence and the lower bound of the length of the complete random sequence. | 11-12-2009 |
20090300559 | Incremental Speculative Merging - An incremental speculative merge structure which enables the elimination of invalid merge candidates without requiring the discarding of the speculative merge structure and all verification results obtained upon that structure. Targets are provided for validating the equivalence of gates g | 12-03-2009 |
20100050145 | Optimizing a Netlist Circuit Representation by Leveraging Binary Decision Diagrams to Perform Rewriting - Leveraging existing Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) to enhance circuit reductions in a system model representing a state machine as a netlist. The netlist is evaluated to determine the regions with the greatest potential reductions. BDD sweeping is performed to identify redundancies in the netlist. BDD rewriting implements the circuit reductions by replacing gates of the original netlist with more efficient equivalent logic. | 02-25-2010 |
20100138805 | Method and System for Building Binary Decision Diagrams Efficiently in a Structural Network Representation of a Digital Circuit - A method, system and computer program product for building decision diagrams efficiently in a structural network representation of a digital circuit using a dynamic resource constrained and interleaved depth-first-search and modified breadth-first-search schedule is disclosed. The method includes setting a first size limit for a first set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function and setting a second size limit for a second set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function. The first set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is then built with one of the set of a depth-first technique or a breadth-first technique until the first size limit is reached, and a second set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is built with the other technique until the second size limit is reached. In response to determining that a union of first set and the second set of m-ary decision representations do not describe the logic function, the first and second size limits are increased, and the steps of building the first and second set are repeated. In response to determining that the union of the first set of m-ary decision representations and the second set of m-ary decision representations describe the logic function, the union is reported. | 06-03-2010 |
20100146474 | Method and System for Building Binary Decision Diagrams Efficiently in a Structural Network Representation of a Digital Circuit - A method, system and computer program product for building decision diagrams efficiently in a structural network representation of a digital circuit using a dynamic resource constrained and interleaved depth-first-search and modified breadth-first-search schedule is disclosed. The method includes setting a first size limit for a first set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function and setting a second size limit for a second set of one or more m-ary decision representations describing a logic function. The first set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is then built with one of the set of a depth-first technique or a breadth-first technique until the first size limit is reached, and a second set of m-ary decision representations of the logic function is built with the other technique until the second size limit is reached. In response to determining that a union of first set and the second set of m-ary decision representations do not describe the logic function, the first and second size limits are increased, and the steps of building the first and second set are repeated. In response to determining that the union of the first set of m-ary decision representations and the second set of m-ary decision representations describe the logic function, the union is reported. | 06-10-2010 |
20100199241 | Method and System for Automated Use of Uninterpreted Functions in Sequential Equivalence Checking - A method, system and computer program product for automated use of uninterpreted functions in sequential equivalence checking. A first netlist and a second netlist may be received and be included in an original model, and from the original model, logic to be abstracted may be determined. A condition for functional consistency may be determined, and an abstract model may be created by replacing the logic with abstracted logic using one or more uninterpreted functions. One or more functions may be performed on the abstract model. For example, the one or more functions may include one or more of a bounded model checking (BMC) algorithm, an interpolation algorithm, a Boolean satisfiability-based analysis algorithm, and a binary decision diagram (BDD) based reachability analysis algorithm, among others. | 08-05-2010 |
20100251197 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPLICATION FOR SEQUENTIAL COFACTOR-BASED ANALYSIS OF NETLISTS - Methods, systems and computer products are provided for reducing the design size of an integrated circuit while preserving the behavior of the design with respect to verification results. A multiplexer is inserted at the gate being analyzed, and the multiplexer selector is controlled to provide a predetermined output for one frame at the point being analyzed. It is then determined whether the circuit remains equivalent during application of the predetermined output in order to decide whether the gate being analyzed is a candidate for replacement. | 09-30-2010 |
20100269077 | Trace Containment Detection of Combinational Designs via Constraint-Based Uncorrelated Equivalence Checking - Methods and systems are provided for producing more efficient digital circuitry designs by identifying trace-containment for a sequential circuitry design netlist through the use of constraint-based uncorrelated equivalence checking. A set of candidate input netlist sets n | 10-21-2010 |
20120096204 | Formal Verification of Random Priority-Based Arbiters Using Property Strengthening and Underapproximations - A mechanism is provide for formally verifying random priority-based arbiters. A determination is made as to whether a random priority-based arbiter is blocking one of a set of output ports or a set of input ports. Responsive to the first predetermined time period expiring before the processor determines whether the random priority-based arbiter is blocking, a determination is made as to whether the random priority-based arbiter is blocking one of the set of output ports or the set of input ports within a second predetermined time period using the random seed and at least one of property strengthening or underapproximation. Responsive to the processor determining that the random priority-based arbiter satisfies a non-blocking specification such that not one of the set of output ports or the set of input ports is blocked within the second predetermined time period, the random priority-based arbiter is validated as satisfying the non-blocking specification. | 04-19-2012 |
