Synopsys Extends System-Level Design and Verification Solution with Advanced Hardware/Software Codesign Environment.Business Editors/Technology Writers MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2000 New CoCentric(TM) System Studio, Cornerstone for C-Based System Level Design, Closes the Gap in System Level-to-RTL Design Flow Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS SNPS Space Nuclear Power System ) the technology leader for complex integrated circuit integrated circuit (IC), electronic circuit built on a semiconductor substrate, usually one of single-crystal silicon. The circuit, often called a chip, is packaged in a hermetically sealed case or a nonhermetic plastic capsule, with leads extending from it for (IC) design, extends its portfolio of system-level design and verification solutions with today's announcement of CoCentric(TM) System Studio. CoCentric System Studio is the first component of Synopsys' new CoCentric(TM) product family -- a set of tools and methodologies centered around concurrent development of complex hardware and software systems. System Studio enables designers to quickly create executable system specifications and efficiently implement them as hardware and software functions, using multiple domain-specific abstractions in a single C-based environment. System Studio provides a major leap forward for customers in implementing a complete system-level to GDSII GDSII Graphic Design System II solution. Shrinking silicon geometries greatly increase the complexity of system-on-a-chip (SoC) design, which presents design teams with significant new challenges. One of the most critical of these challenges is the designer's ability to effectively capture and verify a complete specification of the system, at a high level of abstraction The level of complexity by which a system is viewed. The higher the level, the less detail. The lower the level, the more detail. The highest level of abstraction is the single system itself. , -- both hardware AND software -- in one unified environment. Desirable attributes of such an environment include capabilities for creating, managing, sharing and reusing intellectual property (IP) specified in high-level languages such as SystemC, and support for the implementation of the high-level design The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. Please help [ improve the introduction] to meet Wikipedia's layout standards. You can discuss the issue on the talk page. in both hardware and software. These features directly benefit the user in improving the product design process and speeding time-to-market. In Synopsys' CoCentric System Studio, dataflow and extended hierarchical control models can be arbitrarily nested at any level of hierarchy. This capability is of particular relevance for applications such as digital communications Transmitting text, voice and video in binary form. See communications. , multimedia, and networking, where complex control mechanisms must be embedded in the data and signal-processing path. System Studio users can describe their systems directly in C/C C/C Center to Center C/C Combustion Chamber C/C Command/Control C/C Crew Chief C/C cabin cruiser (US DoD) C/C chief complaint (medical) C/C Channel-to-Channel C/C Communication and Collaboration ++, including the recently announced SystemC language, as well as incorporate existing Verilog and VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) A hardware description language (HDL) used to design electronic systems at the component, board and system level. VHDL allows models to be developed at a very high level of abstraction. blocks. Dataflow and control functions can be defined readily using a graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to , and processor models can be included easily in the system description. System Studio also uniquely supports multiple levels of design "Transparency," ranging from "black-box" to fully transparent. Transparency is a highly desirable capability that allows design optimizations to be made for the purpose of speeding system validation and enabling system implementation. System Studio is a structured, yet highly flexible environment that offers system designers unprecedented degrees of design freedom for the specification and reuse of system-level IP. Thus, System Studio is ideally suited for design teams, small or large, where timely management, verification, and implementation of large-scale, complex system designs is mission-critical. "We consider Synopsys CoCentric System Studio an important EDA (1) (Electronic Design Automation) Using the computer to design, lay out, verify and simulate the performance of electronic circuits on a chip or printed circuit board. tool for the development of our wireless communications wireless communications System using radio-frequency, infrared, microwave, or other types of electromagnetic or acoustic waves in place of wires, cables, or fibre optics to transmit signals or data. systems," said Jouko Junkkari, vice president of System Design at Nokia Mobile Phones. "To manage the complexity of our most advanced systems, it is necessary to explore all design options at the system level in a C-based design environment. This technology enables us to design, partition and simulate the intricate hardware/software operations that are a fundamental part of wireless system design." At the Heart of System-Level Design The launch of CoCentric System Studio follows the formation of the Open SystemC Initiative (www.systemc.org) in September