LEDA-a learning apprentice system that acquires design plans for high-level synthesis of integrated circuits

Abstract

The learning design assistant LEDA provides an environment for the creation of structural register-transfer descriptions. LEDA's inputs constitute an algorithmic behavioral hardware description and a specification of the design goals. The designer uses LEDA as an extended design editor and selects a sequence of allocation operators called the design plan that create register-transfer components for a statement of the algorithm. LEDA's learning component creates from each plan a specific production rule which is generalized by use of an inductive learning mechanism that is tailored to the acquisition of design plans. Each time a rule matches on the selected statement LEDA proposes the execution of the corresponding design plan. In this way LEDA works as an apprentice system, adapts to the design style of the user, and supports the synthesis of the repeatedly occurring parts of algorithm descriptions.<>