Patent ID: 7467366
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for generating a timing path software monitor for identifying a critical timing path in hardware devices coupled between first and second registers, comprising: generating a static timing report associated with the hardware devices coupled between the first and second registers, utilizing a timing software tool, the static timing report having names of the hardware devices and wire names associated with wires coupled to the hardware devices; automatically generating the timing path software monitor based on the static timing report, utilizing a timing path software generation tool, the timing path software monitor being a function that monitors binary values associated with the wire names at a first clock cycle and a transition of binary values associated with the wire names during a second clock cycle after the first clock cycle, the timing path software monitor indicating a critical timing path is identified when the transition of one of the binary values received by the second register occurs during the second clock cycle; inputting a first binary value into the first register during the first clock cycle, provided by a test case, utilizing a hardware simulation tool; determining that predetermined conditions associated with the hardware devices for the first clock cycle and the second clock cycle are satisfied, utilizing the timing path software monitor; setting a binary value at an output of the second register to an invalid binary value indicative of a timing error, utilizing the hardware simulation tool, prior to propagation of the binary value to a first device in a third clock cycle; propagating the invalid binary value associated with the output of the second register to the first device, utilizing the hardware simulation tool; and storing the test case utilized to generate the first binary value in a file when the first device outputs an invalid output value based on the invalid binary value, utilizing the hardware simulation tool.