A method for HW functional verification through HW/SW co-simulation in complex systems: H.264/AVC decoder as case study

Abstract

This work presents a new method for hardware functional verification through parallel co-simulation within complex systems using PLI as a mechanism of interface between hardware (HW) and software (SW). This method consists in the HW/SW parallel simulation using a transparent communication between these modules provided by a handshake mechanism that ensure the synchronism between the parts. The discussion about challenges, viability and validity of the presented proposal is based on the results of the case study carried through the application of this method to an H.264/AVC decoder.