Leveraging IP-XACT standardized IP interfaces for rapid IP integration

Abstract IP integration has continued to be a key challenge in SoC development. Increases in IP reuse, IP configurability and system complexity within tightly bound schedules have compounded the problem of IP integration. One fundamental aspect of improving the IP integration process is the provision of standardized interfaces. Traditionally signal naming standardization practices have been utilized to provide consistent views of hardware interfaces for the sub-system and SoC integration activities. However IP reuse in a context of a wide variety of IP sources and coding styles reduces the efficiency of flows dependent on signal naming convention, and it is not feasible to redefine signal names as there are many dependencies on this RTL view to change. A solution to this problem can be realized through the IP-XACT standard, which provides mechanisms for the standardization of IP interfaces. IPXACT is a standard (IEEE1685-2009) that defines an XML structure for packaging, integrating, and reusing IP within tools flows. This white paper will focus on the IP interface standardization mechanisms available in IP-XACT and provides detail on the constructs involved including bus interfaces, bus definitions and port mapping. It will also provide an overview of the standardization of Hardware/Software interfaces including memory-maps, registers and bitfields. IP integration has continued to be a key challenge in SoC development. Increases in IP reuse, IP configurability and system complexity within tightly bound schedules have compounded the problem of IP integration. One fundamental aspect of improving the IP integration process is the provision of standardized interfaces. Traditionally signal naming standardization practices have been utilized to provide consistent views of hardware interfaces for the sub-system and SoC integration activities. However IP reuse in a context of a wide variety of IP sources and coding styles reduces the efficiency of flows dependent on signal naming convention, and it is not feasible to redefine signal names as there are many dependencies on this RTL view to change. A solution to this problem can be realized through the IP-XACT standard, which provides mechanisms for the standardization of IP interfaces. IPXACT is a standard (IEEE1685-2009) that defines an XML structure for packaging, integrating, and reusing IP within tools flows. This white paper will focus on the IP interface standardization mechanisms available in IP-XACT and provides detail on the constructs involved including bus interfaces, bus definitions and port mapping. It will also provide an overview of the standardization of Hardware/Software interfaces including memory-maps, registers and bitfields. Copyright © 2015 ARM Limited or its affiliates. All rights reserved. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM, Limited in the EU and/or elsewhere. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are acknowledged. Page 2 of 26 This paper will then detail how this standardized data, or metadata, can be used in various different flows. Firstly, before delivering IP metadata to integration teams, it’s vital to ensure that the IP metadata is coherent with the RTL implementation. This paper details how IP verification flows, simulation or formal-based, can help to qualify the IP-Metadata and also to verify design intent. An integration flow will also be presented that shows how this interface standardization streamlines IP integration and can result in a 10x improvement in integration productivity. This productivity improvement is realized through the use of interface-based connectivity synthesis as well as the utilization of standardized bus definitions and interface standardization. The paper will conclude with a look at some of the key guidelines to consider when standardizing IP interfaces and will outline some key recommendations. Keywords—IP Reuse; IP Integration; IP-XACT; Rules-based integration