JPH0850603A - Functional design support device and functional design support method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a functional design support device capable of efficiently performing functional design of an LSI using a plurality of state transition diagrams. A functional design support device comprising a state transition diagram creation means 1, a display means 2, and a simulation means 3, wherein state identification information is added to a state symbol supplied from the state transition diagram creation means. Based on the information of the generated state transition diagram and the current state identification information supplied from the simulation means, the state transition diagram having the state symbol having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information is searched and retrieved. The simulation execution progress search means 4 to be displayed on the display means is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a functional design support device and a functional design support method used when designing a functional design of an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, functional description based on a state transition diagram of an LSI has been frequently performed. Along with this, a device for inputting a state transition diagram using a computer and performing a simulation is also becoming widespread. Among such devices, a device has also been developed in which a state symbol representing a current state is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner by, for example, changing the display color during execution of a simulation.

[0003]

In the device for changing the display color as described above, it is necessary for the operator to display the corresponding state transition diagram on the display screen in advance. However, as the circuit becomes large in scale, as shown in FIG. 6, the number of state transition diagrams increases, and the connection relationship of a plurality of state transition diagrams becomes complicated. It's hard to tell if you should pay attention. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a functional design support device and a functional design support method capable of efficiently performing functional design of an LSI using a plurality of state transition diagrams. The purpose is to do.

[0004]

A functional design support apparatus according to the present invention is a state transition in which state identification information is added to each of a plurality of state symbol information forming a state transition diagram showing a transition relation between states of a circuit. A functional design support device provided with simulation information created based on the information of the figure and simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the information for the simulation, and supplied with the information of the state transition diagram. Meanwhile, the current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being performed is supplied from the simulation means,
The simulation execution process of searching the state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information from the information of the state transition diagram based on the current state identification information and transmitting the information of the state transition diagram including the retrieved state symbol information The present invention is characterized by comprising a search means and a display means for displaying the information of the state transition diagram sent by the simulation execution progress search means.

Further, the functional design support apparatus of the present invention uses the information of the state transition diagram in which the state identification information is added to each of the plurality of state symbol information forming the state transition diagram showing the transition relation between the states of the circuit. A functional design support device provided with simulation information created on the basis of the simulation information and simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information. Create connection relation information about hierarchical structure and connection relation,
Also, the current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being executed is supplied from the simulation means, and the information of the state transition diagram having the current state identification information is retrieved from the connection relation information based on the current state identification information. The present invention is characterized by comprising state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means for transmitting information on the state transition diagram and display means for displaying information on the state transition diagram transmitted by the simulation execution progress retrieval means.

Further, the functional design support method of the present invention uses the information of the state transition diagram in which the state identification information is added to each of the plurality of state symbol information forming the state transition diagram showing the transition relation between the states of the circuit. A functional design support method comprising a simulation step of supplying simulation information created based on the simulation information and simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information, wherein the information of the state transition diagram is supplied. The current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being executed is supplied by the simulation step, and the state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information based on the current state identification information is supplied from the information of the state transition diagram. A system that sends the information of the state transition diagram that contains the retrieved state symbol information. And Interview configuration has been running the search process,
And a display step of displaying the information of the state transition diagram transmitted by the simulation execution progress search step.

Further, according to the functional design support method of the present invention, the information of the state transition diagram in which the state identification information is added to each of the plurality of state symbol information forming the state transition diagram showing the transition relation between the states of the circuit is added. A functional design support method comprising a simulation process of supplying simulation information created based on the simulation information, and simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information. Create connection relation information about hierarchical structure and connection relation,
Also, the current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being performed is supplied by the simulation step, and the information of the state transition diagram having the current state identification information is searched from the connection relation information based on the current state identification information. The present invention is characterized by including a state transition diagram connection relation retrieval step of transmitting information of the state transition diagram and a display step of displaying information of the state transition diagram transmitted by the simulation execution progress retrieval step.

[0008]

With this structure, the state information of the state transition diagram is supplied to the simulation execution progress searching means.
Current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being performed is supplied from the simulation means.
The simulation execution progress retrieving means retrieves the state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information from the information of the state transition diagram based on the current state identification information and retrieves the state symbol information of the state transition diagram. Send information to the display means. The display means displays the information of the state transition diagram sent by the simulation execution progress search means. Therefore, the simulation execution progress search means automatically searches for and displays the state transition diagram including the state symbol during simulation even in the case of the functional design using a plurality of state transition diagrams, so that the circuit operation can be performed. It is possible to easily and quickly track and grasp, and to perform functional design efficiently.

