News Release from: ARM
Subject: Amba AHB cycle-level modelling specification
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 28 July 2003

New SystemC standard models Amba AHB systems

The Amba AHB cycle-level modelling specification will enable designers of complex systems to use IP built according to the interface specification for the exploration of Amba-based SoC architectures.

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The amba AHB cycle-level modelling specification is a new methodology that will enable designers of complex systems to use IP built according to the interface specification for the exploration of Amba methodology-based SoC architectures. Designers working with Amba methodology-based systems will now be able to better explore Amba designs earlier in the product cycle and ensure they deliver the right product quickly and to customer requirements. "ARM is committed to working with its partners to develop and promote open technology solutions from which the whole design community can benefit", said Jonathan Morris, systems program manager, ARM.

"This SystemC modelling specification is an excellent demonstration of the continued evolution and innovation of the Amba methodology for system-level design".

"The complexity crisis emerging from the capabilities created by 90nm design demands new system-level design tools", said Jim Tully, Vice President and Chief Analyst, Gartner.

"The establishment of a standard for the representation of Amba AHB in SystemC will speed up system-level design by improving the interoperability of tools and IP, resulting in a reduced time-to-market that could save a huge amount of time in system integration".

The Amba AHB cycle-level modelling specification is open and free of any charges.

A is available now for download from the ARM website.

To protect the integrity of Amba technology, the specification is made available under a simple license agreement broadly in line with the widely accepted Amba 2.0 specification licensing agreement.

The Amba AHB modelling specification is a fully cycle-accurate representation of the Amba AHB protocol.

Designers of complex systems will be able to use the Interface Specification to explore detailed Amba interconnect issues and covalidate their system models with RTL implementations.

Besides full support of the Amba AHB protocol, the interface specification includes the AHBlite protocol that is widely adopted for high-performance bus-matrix architectures.

As a result of more than 18 months of work, the modelling specification demonstrates a capability that has been extensively trialed both internally and with a wide range of designers.

The new modelling specification will be supported by a wide range of SystemC design tools including ARM's recently announced RealView model library.

ARM and its partners are also engaged in a similar process to deliver Amba modelling specifications for higher levels of abstraction.

Collaboration in this process has begun and ARM expects initial results of this work in late Q3 of this year.

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