System Level Specification and Synthesis

Abstract

The need has evolved for a synthesis tool at the computer system level. Currently no tools are available to designers which would allow them to specify the behavior of entire systems and obtain multi-chip designs from those specifications. Essential tasks at the system level include capturing a system's specification, partitioning the specification into chips, synthesizing interfaces between the chips and evaluating the quality and correctness of the design with the help of estimation and simulation tools. The essential components of the SpecSyn system level design environment are presented. The Speccharts language, which has been developed for specifying system level designs, is introduced. Basic issues in system specification and synthesis are illustrated with the help of a simple computer example and an industrial design.