Imperas is a provider
of virtual platform technology and a member of the new Cadence System
Realization Alliance. Imperas has also been doing some interesting work
with Cadence that involves the integration of virtual platform models with
Incisive simulation and Incisive
Software Extensions. Simon Davidmann, Imperas CEO, talked about that work
in a Cadence Design Automation Conference booth presentation, and continued the
discussion afterwards in the video interview below.
In his DAC booth presentation, Davidmann noted that two
significant changes are occurring in embedded systems. One is the huge amount
of code - up to 3 million lines going into smartphones, for example - and
another is the increasing use of multi-core platforms. As a result of these
changes, he said, "we need to evolve the way we develop software. Nobody in the
the hardware world would design silicon without simulating it, and that has to
be the case for software. Virtual platforms are the key thing and the Holy Grail
is to run in real time."
Imperas has taken an unusual approach to the virtual
platform market - it offers models and much of its simulation and prototyping
technology available for free, through the Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) initiative. Imperas also provides
technology that makes it possible to analyze what's going on in the models at
run time.
Davidmann noted in his presentation that "all of our models
and technology can run in the Cadence Incisive simulator in a SystemC
environment." Moreover, he said, Incisive Software Extensions can be used to
control drivers that are talking to hardware models, thus providing functional
coverage of software interacting with hardware. This brings some of the
verification technology that's been evolving in the hardware world into the
software world.
In the short video clip below, Davidmann explains OVP, talks
more about the Imperas integration with Incisive Software Extensions, and
offers a perspective on the EDA360 vision.
If video fails to open, click here.
"We see that customers are having a problem and are looking
to do things differently. I think the EDA360 vision is very good at
articulating how it will all come together. It shows the direction we're
going," Davidmann said in the booth presentation.
Richard Goering