Chippe: a system for constraint driven behavioral synthesis

The Chippe system for constrained behavioural architecture synthesis uses a novel closed-loop design iteration technique in which the present state of the design is analyzed with respect to the goals and then modified for the next iteration. In this way the design state is iteratively driven towards meeting the global constraints imposed by the designer. The design synthesis is performed by a set of algorithmic tools specially constructed to permit the imposition of a wide variety of local constraints, and by a rule-based system which makes design analysis and modification decisions to set these local constraints. Key to these decisions is a design evaluator which examines the present state of the design and interactively reports its findings to the rule-based system. The closed-loop iteration strategy, the interaction between the rule base and the tools, and the evaluation performed to support the design decisions are detailed. Also presented are results from sample designs, including designs for the TMS320 digital signal processor chip