Recorded Webinars

Open Source - VHDL Verification Methodology (OS-VVM™) provides advanced verification capabilities to VHDL teams. Attendees will learn how to add functional coverage, constrained random test, and coverage driven random test to their current testbenches. OS-VVM has a straight-forward usage model that allows the addition of functional coverage, constrained random, and coverage driven random features to a testbench in part or in whole. This webinar demonstrates how the addition of Functional Coverage to testbenches is necessary - even with directed tests. Constrained Random or Coverage Driven randomization can be added when and where needed, and there is even the ability to mix directed, algorithmic, file-based, constrained random, and coverage driven random methods. OS-VVM is open source package based. It compiles under VHDL-2008 or VHDL-2002 (with minor adaptations, and has been produced as a joint effort between Aldec and SynthWorks, both companies committed to provide continued support to VHDL design community.

Abstract: Experienced users of VHDL simulation with testbenches appreciate additional layer of safety that Coverage Analysis gives them. But are all kinds of coverage equally beneficial? While Code Coverage is certainly useful, it really verifies quality of the testbench, not the design itself. In this webinar we will show how to improve quality of the design using Property Coverage and Functional Coverage (with help of OS-VVM).

Co-Webinar with Tanner. Abstract: Creating and verifying a mixed-signal IC design (a chip containing both analog and digital parts) is a challenge. SPICE based simulation provides the accuracy needed by the analog design but is too slow to deal with digital part. Event-driven digital simulation can handle digital portion, but fails when dealing with the analog design. The best method of solving this verification problem is to create a smart interface between the SPICE engine and the high-performance digital simulator.

Abstract: Modern digital designs reached sizes so huge that traditional, simplistic verification no longer works. Large number of design sources, multiple teams and tools using them, almost infinite stream of results they produce - all those factors create new management challenges. Our webinar will show how verification planning, simulation and regression management can be easily handled using Agnisys and Aldec tools.

Abstract: Modern ASIC and FPGA designs can usually be treated as complete systems, not just electronic circuits. Design and verification of those systems typically requires the use of transaction-level descriptions, so enhanced support for transactions in verification tools is critical. This paper describes basic transaction related terms and the new transaction recording and visualization solution available in Riviera-PRO™ simulator.

Abstract: Aldec has recently added support for the Open Verification Methodology (OVM) for SystemVerilog, which is the basis of Accellera’s forthcoming standard Universal Verification Methodology (UVM). Resulting from years of experience within lead design verification teams and EDA companies, OVM provides common building blocks and predefined mechanisms for creating reusable and expandable test environments that take full advantage of SystemVerilog and SystemC verification capabilities. This webinar introduces basic OVM concepts and shows how users with different levels of experience can rely on OVM to quickly build up a layered, coverage driven, transaction-level verification environment which can be reused across different designs. These concepts apply equally well to UVM. Aldec provides a precompiled OVM library and a SystemVerilog compatible simulator to help customers take advantage of this latest design verification technology to meet the challenge of verifying today’s complex designs.

Abstract: SystemVerilog was released as a complete standard in 2009 and will stay with the digital design community whether we like it or not. Quite surprisingly, the only group of people that welcomed SV enthusiastically was the Verification Engineer Guild. Other groups still seem to treat SV with reserve, partially justified by unbearably wide scope of the new language. This presentation explains which areas of SystemVerilog should be implemented by hardware designers. Main topics include Design Subset, Assertions, Verification Subset, Verification Methodologies (OVM/UVM).

Abstract: Transaction-Level Modeling is the preferred method of system design and verification. Since average size of digital design seems to constantly grow, all hardware designers can benefit from this methodology. The problem is that user-friendly TLM documentation, not written by hard-core C programmers, is hard to find. Our webinar tries to fill this gap by providing simple explanation of terminology and basic implementation guidelines. Basic understanding of Object Oriented Programming is recommended for the audience: check our “Know Your Objects – OOP for Hardware Designers” webinar if you need quick introduction.

Abstract: It’s been obvious for some time that today’s SOCs cannot be verified solely using traditional RTL modeling techniques. Only recently has the EDA industry begun to widely adopt the concepts of TLM, although the general idea has been around since 1960s. Though relatively new to our industry, transaction-level environments have already become mature methodologically (UVM), however adequate debugging and visualization capabilities remain at a somewhat basic level. Aldec is an EDA vendor that understands the importance of this topic and actively develops the right tools to enable a smooth flow for convenient debugging at a level of abstraction higher than traditional RTL.

Abstract: The issue of securing information flow was very important in the past (mainly in diplomacy and military applications) and became even more important recently, with new applications such as banking (ATM transactions), on-line commerce (e-store transactions), media (pay-per-view contents) and hardware design (secure IP delivery). All those applications face one common problem nicely described in the old joke: the only truly secure information is the one that cannot be read by anybody. Both hardware designers and tool designers must find the balance between security and usability, which can be achieved only by implementing well tested algorithms and workflow. Using Aldec implementation of Secure IP Delivery as the vehicle, this presentation provides informative overview of recommended ciphers and methodologies that can be used by a wide, technical audience.