The state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means is supplied with the information of the state transition diagram, and the simulation means is supplied with the current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being executed. The state transition diagram connection relation search means creates connection relation information relating to the hierarchical structure and connection relation of the state transition diagram, and based on the current state identification information, the state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information, The information of the state transition diagram including the retrieved state symbol information is sent to the display means. The display means displays the information of the state transition diagram transmitted by the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means. Therefore, the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means automatically retrieves and displays the state transition diagram including the state symbol during the simulation even in the case of the functional design using a plurality of state transition diagrams. It is possible to easily and quickly track and grasp the movements of, and to perform functional design efficiently.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the functional design support device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The functional design support method of the present invention is implemented by using the functional design support device according to the above-described embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the functional design support apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a state transition diagram creating unit 1, a simulation unit 3 to which output information of the state transition diagram creating unit 1 is supplied, a state transition diagram creating unit 1, and The simulation execution progress search means 4 to which the output information of the simulation means 3 is supplied, the state transition diagram connection relationship search means 5 to which the output information of the state transition diagram creation means 1 and the simulation means 3 is supplied, and the state transition diagram creation means. 1, a simulation execution progress search means 4 and a display means 2 for displaying output information of the state transition diagram connection relation search means 5. The state transition diagram creating means 1, the display means 2 and the simulation means 3 are already generally used.

The state transition diagram creating means 1 is inputted with a plurality of state symbol information constituting a state transition diagram showing a transition relation between the states of the circuit, so that the respective state symbol information,
A state transition diagram is created by adding state identification information for identifying each state, and simulation information is created based on the created state transition diagram. The simulation means 3 is supplied with the simulation information created by the state transition diagram creation means 1, and the simulation means 3 simulates at least the algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information.

The simulation execution progress search means 4 is supplied with the information of the state transition diagram from the state transition diagram creation means 1, while the simulation state progress information is supplied from the simulation means 3 with the current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being executed. The simulation execution progress search means 4 supplied
Based on the current state identification information, the state transition diagram information is searched for the state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information from the information of the state transition diagram, and the information of the state transition diagram including the retrieved state symbol information is displayed on the display means 2 Send to.

The state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5 is supplied with the information of the state transition diagram from the state transition diagram creation means 1, and the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5 receives the hierarchical structure and connection of the state transition diagram. A state transition diagram in which connection relation information regarding a relation is created, and information of the state transition diagram indicated by the current state identification information is searched from the connection relation information based on the current state identification information supplied from the simulation means 3 and retrieved. Information is sent to the display means 2.

The state transition diagram creating means 1, the simulation means 3, the simulation execution progress retrieval means 4 and the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5 can be used, for example, by a personal computer, and the display means 2 is a display such as a CRT. Can be used. A keyboard and a mouse are used for inputting information to the state transition diagram creation means 1, the simulation means 3, the simulation execution progress retrieval means 4 and the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5.

The operation of the functional design support apparatus of this embodiment having the above-described structure will be described below with reference to FIG. In step (indicated by "S" in FIG. 2) 1, the known state transition diagram creating means 1 constitutes a state transition diagram, for example, state symbols such as "S0" and "S1" shown in FIG. A state transition diagram is created by the operator inputting information and state transition direction information. It should be noted that in FIG. 3 etc., the state symbols shown by double circles indicate that the state transition diagram of the lower hierarchy is included. Further, by creating the state transition diagram, each state symbol is provided with state identification information that uniquely indicates each state symbol. The information on the created state transition diagram is sent to the display unit 2, the simulation execution progress retrieval unit 4, and the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval unit 5, respectively. Furthermore, after one or more state transition diagrams are created by the state transition diagram creating means 1 in this way, the state transition diagram creating means 1 uses the known method to create each state transition diagram. Based on the above, HDL (Hardware Description Language) as information for simulation is automatically created. The created simulation information is sent to the simulation means 3.