20120167024 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCALABLE REDUCTION IN REGISTERS WITH SAT-BASED RESUBSTITUTION - A method, system, and computer program product for reducing the size of a logic network design, prior to verification of the logic network design. The method includes eliminating registers to reduce the size of the logic network design; thereby, increasing the speed and functionality of the verification process, and decreasing the size of the logic network design. The system identifies one or more compatible resubstitutions of a selected register, wherein the compatible resubstitution expresses the selected register as one or more pre-existing registers of fixed initial state. The resubstitutions are refined utilizing design invariants. When one more resubstitutions are preformed, the system eliminates the selected registers to reduce the size of the logic network design. As a result of the resubstitution process, a logic network design of reduced size is generated. | 06-28-2012 |
20120278773 | VERIFYING DATA INTENSIVE STATE TRANSITION MACHINES RELATED APPLICATION - A method, system, and computer program product for verification of a state transition machine (STM) are provided in the illustrative embodiments. The STM representing the operation of a circuit configured to perform a computation is received. A segment of the STM is selected from a set of segments of the STM. A set of properties of the segment is determined. The set of properties is translated into a hardware description to form a translation. The segment is verified by verifying whether all relationships between a pre-condition and a post condition in the translation hold true for any set of inputs and any initial state of a hardware design under test. A verification result for the segment is generated. Verification results for each segment in the set of segments are combined to generate a verification result for the STM. | 11-01-2012 |
20120278774 | MODEL CHECKING IN STATE TRANSITION MACHINE VERIFICATION - A method, system, and computer program product for improved model checking for verification of a state transition machine (STM) are provided. A hardware design under test and a property to be verified are received. A level (k) of induction proof needed for the verification is determined. A circuit representation of the property using the hardware design under test for k base cases is configured for checking that the circuit representation holds true for the property for each of the k base cases, and for testing an induction without hypothesis by testing whether the property holds true after k clock cycles starting from a randomized state, where induction without hypothesis is performed by omitting a test whether the property holds true for the next cycle after the property holds for k successive cycles. The induction proof of the property using the hardware design under test by induction without hypothesis is produced. | 11-01-2012 |
20120323982 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR PROVABLY FAIR RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR - A random number generator includes a fairness checker and correction module that ensures that a complete random sequence within a predetermined period of time will be output by the random number generator. | 12-20-2012 |
20130198705 | CIRCUIT VERIFICATION USING COMPUTATIONAL ALGEBRAIC GEOMETRY - In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method includes: receiving a first description for a circuit whose operation over a plurality of inputs is to be verified; receiving a second description for expected behavior of the circuit, where the expected behavior in the second description is expressed as a set of algebraic systems of multivariable polynomials over at least one Galois field; applying at least one computational algebraic geometry technique to a combination of the first description and the second description to determine whether the circuit is verified, where verification of the circuit confirms that at least one output obtained based on the first description corresponds to at least one expected value based on the expected behavior expressed in the second description; and outputting an indication as to whether the circuit is verified. | 08-01-2013 |
20140115217 | FORMAL VERIFICATION OF ARBITERS - A computer-implement method, computerized apparatus and computer program product for formal verification of an arbiter design. The method comprising: performing formal verification of an arbiter design, wherein the arbiter design is based on an original arbiter design comprising a fairness logic and an arbitration logic, wherein the arbiter design comprising the arbitration logic and a portion of the fairness logic; and wherein the formal verification is performed with respect to a multi-dimensional Complete Random Sequence (CRS) having two or more dimensions. | 04-24-2014 |
20150058601 | VERIFYING FORWARDING PATHS IN PIPELINES - A tool for formally verifying forwarding paths in an information pipeline. The tool creates two logic design copies of the pipeline to be verified. The tool retrieves a first and a second instruction, which have previously been proven to compute a mathematically correct result when executed separately. The tool defines driver input functions for issuing instructions to the two logic design copies. In accordance with the driver input functions, the tool issues instructions to the two logic design copies. The tool abstracts data flow of the two logic design copies to isolate forwarding paths for verification. The tool adjusts for latency differences between the first and second logic design copies. The tool checks a register for results, and when results from of two logic design copies become available in the register, the tool verifies the results to conclusively prove the correctness of all states of the information pipeline. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058604 | VERIFYING FORWARDING PATHS IN PIPELINES - A tool for formally verifying forwarding paths in an information pipeline. The tool creates two logic design copies of the pipeline to be verified. The tool retrieves a first and a second instruction, which have previously been proven to compute a mathematically correct result when executed separately. The tool defines driver input functions for issuing instructions to the two logic design copies. In accordance with the driver input functions, the tool issues instructions to the two logic design copies. The tool abstracts data flow of the two logic design copies to isolate forwarding paths for verification. The tool adjusts for latency differences between the first and second logic design copies. The tool checks a register for results, and when results from of two logic design copies become available in the register, the tool verifies the results to conclusively prove the correctness of all states of the information pipeline. | 02-26-2015 |