Novel test detection to improve simulation efficiency — A commercial experiment

Novel test detection is an approach to improve simulation efficiency by selecting novel tests before their application [1]. Techniques have been proposed to apply the approach in the context of processor verification [2]. This work reports our experience in applying the approach to verifying a commercial processor. Our objectives are threefold: to implement the approach in a practical setting, to assess its effectiveness and to understand its challenges in practical application. The experiments are conducted based on a simulation environment for verifying a commercial dual-thread low-power processor core. By focusing on the complex fixed-point unit, the results show up to 96% saving in simulation time. The main limitation of the implementation is discussed based on the load-store unit with initial promising results to show how to overcome the limitation.