Driving forces behind SoC development

In this paper, we examine the vectors of cost, methodology, technology, and their interrelationship in SOC development. We stress that now, more than ever, methodology and technology choices for SoC design and implementation have to be economically driven. If the high mortality rate of small chip companies and depressed earnings of larger ones over the past three years are any indication, we see renewed interest in business fundamentals such as total available market (TAM) and return on investment (ROI). This is perhaps one of the most vivid changes we will all experience in the post bubble era.