Abstract: The old technical joke says that the only truly secure information is the one that cannot be read by anybody. Traditional methods of Intellectual Property delivery for use in EDA tools were dangerously close to that 'ideal' description - secure, but almost unmanageable by both vendors and end users. Recent years brought the concept of HDL source encryption that promises well balanced mixture of security, manageability for IP and tool vendors, and total transparency for end users. This webinar presents theoretical background and practical solution of universal, inter-operable system of secure IP delivery based on source encryption. Current state of the solution is provided with an outline of the enhancements being prepared by IEEE P1735 workgroup.

Abstract: When it comes to debugging during emulation, engineers are forced to use multiple applications to ensure proper hardware signal data extraction and visualization. Learn from this webinar a leading edge technology that intelligently extracts data from the FPGA emulator to provide 100% signal visibility during emulation. This approach delivers up to 70% bandwidth savings in the critical emulator communication channel. Both dynamic and static probes from emulation can also be visualized in the Riviera-PRO waveform viewer preserving the original signal names and hierarchy paths and providing complete traceability to the design’s RTL source code.

Abstract: Traditional design flows postpone HW/SW integration and co-verification until the ASIC prototype is ready. With constantly shrinking time-to-market requirement this is significantly too late. If some HW bugs are identified during SW integration phase then it is impossible to make HW changes. Designers have to find sophisticated SW workarounds in order to avoid costly re-spins. Learn from Aldec how to start HW/SW integration and co-verification much earlier in your design flow along with the extensive debugging capabilities on both sides of HW and SW. Find out how to enable HW and SW design teams collaborate on a whole new level that has never been done before.

Aldec adds new and innovative debugging technologies to HES platform for Simulation Acceleration, providing verification engineers capabilities to quickly verify RTL designs with longer test cases and obtain faster results. Learn Aldec's new debugging technologies including Mirror-Box, ideal for quick smoke-tests runs where you can modify your HDL code and run simulation in the FPGA hardware without rerunning Synthesis and Place and Route. Obtain simulation speed up factor of 10-100X with accelerated debugging to detect more errors and bugs per day, ultimately helping you meet tight time-to-market deadlines.

Co-Webinar with Imperas® Abstract: Virtual platforms play a significant role in system level development, but require integration with ultra fast emulation systems for HW/SW co-verification. In this webinar we will introduce the new integration of Aldec's Transaction Level Emulation System with Imperas' OVPsim virtual platform simulator. Hardware and software design teams are now able to implement virtual models of processors, memory and peripheral modules while the RTL modules run in the emulator board. This integration provides a high performance solution, ideal for early HW/SW co-development and architectural exploration.

Abstract: Functional verification of digital designs in real hardware has been a serious undertaking when developing under DO-254 standard. Section 6.2 Verification Process of RTCA/DO-254 specifies that requirements must be preserved and verified from RTL simulation stage to hardware verification stage. Learn in this webinar examples of common challenges that are usually encountered during hardware verification, and more importantly, the solution to overcome these challenges. This webinar will highlight a unique methodology to replay RTL simulation in the target device at-speed that can significantly reduce the verification cycle.

Abstract: The main purpose of DO-254 Verification Process (Chapter 6.2 of DO-254 Specification) is not merely to verify the functionality of the design but more importantly to obtain assurance that the hardware implementation meets the requirements defined in the early stages of DO-254 targeted project. It is absolutely critical to ensure that the same requirements are preserved in all stages of design and verification from planning to hardware testing. Learn in this webinar an effective approach to verifying your design from the RTL to hardware preserving the same requirements. Our experts will teach you how to use Assertions and Code Coverage for a systematic and comprehensive verification. Our experts will also demonstrate the advantages of component level verification with DO-254 CTS (Compliance Tool Set) ideal to hardware verification of Level A/B DO-254 designs.

Abstract: DO-254 is officially enforced by the FAA and other worldwide certification authorities as a means of compliance for the development of airborne electronic hardware incorporating devices such as FPGAs, PLDs and ASICs. DO-254 is rapidly becoming the de-facto standard to all safety critical applications not only in avionics but also in medical, automotive and nuclear industries. Despite of its wide applications, DO-254 is still poorly understood and implementing it remains unclear. This webinar will try to provide clarifications on the most commonly misunderstood objectives of the standard. This webinar is entirely dedicated to answer your questions related to applying DO-254 to FPGAs and PLDs.

Abstract: With the complexity of some FPGA designs now comparable to ASIC, designers are faced with challenging cost, power and functional goals. Leading-edge FPGA designs will now benefit from advanced verification methodologies, but do ASIC-focused EDA vendors offer the best solution? This webinar will explain how Aldec tools are uniquely positioned to efficiently support the verification of complex FPGA designs and how (in combination with the new devices from Lattice) designers can meet their functional, cost and power requirements for complex high volume applications.