The state transition diagram shown in FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram at the top of the circuit (hereinafter, the state transition diagram shown in FIG. 3 is referred to as "TOP"), and a state symbol having a lower hierarchy. It has “SUB1”. The state transition diagram shown in FIG. 4 shows the contents of the state symbol "SUB1", and further has a state symbol "SUB2" having a lower hierarchy. The state transition diagram shown in FIG. 5 shows the contents of the state symbol “SUB2”. Therefore, after the creation of all the state transition diagrams is completed, the image displayed on the display unit 2 by the information of the state transition diagram sent from the state transition diagram creation unit 1 to the display unit 2 is, for example, that shown in FIG. Becomes

In step 2, on the basis of the simulation information supplied from the state transition diagram creating means 1, the simulation means 3 executes at least the algorithm simulation of the circuit represented by the state transition diagram. It By executing the simulation, the current state identification information indicating that the simulation is being executed is sent from the simulation means 3 to the simulation execution progress search means 4 and the state transition diagram connection relation search means 5.

In step 3, it is judged whether or not the simulation has been executed for all of the created state transition diagrams. If all of them have been executed, the operation is terminated, and if some have not been executed, the next step is executed. Go to 4.

In step 4, as described above, the state transition diagram information supplied from the state transition diagram creation means 1 in which the state identification information is added to each state symbol, and the current state supplied from the simulation means 3 are described. Based on the state identification information, the simulation execution progress retrieval means 4 retrieves the information of the state transition diagram having the state symbol information provided with the state identification information, and displays the retrieved information of the state transition diagram on the display means 2. Send out. For example, immediately after the start of simulation execution, the state symbol “S0” shown in FIG. 3 is being executed, so the simulation execution progress retrieval means 4 retrieves the state transition diagram shown in FIG. The displayed state transition diagram shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display means 2 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the simulation execution progress search means 4 indicates the state symbol “S” currently executing the simulation.
For example, “0” is highlighted (indicated by a mesh pattern in FIG. 7) to distinguish it from other state symbols.
Then, the simulation in the simulation means 3 progresses and is included in the state symbol “SUB1”.
If the simulation means 3 executes the simulation for the state of the state symbol “S1” shown in FIG.
Based on the current state identification information supplied from the simulation means 3, the simulation execution progress search means 4 is shown in FIG.
The state transition diagram including the state symbol "S1" shown in is searched, and in steps 6 and 7, the "TOP" displayed on the display unit 2 is searched.
The state symbol “SU” shown in FIG.
The state transition diagram of "B1" is displayed, and the state symbol "S1" in the state transition diagram of the state symbol "SUB1" is highlighted.

By providing the simulation execution progress search means 4 in this way, even if there are a plurality of state transition diagrams, the state transition diagram including the state symbols during the simulation is automatically displayed on the display means 2. Can be displayed on. Therefore, even in a complicated and large-scale circuit composed of a plurality of state transition diagrams, its operation can be traced and grasped easily and quickly.

On the other hand, in steps 8 and 9, the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5 is based on the information of the state transition diagram supplied from the state transition diagram creation means 1 to obtain each state transition diagram as shown in FIG. Create a diagram showing the connections. The information in the diagram showing the created connection relationship is sent to the display means 2 and displayed on the display means 2. Then, as described above, the information of the state transition diagram in which the state identification information is added to each state symbol supplied from the state transition diagram creating means 1 and the current state identification information supplied from the simulation means 3 are included. Based on this, the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5 retrieves the information of the state transition diagram having the state symbol information to which the state identification information is added, and the retrieved information of the state transition diagram shows the connection relation. Which item is applicable is searched and the search result information is sent to the display means 2. Therefore, in the display means 2, immediately after the simulation is started, as shown in FIG. 9, the portion described as “TOP” is highlighted (indicated by a mesh pattern in FIG. 9), and the simulation is in progress. Symbol "SUB
When the simulation for "1" is being executed, the portion described as "SUB1" is highlighted as shown in FIG.

In this way, the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5
By providing the above, even when there are a plurality of state transition diagrams, it is possible to automatically display which state transition diagram of these state transition diagrams is being executed on the display means 2. Therefore, even in a complicated and large-scale circuit composed of a plurality of state transition diagrams, its operation can be traced and grasped easily and quickly.

The above steps 4 to 9 are repeatedly executed by the simulation means 3 until the simulation is completed.

