Electronic system level
Encyclopedia
Electronic system level (ESL) design and verification is an emerging electronic design methodology that focuses on the higher abstraction level concerns first and foremost. The term Electronic System Level or ESL Design was first defined by Gartner Dataquest
, a EDA-industry-analysis firm, on February 1, 2001. It is defined in the ESL Design and Verification book as: "the utilization of appropriate abstractions in order to increase comprehension about a system, and to enhance the probability of a successful implementation of functionality in a cost-effective manner."
The basic premise is to model the behavior of the entire system using a high-level language such as C
, C++
, LabVIEW
, or MATLAB
or using graphical "model-based" design tools like SystemVue or Simulink
. Newer languages are emerging that enable the creation of a model at a higher level of abstraction including general purpose system design languages like SysML as well as those that are specific to embedded system design like SMDL and SSDL supported by emerging system design automation products like Teraptor. Rapid and correct-by-construction implementation of the system can be automated using EDA
tools such as high-level synthesis
and embedded software
tools, although much of it is performed manually today. ESL can also be accomplished through the use of SystemC
as an abstract modeling language
.
Electronic System Level is now an established approach at most of the world’s leading System-on-a-chip
(SoC) design companies, and is being used increasingly in system design. From its genesis as an algorithm
modeling methodology with ‘no links to implementation’, ESL is evolving into a set of complementary methodologies that enable embedded system design, verification, and debugging
through to the hardware
and software
implementation of custom SoC
, system-on-FPGA, system-on-board, and entire multi-board systems.
Gartner
Gartner, Inc. is an information technology research and advisory firm headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. It was known as GartnerGroup until 2001....
, a EDA-industry-analysis firm, on February 1, 2001. It is defined in the ESL Design and Verification book as: "the utilization of appropriate abstractions in order to increase comprehension about a system, and to enhance the probability of a successful implementation of functionality in a cost-effective manner."
The basic premise is to model the behavior of the entire system using a high-level language such as C
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
, C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
, LabVIEW
LabVIEW
LabVIEW is a system design platform and development environment for a visual programming language from National Instruments. LabVIEW provides engineers and scientists with the tools needed to create and deploy measurement and control systems.The graphical language is named "G"...
, or MATLAB
MATLAB
MATLAB is a numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language. Developed by MathWorks, MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages,...
or using graphical "model-based" design tools like SystemVue or Simulink
Simulink
Simulink, developed by MathWorks, is a commercial tool for modeling, simulating and analyzing multidomain dynamic systems. Its primary interface is a graphical block diagramming tool and a customizable set of block libraries. It offers tight integration with the rest of the MATLAB environment and...
. Newer languages are emerging that enable the creation of a model at a higher level of abstraction including general purpose system design languages like SysML as well as those that are specific to embedded system design like SMDL and SSDL supported by emerging system design automation products like Teraptor. Rapid and correct-by-construction implementation of the system can be automated using EDA
Electronic design automation
Electronic design automation is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits...
tools such as high-level synthesis
High-level synthesis
High-level synthesis , sometimes referred to as C synthesis, electronic system level synthesis, algorithmic synthesis, or behavioral synthesis, is an automated design process that interprets an algorithmic description of a desired behavior and creates hardware that implements that behavior. The...
and embedded software
Embedded software
Embedded software is computer software that plays an integral role in the electronics it is supplied with.Embedded software's principal role is not Information technology , but rather the interaction with the physical world. It's written for machines that are not, first and foremost, computers...
tools, although much of it is performed manually today. ESL can also be accomplished through the use of SystemC
SystemC
SystemC is a set of C++ classes and macros which provide an event-driven simulation kernel in C++ . These facilities enable a designer to simulate concurrent processes, each described using plain C++ syntax...
as an abstract modeling language
Modeling language
A modeling language is any artificial language that can be used to express information or knowledge or systems in a structure that is defined by a consistent set of rules...
.
Electronic System Level is now an established approach at most of the world’s leading System-on-a-chip
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
(SoC) design companies, and is being used increasingly in system design. From its genesis as an algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
modeling methodology with ‘no links to implementation’, ESL is evolving into a set of complementary methodologies that enable embedded system design, verification, and debugging
Debugging
Debugging is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Debugging tends to be harder when various subsystems are tightly coupled, as changes in one may cause bugs to emerge...
through to the hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
and software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
implementation of custom SoC
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
, system-on-FPGA, system-on-board, and entire multi-board systems.
See also
- High-level synthesisHigh-level synthesisHigh-level synthesis , sometimes referred to as C synthesis, electronic system level synthesis, algorithmic synthesis, or behavioral synthesis, is an automated design process that interprets an algorithmic description of a desired behavior and creates hardware that implements that behavior. The...
- High level verification
- Electronic design automationElectronic design automationElectronic design automation is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits...
- Integrated circuit designIntegrated circuit designIntegrated circuit design, or IC design, is a subset of electrical engineering and computer engineering, encompassing the particular logic and circuit design techniques required to design integrated circuits, or ICs...
- Register transfer levelRegister transfer levelIn integrated circuit design, register-transfer level is a level of abstraction used in describing the operation of a synchronous digital circuit...
- Property Specification LanguageProperty Specification LanguageProperty Specification Language is a language developed by Accellera for specifying properties or assertions about hardware designs. The properties can then be simulated or formally verified. Since September 2004 the standardization on the language has been done in IEEE 1850 working group...
- Virtual PrototypingVirtual prototypingVirtual prototyping is a technique in the process of product development. It involves using computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering software to validate a design before committing to making a physical prototype...
- SystemCSystemCSystemC is a set of C++ classes and macros which provide an event-driven simulation kernel in C++ . These facilities enable a designer to simulate concurrent processes, each described using plain C++ syntax...
- SystemC AMS