of last year. The initiative set a new standard in industry cooperation around the increasingly important system-level design space. SystemC enables, promotes and accelerates system-level IP model exchange by providing a common C++ modeling platform. Synopsys' CoCentric System Studio builds on the SystemC foundation by delivering a sophisticated environment with additional tools for the concurrent development of complex hardware and software systems. "Synopsys' R&D efforts focus on providing innovative solutions to our customers' three toughest SoC design challenges: system-level design and verification, timing closure, and IP reuse," said Dr. Aart de Geus, chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Synopsys. "With the introduction of CoCentric System Studio, Synopsys demonstrates its pledge to customers to be their partner for SoC design, from concept to implementation. System Studio provides the necessary linkages between the C-based world of system-level design and the world of real hardware/software design implementation. We are very excited about the unprecedented level of control over the entire system design process that this new product will bring to our customers." Industry leaders in system design have worked with Synopsys on the CoCentric product family. "We have a history of collaborating with companies with leading-edge technology," said Kiminiori Fujisaku, general manager of Worldwide System LSI LSI: see integrated circuit. (Large Scale Integration) Between 3,000 and 100,000 transistors on a chip. See SSI, MSI, VLSI and ULSI. Technology at Fujitsu's Semiconductor Group. "Particularly with System Studio's advanced modeling and design validation capabilities, Synopsys offers a system-level design solution that is highly compatible with our advanced SoC design methodology, IPSymphony. We are actively investigating the licensing and integration of this technology." Targets Advanced System Design in Digital Communications, Multimedia and Networking CoCentric System Studio's new, unique and powerful capabilities make it especially useful in the burgeoning broadband digital communications, multimedia and networking applications markets. The convergence of these technologies is expected to provide entirely new categories of networked multimedia communications products, offering full-motion video Video transmission that changes the image 30 frames per second (30 fps). Motion pictures are run at 24 fps, which is the minimum frequency required to eliminate the perception of moving frames and make the images appear visually fluid to the eye. , video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. , wireless Internet access See how to access the Internet. and more. "In cooperation with an advanced design team, we are actively evaluating System Studio for their latest project in third-generation wireless communications," states Pierre Paulin, director of Embedded Systems Embedded systems Computer systems that cannot be programmed by the user because they are preprogrammed for a specific task and are buried within the equipment they serve. Technology at STMicroelectronics in Grenoble, France, "because its extensions into new domain-specific abstractions enable us to handle key aspects of systems complexity today. We are also very confident that System Studio's transparent modeling approach will enable us to create better and higher performance hardware and software implementations." Full Compatibility with COSSAP Synopsys' COSSAP(R) product line, the predecessor to CoCentric System Studio, has achieved tremendous success in the digital communications design market, having compounded annual growth of over 50 percent per year since 1994. CoCentric System Studio deploys the next-generation of design automation technologies to address the most complex design problems while maintaining full compatibility with COSSAP. COSSAP building blocks can be plugged in, simulated, and maintained in System Studio directly, fully protecting Synopsys' customers' investments in COSSAP. System Studio is offered as an upgrade to currently supported COSSAP users. Pricing and Availability CoCentric System Studio per-copy pricing starts at $20,000.00 US for a one-year term license. The product is currently shipping in limited availability When customers of the PSTN make telephone calls, they commonly make use of a telecommunications network called a switched-circuit network. In a switched-circuit network, devices known as switches are used to connect the caller to the callee. and will be available for general release in June 2000. About Synopsys Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a leading supplier of electronic design automation (EDA) solutions to the global electronics market. The company provides comprehensive design technologies to creators of advanced integrated circuits Integrated circuits Miniature electronic circuits produced within and upon a single semiconductor crystal, usually silicon. Integrated circuits range in complexity from simple logic circuits and amplifiers, about 1/20 in. (1. , electronic systems and systems on a chip. Synopsys also provides consulting services and support to its customers to streamline the overall design process and accelerate time-to-market. Additional information about Synopsys is available at http://www.synopsys.com Synopsys and COSSAP and are registered trademarks. CoCentric is a trademark of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners. |
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