A specification language for VLSI digital communications systems

The authors present results of a preliminary study whose aims are to gain an understanding of the requirements of communications systems designers and to set out the framework for a language and synthesis paradigm compatible with the evolution of the SHADE design system. SHADE is a logic synthesis system for semicustom integrated circuits which accepts specifications at the register transfer level. The authors first set the context by looking at the general problems of specification and architecture synthesis. This is followed by a study of the types of specification language possible. Conclusions are drawn about the requirements of the language discussed. An outline for language design is then given, illustrated with examples, and the structure of a synthesis system based on this language is presented