A qualification platform for design reuse

The application and development of reusable components (intellectual property, IP) has become a regular part of modern design practices. The IP provider on one side and the IP integrator (user) on the other may be in the same company or separate participants in the microelectronic design market. In both cases, the transfer of IP remains a complex and time-consuming task. The qualification of IP gains a significant relevance for successful application and transfer of IP. This paper proposes an IP qualification methodology for an automated quality check that also incorporates current standards. Through embedding of the new concept into the regular design flow, IP transfer comes closer to an easy mix and match of virtual components. The presented approach has been validated during an industrial case study.