Wave Issue 2000 1/3/00 Article 9-01

***STMicroelectronics and Synopsys Partner to Develop C-Based
System Level Design Solution for Complex Systems on a Chip
(December 6)

Synopsys and STMicroelectronics announced a three-year
partnership to develop an advanced system level design solution
for complex Systems on a Chip (SoC). Both companies are combining
their tools, technologies, and expertise to create a C-based
design solution. These tools will first be validated in pilot
projects, and then be released to STMicroelectronics' design
teams and customers.

The initial focus of this partnership is developing a C-based
system level hardware/software co-design, co-verification, and
performance analysis environment for complex SoCs. Great emphasis
is placed on providing a high quality-of-results (QoR)
implementation path into silicon from the system level, as well
as enabling the rapid prototyping of complex SoCs. To achieve
this, STMicroelectronics and Synopsys are leveraging the recently
released SystemC modeling platform, a class-library-based
extension of the C++ programming language. SystemC provides the
necessary constructs to describe the hardware, software, and
system aspects of a complex SoC and its operating environment.

A requirement for the design of SoCs is the ability to exchange
system level IP and executable specifications written in SystemC
between system houses, IP companies, and semiconductors vendors.
The open and vendor-independent nature of the SystemC initiative
delivers the solution to this requirement.

Under this partnership, STMicroelectronics and Synopsys are
giving special attention to the growing area of digital signal
processing applications. The companies are creating a tool suite
that addresses the challenges of developing software for fixed-
point digital signal processors (DSPs). By combining C compilers
currently in use at STMicroelectronics together with floating-
point to fixed-point design technology already under development
at Synopsys, the companies will enable STMicroelectronics'
customers to accelerate one of the most time consuming tasks when
developing software for a fixed-point DSP.