Novas Software Expands Debug Technology Platform for Complex System-On-Chip Design
Advanced Platform Launches Next-Generation Behavior-Based Debug Capabilities; Knowledge-Based Architecture Evolved to Double System Performance and Capacity
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2002--
Novas Software, Inc., the leader in debug systems for complex chip
designs, today unveiled the second generation of its market-leading
debug technology platform that introduces new behavior-based debug and
knowledge management capabilities. It also delivers major architecture
advances that double the performance and capacity of debug systems.
Currently in use at 10 customer beta sites, these advancements are
expected to both drive the next evolution in design exploration and
debug for integrated circuit (IC) designs with 10 million+ gates and
expand the benefits of faster, better debugging to the functional test
programs associated with complex systems on chip (SoC).
Debug helps design and verification engineers become familiar with
how complex chip designs are supposed to function, and it locates and
isolates design problems so their root causes can be analyzed,
understood and corrected. This process is crucial to the successful
completion of IC and SoC projects. However, according to Novas
Software's president and CEO Scott Sandler, "Too much time is spent on
debug, which raises product development costs and jeopardizes product
schedules by draining valuable time from the most expert designers."
Sandler added: "We are at a pivotal point in the evolution of
design and verification. Sophisticated debug methods are no longer a
luxury because the price tag for missing schedules is too high. It's
critical that we take debug to a new level that not only maps to the
most advanced design and verification approaches, but also
intelligently applies knowledge to address bigger design issues and
offer greater efficiencies. Our goal is really to reduce the overall
time spent in debug, so resources can be applied to more creative
tasks in the design process."
Recent statistics on SoC design costs published by the
International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) project
that one million dollars is added to the design budget for every month
a project schedule slips.(1)
Understanding Design Behavior
Today's debugging tools rely on structural information alone,
including the Debussy® knowledge-based debug system - Novas'
current-generation product that is recognized as the debug market
leader. When organized correctly, rapid access to this structural
information is highly valuable for accelerating debug.
The Company revealed today that new, patented technologies
developed by Novas move debug from structural to behavioral
abstractions. These use synthesis technology, as well as formal and
semi-formal methods, to further improve the productivity of design and
verification engineers facing the toughest debug challenges. By
applying formal technologies to the tasks of design exploration and
debugging, Novas believes it can minimize the risks associated with
using unfamiliar design elements and significantly shorten debug
cycles, ensuring that design teams meet schedules and avoid higher
project costs.
Specifically, new data models and exploration tools have been
built on top of Novas' proven design knowledge architecture in order
to help engineers better understand the dynamic behavior of their
designs over time. The more unfamiliar the design, the greater the
difficulty and the more time required to reach adequate understanding.
To overcome this obstacle, Novas uses rigorous mathematical analysis
of designs to automatically infer behavior. This technique was first
applied in synthesis tools in the 1980's and is being applied today to
functional verification in formal equivalence checking applications
and some property-based verification tools.
Key elements of Novas' new behavior-based debug technologies
include:
- Mathematical analysis of the design stored in the Novas
Knowledge Database(TM)(KDB), along with simulation results
stored in the Fast Signal Database (FSDB) to produce a new
Behavior Database (BDB) that is the basis for new exploration
capabilities.
- New visual representations of the design that show the
behavior of the design unrolled over time in terms of
data/control flow and statement flow.
- Dynamic exploration tools that allow engineers to play
"what-if" with their designs by changing simulation values and
even register transfer level (RTL) statements to evaluate the
consequences of these changes and understand the effect of
alternatives before committing them to the source code and
re-simulating.
System-Level Debug & Knowledge-based Design Reuse
Building the tests that discover whether there are functional
errors in a chip design has become at least as difficult as designing
the chip itself. However, the tools for debugging design descriptions
and test descriptions have evolved separately. Novas is expanding its
system architecture to address the need for integrated design and
testbench exploration and debugging. Key elements include:
system-level enhancements and open application programming interfaces
to the Novas KDB data model, new exploration and debugging products
that transparently traverse designs and testbenches, and
interoperability with third-party testbench automation tools.
Novas' second-generation debug platform also captures critical
design knowledge that typically remains with the engineers who create
it. By storing this information and making it available throughout the
development process, design teams can more productively reuse designs
across time and distance. Key elements include: new automatic
extraction and KDB storage capabilities, customizable viewing tools,
and tight integration with design exploration and debugging tools.
Dr. Paul Huang, Novas Software founder, chairman of the board of
directors, and 2000 EDAC Kaufman award winner said: "As a
technologist, I applaud the fundamental breakthrough technology of the
Novas debug platform because it delivers performance, capacity and
capabilities as fast as IC complexity grows. The Novas team led debug
into the 90s' with a simulator-independent approach, and I'm confident
in their ability to take debug into the next generation."
Availability
Beginning in the second quarter of 2002, Novas will release new
software products that leverage the advanced capabilities and
methodologies of its new debug technology platform. An enhanced
performance version of the Novas Debussy knowledge-based debug system
is also scheduled for release in the second quarter.
About Novas
Novas is the pioneer of advanced debug systems deployed by
hundreds of companies worldwide to reduce functional verification
costs for complex chip designs. Novas' leading-edge technology
platform applies automation and design knowledge throughout the entire
debug process to improve the efficiency of system-on-chip designers.
Users report that the Company's initial offering, the Debussy®
knowledge-based debug system, cuts in half the time it takes to
locate, isolate and understand the causes of unexpected design
behavior. Novas has over 7,000 systems in use today. For more
information visit http://www.novas.com or send email to
info@novas.com. Novas is located at: 2025 Gateway Place, Suite 480,
San Jose, Calif. 95110. Phone: 408-467-7888. Fax: 408-467-7889,
1-888-NOVAS-38.
Novas Software and Debussy are registered trademarks and Knowledge
Database is a trademark of Novas Software, Inc. All other trademarks
or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
(1)Note to Editors:
The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) is
an assessment of the semiconductor technology requirements. It is
sponsored by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), the
European Electronic Component Association (EECA), the Japan
Electronics & Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA),
the Korean Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), and Taiwan
Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA . International SEMATECH is
the global communication center for this activity. The ITRS web site
is http://public.itrs.net/.
Contact:
Public Relations for Novas
Wired Island, Ltd.
Laurie Stanley, 510/656-0999
laurie@wiredislandpr.com
or
Novas Software, Inc., San Jose
Lorie Bowlby, 408/467-7871
lorie@novas.com