In the above-described embodiment, the state transition diagram creation means 1 directly supplies the state transition diagram information to the simulation execution progress retrieval means 4 and the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5. Not limited to this, for example, the information of the state transition diagram is stored in the storage unit from the state transition diagram creating unit 1, and the state of the state transition diagram is transferred from the storage unit to the simulation execution progress retrieval unit 4 or the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval unit 5. Information may be supplied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5 creates the connection information regarding the hierarchical structure and connection relation of the state transition diagram based on the information of the state transition diagram supplied. The connection information created separately in the other components is supplied to the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5, and the state transition diagram connection relation retrieval means 5 identifies the current state supplied from the simulation means 3. Information of the state transition diagram having the current state identification information may be retrieved from the connection relation information based on the information.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the current state identification information indicating the state during the execution of the simulation and the state identification information given to the state symbols forming the state transition diagram are used to detect the current state. The state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the state identification information is retrieved from the information of the state transition diagram, and the information of the state transition diagram including the retrieved state symbol information is transmitted and displayed. Even in the case of functional design using diagrams, the state transition diagram including state symbols during simulation can be automatically searched and displayed, making it easy and quick to track and understand the operation of the circuit. Functional design can be done efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a functional design support device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the functional design support device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a state transition diagram created by the state transition diagram creation device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state transition diagram of a lower layer of the state symbol “SUB1” shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a state transition diagram of a lower layer of the state symbol "SUB2" shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of state transition diagrams created by the state transition diagram creation device shown in FIG. 1 are displayed on a display means.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state displayed on a display unit by an operation of the simulation execution progress retrieval unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state displayed on a display unit by an operation of the simulation execution progress retrieval unit shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a state displayed on the display means by the operation of the state transition diagram connection relation searching means shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state displayed on the display means by the operation of the state transition diagram connection relation searching means shown in FIG. 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... State transition diagram creation means, 2 ... Display means, 3 ... Simulation means, 4 ... Simulation execution progress search means, 5 ... State transition diagram connection relation search means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Information for simulation created based on information of a state transition diagram in which state identification information is added to each of a plurality of state symbol information forming a state transition diagram showing a transition relation between states of a circuit is supplied. A functional design support device comprising a simulation means for simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information, wherein the information of the state transition diagram is supplied, while the simulation means executes a simulation. The current state identification information indicating the state is supplied, and the state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information based on the current state identification information is searched from the information of the state transition diagram and includes the retrieved state symbol information. Simulation execution progress search means for sending information of state transition diagram Functional design support apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the information of the state transition diagram the simulation execution course search means are transmitted. 2. A simulation information created based on information of a state transition diagram in which state identification information is added to each of a plurality of state symbol information forming a state transition diagram showing a transition relation between states of a circuit is supplied. A functional design support apparatus comprising a simulation means for simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information, wherein connection relation information regarding a hierarchical structure and connection relation of the state transition diagram based on the information of the state transition diagram. And the current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is being executed is supplied from the simulation means, and the information of the state transition diagram having the current state identification information based on the current state identification information is supplied from the connection relation information. State transition diagram that sends information about the state transition diagram that was searched for and searched If, functional design support apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the information of the state transition diagram the simulation execution course search means are transmitted. 3. The information for simulation created based on the information of the state transition diagram in which the state identification information is added to each of the plurality of state symbol information forming the state transition diagram showing the transition relation between the states of the circuit. A functional design support method comprising a simulation step of simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information, wherein the information of the state transition diagram is supplied while the simulation is executed by the simulation step. The current state identification information indicating the state is supplied, and the state symbol information having the state identification information indicated by the current state identification information based on the current state identification information is searched from the information of the state transition diagram and includes the retrieved state symbol information. Simulation execution progress search process for sending information of state transition diagram , Functional design support method characterized by comprising a display step of displaying the information of the state transition diagram sent by the simulation execution course search step. 4. Information for simulation created based on information of a state transition diagram in which state identification information is added to each of a plurality of state symbol information forming a state transition diagram showing a transition relationship between states of a circuit is supplied. A functional design support method comprising a simulation step of simulating at least an algorithm of the circuit based on the simulation information, wherein connection relation information regarding a hierarchical structure and connection relation of the state transition diagram based on the information of the state transition diagram. And the current state identification information indicating the state in which the simulation is executed by the simulation step is supplied, and the information of the state transition diagram having the current state identification information based on the current state identification information is supplied from the connection relation information. State transition diagram that sends information about the retrieved state transition diagram Extent and functional design support method characterized by comprising a display step of displaying the information of the state transition diagram sent by the simulation execution course search step.