http://www.SpecC.org/

SpecC stands for “specification description language based on C”.

What is SpecC?

• Design Methodology– for capturing and exchanging specifications of embedded

systems– for consistency and continuity from specification to

implementation

• System-Level Description Language– no distinction between HW and SW– specs and components in one syntax

• functional specs, architectural specs, and implementation design under same syntax and semantics

– based on ANSI-C• executable specification from the start

• Design Methodology– for capturing and exchanging specifications of embedded

systems– for consistency and continuity from specification to

implementation

• System-Level Description Language– no distinction between HW and SW– specs and components in one syntax

• functional specs, architectural specs, and implementation design under same syntax and semantics

– based on ANSI-C• executable specification from the start

SWSW

SpecC Design Flow

Prototype

Specification Model

Mfg

Load Module Layout

Gate

Codes / RTOS

Architecture Model

Communication Model

Assembly

Compiler

Linker

Upper CASE Tool

P&R

Lower CASE Tool

SpecCSpecCTechnologyTechnology

HWHW

ProductSpec

ProductSpec

High-level Synthesis

Logic Synthesis

Product Planning

Application Specific Domain

Requirement Specification

RTL

Behavior

MarketingMarketing

Specification Synthesis

Computational Behavior

Communication Channel

Design Specification

Protocol Insertion

Transducer Synthesis

Protocol inlining

Communication Synthesis

Behavior mapping

Channel mapping

Variable mapping

Architecture Exploration

Specification Model

Architecture Model

Communication Model

Software Model Hardware Model

IP

IP

IP

Methodology Benefits

• HW/SW Co-Design– Partitioning/Scheduling in the System Level– “Ready to Product” quality of output (HDL,C)– Easy Optimization of Product Cost/Performance

• Design Tool Interoperability– Easy to build total design solutions

• IP-Centric Design– IP reuse for every specification models– Easy to publish: IP-spec by SpecC– Easy to reuse: Interface synthesis

• Education of System Architects– Established Design Style– Know-how transfer enabled via Design Legacy

• HW/SW Co-Design– Partitioning/Scheduling in the System Level– “Ready to Product” quality of output (HDL,C)– Easy Optimization of Product Cost/Performance

• Design Tool Interoperability– Easy to build total design solutions

• IP-Centric Design– IP reuse for every specification models– Easy to publish: IP-spec by SpecC– Easy to reuse: Interface synthesis

• Education of System Architects– Established Design Style– Know-how transfer enabled via Design Legacy

Rapid, Easy, and Smooth Exploration in the Design of Embedded Systems, Ubiquitous ComputingRapid, Easy, and Smooth Exploration in the Design of Embedded Systems, Ubiquitous Computing

Purpose

• Standardize specification description language• Establish interoperability among design tools • Promote industry-academia-wide collaboration • Establish design methodology/guidelines

based on SpecC

• Easy tailoring of design solutions for each application segments.

• Aggregation and Reuse of design IPs

• Standardize specification description language• Establish interoperability among design tools • Promote industry-academia-wide collaboration • Establish design methodology/guidelines

based on SpecC

• Easy tailoring of design solutions for each application segments.

• Aggregation and Reuse of design IPs

History» Nov. ’99 Established by 24 endorsers.• 2001

• Language seminars• Exhibitions / conferences

– Reference model development• Free and Open Source Code for SpecC v1.0 • Application Reports / case studies available

– Working Group Activities• Language Specification WG

– Discussion and Approval of SpecC Syntax and Semantics– Improvement of SpecC language– Activities are via E-Mail world wide.– Communication with other language-based activities– Goal is to send LRM to a standardization body.

• Case Study WG– Members open their examples for discussion of usage on SpecC

Technology– Promotion of conference to present case studies– Presentation of case studies from academia/industries at MST

» Nov. ’99 Established by 24 endorsers.• 2001

• Language seminars• Exhibitions / conferences

– Reference model development• Free and Open Source Code for SpecC v1.0 • Application Reports / case studies available

– Working Group Activities• Language Specification WG

– Discussion and Approval of SpecC Syntax and Semantics– Improvement of SpecC language– Activities are via E-Mail world wide.– Communication with other language-based activities– Goal is to send LRM to a standardization body.

• Case Study WG– Members open their examples for discussion of usage on SpecC

Technology– Promotion of conference to present case studies– Presentation of case studies from academia/industries at MST

30 Industry Members 30 Academic Members World wide (Mar. 2002)30 Industry Members 30 Academic Members World wide (Mar. 2002)

New Activity in 2002

• SpecC Academic Research Program– Aims more innovative and leading activities in ubiquitous

computing era through improving SOC design technology.– Promotes academia-industries collaboration and synergy.

• Plans of exhibitions and conferences for mutual discussions.

– Provides research environment (tool set) with cooperation from 5 major tool vendors.

– InterDesign System Design VisualSpec

– Y Explorations High Level Synthesis eXCite

– CATS CASE ZIPC

– Gaio IDE for ARM OPENplus for ARM

– MISPO RTOS -iTRON

– 17 professors at 16 major universities join.– 22 professors at 15 major universities endorse.– Research topics will come from both of SW and HW area.

• SpecC Academic Research Program– Aims more innovative and leading activities in ubiquitous

computing era through improving SOC design technology.– Promotes academia-industries collaboration and synergy.

• Plans of exhibitions and conferences for mutual discussions.

– Provides research environment (tool set) with cooperation from 5 major tool vendors.

– InterDesign System Design VisualSpec

– Y Explorations High Level Synthesis eXCite

– CATS CASE ZIPC

– Gaio IDE for ARM OPENplus for ARM

– MISPO RTOS -iTRON

– 17 professors at 16 major universities join.– 22 professors at 15 major universities endorse.– Research topics will come from both of SW and HW area.

• Design Methodology for innovative SoC design– Well-defined Design Models & Well-defined Refinement Tasks

• Language for accelerating Methodology spread.– Based on ANSI-C, with extensions for Systems Design– Support of all Concepts needed in Embedded Systems Design– Separation of Communication & Computation for Design Reuse– Executable and Synthesizable

• Impact on Industries– Easy tailoring of Design Solutions for each application

domains.– Enabling smooth Specification & IP Exchanges between System

Houses, Design Houses and Fabrications.– Accelerating Education of System Architects for rapid growth in

emerging Electronics Industries.

• Design Methodology for innovative SoC design– Well-defined Design Models & Well-defined Refinement Tasks

• Language for accelerating Methodology spread.– Based on ANSI-C, with extensions for Systems Design– Support of all Concepts needed in Embedded Systems Design– Separation of Communication & Computation for Design Reuse– Executable and Synthesizable

• Impact on Industries– Easy tailoring of Design Solutions for each application

domains.– Enabling smooth Specification & IP Exchanges between System

Houses, Design Houses and Fabrications.– Accelerating Education of System Architects for rapid growth in

emerging Electronics Industries.

SpecC Summary