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esl: Definition and Recommended Links

Our favorite links for this topic area. Enjoy, fellow researchers! Questions, comments, new links? Email eewindow@aol.com!.

Electronic System Level (ESL) design and verification is an emerging electronic design methodology that focuses on the higher abstraction level concerns first and foremost. It is defined in the ESL Design and Verification book [1] as: 'the utilization of appropriate abstractions in order to increase comprehension about a system, and to enhance the probability of a successful implementation of functionality in a cost-effective manner.'

The basic premise is to model the behavior of the entire system using a high-level language such as C, C++, or MATLAB. Rapid and correct-by-construction implementation of the system can be automated using EDA and embedded software tools, although much of it is performed manually today. ESL can also be accomplished through the use of SystemC as an abstract modeling language.

Electronic System Level is now an established approach at most of the world’s leading System-on-a-chip (SoC) design companies, and is being used increasingly in system design. From its genesis as an algorithm modeling methodology with ‘no links to implementation’, ESL is evolving into a set of complementary methodologies that enable embedded system design, verification, and debugging through to the hardware and software implementation of custom SoC, system-on-FPGA, system-on-board, and entire multi-board systems.

Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_system_level)

other great electronics sites:ee toolbox site

• • esl
    • Electronic System Level (ESL) design and verification is an emerging electronic design methodology that focuses on the higher abstraction level concerns first and foremost. It is defined in the ESL Design and Verification book [1] as: 'the utilization of appropriate abstractions in order to increase comprehension about a system, and to enhance the probability of a successful implementation of functionality in a cost-effective manner.'

      The basic premise is to model the behavior of the entire system using a high-level language such as C, C++, or MATLAB. Rapid and correct-by-construction implementation of the system can be automated using EDA and embedded software tools, although much of it is performed manually today. ESL can also be accomplished through the use of SystemC as an abstract modeling language.

      Electronic System Level is now an established approach at most of the world’s leading System-on-a-chip (SoC) design companies, and is being used increasingly in system design. From its genesis as an algorithm modeling methodology with ‘no links to implementation’, ESL is evolving into a set of complementary methodologies that enable embedded system design, verification, and debugging through to the hardware and software implementation of custom SoC, system-on-FPGA, system-on-board, and entire multi-board systems.

      Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_system_level)

      (Note: The Electronic Engineers Toolbox provides an alternative set of featured links for this word at http://www.cera2.com/esl.htm)

      Featured Links:

      GreenSocs - Open Source SystemC Infrastructure

      The GreenSocs® mission is to enable the ESL community to quickly develop models and tools that can be used together with independence of vendor (whether the vendor is of models or tools). GreenSocs is the forum in which agreed ways of using ESL languages and the details of the interfaces between models, tools and the environment are determined. GreenSocs makes the results available publicly. On top of the underlying languages and the...
      http://www.greensocs.com/

      Getting Started with Virtual Platforms: A Software Developer Perspective

      The ability to debug and analyze software defects efficiently is a key requirement in order to complete a software project successfully and on time. Especially when porting legacy software such as an OS or migrating sequential code to multi-core platforms, powerful debugging tools and methods are indispensable. This one hour webinar gives a technical overview and various practical examples on the usage of virtual platforms for debugging....
      http://www.techonline.com/learning/livewebinar/215900170

      Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI)

      The Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI) is a collaborative effort among a broad range of companies to support and advance SystemC as a de facto standard for system-level design. OSCI is comprised of a community and a steering group. The community consists of a large and growing number of system houses, semiconductor companies, IP providers, embedded software companies and EDA tool vendors.
      http://www.systemc.org/

      Frank Schirrmeister Blog - A View from The Top

      Frank Schirrmeister is a 'guru' of ESL, and this is his Synopsys webpage and blog. If you are interested in SystemC, SystemVerilog, and/or ESL - it's a great place to begin.
      http://www.synopsysoc.org/viewfromtop/

      Mentor Graphic ESL Microsite

      Mentor Graphics is a leader in the emerging ESL / EDA space. Here are vendor presentations as well as some great videos from DAC with discussions, technical white papers, and (of course) product demos of how Mentor is pushing the envelope of ESL.
      http://www.mentor.com/products/esl/index.cfm

      ESL ('Electronic System Level'), RF, LTE, & More - New Capabilities from Agilent

      Frank Ditore, Product Marketing Manager, Agilent EEsof EDA division, discusses new trends in ESL ('Electronic System Level'), as well as the launch of SystemVue 2008, a new electronic design automation (EDA) platform for ESL design. This new product 'speaks RF' and targets emerging communications technologies, such as the transition to LTE ('long term evolution'), software defined radio, and other applications.
      http://www.eg3.com/etc-awards/20081212-esl.htm

      Mentor Graphics EDA Training and Employment Resources for Unemployed Designers

      Recently unemployed? Concerned about your EDA technical training? Christine Egli and Tom Floodeen of Mentor Graphics discuss how the company is reaching out to the EDA community to offer technical training in EDA (Electronic Design Automation) to 'displaced workers.' For those who qualify, the program is an excellent way to beef up your technical skills as well as to network with other EDA professionals seeking employment opportunities.
      http://www.eg3.com/etc-awards/20090324-mentor.htm

      New, Free White Paper: ESL Tools from VDC Corporation

      New research paper from VDC on ESL and ESL deployments worldwide.
      http://www.vdc-corp.com

      ESL Explained

      Design and Simulation Behavioral Synthesis Test and Verification The Necessity of ESL Challenges with ESL The Bigger Picture ESL is another acronym flooding inboxes these days. What does this term mean and how does it apply to engineers and scientists? Generally, electronic system level (ESL) design and verification provides tools and methodologies you can use to describe and analyze chips on a high level of abstraction. The...
      http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/pub/p/id/142

      Platform Based Design at the Electronic System Level: Industry Perspectives and Experiences

      Platform Based Design at the Electronic System Level presents a multi-faceted view of the set of problems that the electronic industry currently faces in the development and integration of complex heterogeneous systems (including both hardware and software components). It analyses and proposes solutions related to the provision of integration platforms by SoC and IP providers in light of the needs and requirements expressed by the system...
      http://www.amazon.com

      Explanation: these links are provided as part of our EE glossary project, which seeks to identify the most prominent keywords in embedded systems, embedded software, realtime and rtos, dsp (digital signal processing), system-on-a-chip, microprocessors and microcontrollers, and other constituent elements for embedded systems. While we seek to keep most of the links up-to-date, the user is refered to other primary electronic-based search sites such as: cera2.com, embedded.com, or EDN Magazine. If you have any suggestions of links or definitions, please email!

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