Alliance Delivers Virtual Component -VC- Guidelines to Ease Selection and Transfer of VCs for SoC Integration.

LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 27, 1999--

--Specification will aid providers and users to assess and integrate VCs

--Specifies VC documentation and transfer requirements

The Virtual Socket Interface Alliance (VSIA(TM)) today announced that it has released its virtual component transfer specification that will ease the search, evaluation, selection, integration and verification of virtual components (VC) for System-on-Chip (SoC) designs. Developed by VSIA's Virtual Component Transfer (VCT) Development Working Group (DWG) and entitled, "Virtual Component Transfer Specification 1, Version 2.0, "the specification provides a detailed description of the requirements for VC documentation and transfer. The document can be accessed and downloaded by members from the VSI Alliance web site at: http://www.vsi.org.

The specification provides information on the superset of necessary knowledge base to be transferred, usually in the form of documentation required by VC users and integrators as part of tal of seven technical specification documents for SoC design to date, which are accessible by VSIA members through its web site.

"The exchange of virtual components is fundamental to the concept of system-chip design, said Takeshi Fuse," Chair of VSIA's Virtual Component Transfer DWG and Manager, IP Strategy of FUJITSU Limited. "The virtual component transfer specification lays the much needed and critical foundation that will help VC users and providers in establishing a standard adoption process. It's another step towards bringing us closer to successful integration of VCs."

The Virtual Component Transfer specification helps VC developers and users by defining the information superset for VC documentation; VC catalog selection data; VC evaluation and qualification information; reference information for tools, libraries, interface specs, etc; integration guidelines; application notes and functions; contact information for technical support if required; and transfer formats for the entire VC package. The document is structured from the viewpoint of the design process, which takes place from the time when VC users consider the adoption and integration of a VC into their system. These requirements and set of specifications will benefit design managers, system engineers, analog/mixed-signal and digital intellectual property engineers and EDA tool developers by enhancing their ability to properly exchange blocks for system-chip designs.

Documentation Deliverables

The Virtual Component Transfer specification document includes a list of deliverables, the currently used formats for each deliverable and the classification of information deliverables for hard, firm and soft VCs as mandatory, conditionally mandatory, recommended or conditionally recommended. The detailed VC transfer information and requirements in the document include: the VC provider's claim for the functionality, nature and completion of the specific VC; the system/logical description including functional & structural descriptions, interfaces, integration requirements, abstract models, timing and electrical characteristics; tools flow and methodology information on application; test information and requirements for analog and mixed-signal VCs; and supplier information that includes VC package transfer guidelines.

"Several VSIA working group member companies have pooled their knowledge and experience in defining VC transfer deliverables," said Lee Dilley, an individual VSIA member and the task leader for the development of the VCT specification. "Our efforts in development and use of these guidelines, which are descriptive rather than prescriptive, makes us believe that they are an i ARM, Cadence Design Systems, Design & Reuse, Eity, and the VSI Alliance.

The VCT DWG is planning to roll out a series of guidelines and specification such as VC catalog requirements, exchange formats and packaging requirements. The subsequent specifications are scheduled for reAutomation (EDA), and IP provider companies. VS has wide industry participation with more thansit the VSI Alliance web site at www.vsi.org, or email to [e-mail].

Editor's Notes:

Virtual Socket Interface Alliance, Virtual Socket Interface (VSI) Alliance and VSI Alliance are all trademarks of the Virtual Socket Interface Alliance.