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eckorsberg
I think this is a positive advancement of the SystemC standard. I just hope ...
IEEE 1666 (SystemC) now includes TLM 2.0
Brian Bailey
11/10/2011 6:41 PM EST
When OSCI was formed and the SystemC language given to the industry, it created more controversy that anything else. Over time that subsided and people looked at SystemC as a potential new language to power the emerging Electronic System Level (ESL). They were partially right, but everyone soon found out that trying to get two SystemC models to work together when they came from different model providers left a lot to be desired.
Proprietary systems emerged around it to provide interfacing methods. Meanwhile SystemC became an IEEE standard. Back in OSCI, one of the working groups was busy trying to standardize an interface and eventually the TLM 2.0 was released. Almost overnight every vendor of virtual prototypes got behind this, even though they were all saying it was too little too late. Well, today, the IEEE Standards Board has approved a revised version of the IEEE 1666(TM) "Standard SystemC Language Reference Manual". The new version of IEEE 1666 encompasses many enhancements, notably the support for transaction-level modeling (TLM).
It is the first revision to the standard since the original specification was published by the IEEE in 2005. TLM is a method to move to a higher level of abstraction to improve designer productivity without sacrificing accuracy critical to design implementation. A major enhancement in the revised IEEE 1666 standard is the definition of a TLM interface to enable SystemC model interoperability and reuse at the transaction level, providing an essential electronic system-level framework for architecture analysis, software development, software performance analysis, and hardware verification.
The IEEE 1666-2011 standard is expected to be available by the end of the year.
Brian Bailey – keeping you covered
If you found this article to be of interest, visit EDA Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of Electronic Design Automation (EDA).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for the EDA Designline weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
Proprietary systems emerged around it to provide interfacing methods. Meanwhile SystemC became an IEEE standard. Back in OSCI, one of the working groups was busy trying to standardize an interface and eventually the TLM 2.0 was released. Almost overnight every vendor of virtual prototypes got behind this, even though they were all saying it was too little too late. Well, today, the IEEE Standards Board has approved a revised version of the IEEE 1666(TM) "Standard SystemC Language Reference Manual". The new version of IEEE 1666 encompasses many enhancements, notably the support for transaction-level modeling (TLM).
It is the first revision to the standard since the original specification was published by the IEEE in 2005. TLM is a method to move to a higher level of abstraction to improve designer productivity without sacrificing accuracy critical to design implementation. A major enhancement in the revised IEEE 1666 standard is the definition of a TLM interface to enable SystemC model interoperability and reuse at the transaction level, providing an essential electronic system-level framework for architecture analysis, software development, software performance analysis, and hardware verification.
The IEEE 1666-2011 standard is expected to be available by the end of the year.
Brian Bailey – keeping you covered
If you found this article to be of interest, visit EDA Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of Electronic Design Automation (EDA).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for the EDA Designline weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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eckorsberg
11/20/2011 8:55 PM EST
I think this is a positive advancement of the SystemC standard. I just hope that we can still write non-TLM models. I have written TLM compliant models and others in 'basic' api. TLM models have the potential for mix and match interoperability between components from different vendors and components at different layers of abstraction. However I would still like to have the ability to write 'plain' SystemC behavioral models that are not required to be TLM compliant.
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