The Simulation Automation System (SAS); Concepts, Implementation, and Results

The simulation automation system (SAS) was developed to provide an efficient simulation environment, by automating the entire simulation process. This system can be classified, by its salient unique features, into: automatic model generator (AMG), automatic simulator developer (ASD), and design error simulation and test system (DEST). The system can automatically generate multivalued simulation models and automatically develop various simulators, using domain specific automatic programming techniques. The automatic model generation feature can be used when a new model library is built or when an existing library is upgraded. The automatic simulator development feature allows a user who may not be knowledgeable about simulators, to easily develop unique simulators, which can be used for special purposes or special designs. SAS can also verify designs using the Design Error Simulation and Test System. It provides a confidence measure of the verification, as well as simulation results. When users are not satisfied with the confidence level achieved after simulation, they can automatically generate additional simulation patterns for design errors in order to achieve a higher confidence level. Using this approach, design verification time and cost can be considerably reduced, and an actual measure of verification is provided. Consequently, the design cycle can be considerably reduced. This is especially significant for large, complex, systems.