Improving the Functional Coverage Closure of Network-on-Chip using Particle Swarm Optimization

Abstract

Network-on-Chip (NoC) is a communication paradigm that has grown in favor as a solution for intra-chip communication in sophisticated System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures since it avoids complex interconnects. The functional verification of the NoC is a crucial phase in the design life-cycle of a NoC-based SoC because it has a direct impact on the SoC’s behavior and latency. Automating the NoC functional verification process could significantly reduce the time to market for such SoC designs. The employment of Particle Swarm Optimization to create NoC traffic which obtains maximal functional coverage in less simulation time is one such method of automation.