Fast and accurate transaction level models using result oriented modeling

Abstract

Efficient communication modeling is a critical task in SoC design and exploration. In particular, fast and accurate communication is needed to predict the performance of a system. Recently, Transaction Level Modeling (TLM) is used to speedup communication simulation at the cost of accuracy. This paper proposes a novel modeling technique called Result Oriented Modeling (ROM) which removes the accuracy drawback of TLM. Using ROM, models yield the same speed as their TLM counterparts, yet still are 100% accurate in timing. ROM utilizes the fact that internal states in the communication channel are not observable by the caller. Hence, ROM omits the internal states entirely and optimistically predicts the end result. Retroactively, the outcome is checked and, if necessary, corrective measures are taken to maintain the accuracy of the model. In this paper, we apply ROM to the AMBA AHB bus architecture. Our experimental results show that ROM exhibits the same high simulation performance as traditional TLM, yet it retains the same accuracy as the bus functional model. Thus, the proposed ROM approach eliminates the speed/accuracy tradeoff exhibited by traditional TLM.