Software-friendly HW/SW co-simulation: an industrial case study

This paper proposes a novel HW/SW co-simulation approach that minimizes the impact on software designers. We propose a SystemC-based system that enables the software team to test their software with their own tools and environment using an accurate simulated ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) model.The solution presented here enables a smooth and early ASIC and SW integration, which reduces the project development time and improves the ASIC design quality (i.e., SW engineers can help in the ASIC verification and ASIC engineers can help in the SW development). In this solution, the real and full software (i.e., multi-threaded application) runs in its native environment with minimal changes and interfaces with a simulated ASIC model using sockets. We have tested this approach on a pilot-project, which has demonstrated the feasibility of this co-development methodology.