by Maq Mannan President and CEO, DSM Technologies Chairman of the IEEE 1364 Verilog Standards Group Past Chairman of Open Verilog International One of the major strengths of the Verilog language is the Programming Language Interface (PLI), which allows users and Verilog application developers to infinitely extend the capabilities of the Verilog language and the Verilog simulator. In fact, the overwhelming success of the Verilog language can be partly attributed to the exi- ence of its PLI. Using the PLI, add-on products, such as graphical waveform displays or pre and post simulation analysis tools, can be easily developed. These products can then be used with any Verilog simulator that supports the Verilog PLI. This ability to create thi- party add-on products for Verilog simulators has created new markets and provided the Verilog user base with multiple sources of software tools. Hardware design engineers can, and should, use the Verilog PLI to customize their Verilog simulation environment. A Company that designs graphics chips, for ex- ple, may wish to see the simulation results of a new design in some custom graphical display. The Verilog PLI makes it possible, and even trivial, to integrate custom so- ware, such as a graphical display program, into a Verilog simulator. The simulation results can then dynamically be displayed in the custom format during simulation. And, if the company uses Verilog simulators from multiple simulator vendors, this integrated graphical display will work with all the simulators.

This book is designed to serve two specific needs: * A tutorial on how to write PLI applications * A reference book on the IEEE 1364-1998 Verilog PLI standard. Towards this end, this book has two distinct parts. Part One is written for new users of the PLI. These chapters explain how the PLI works and how it is used to solve basic design verification tasks. A large number of small but useful examples illustrate the concepts presented in each chapter. Part Two provides a comprehensive reference of the IEEE 1364 PLI standard. The Verilog PLI Handbook: A User's Guide and Comprehensive Reference on the Verilog Programming Language Interface will be of interest to hardware design engineers who use or are familiar with the Verilog Hardware Description Language.

The Verilog Programming Language Interface is a powerful feature of the Verilog standard. Through this interface, a Verilog simulator can be customized to perform virtually any engineering task desired, such as adding custom design debug utilities, adding proprietary file read/write utilities, and interfacing bus functional C language models to a simulator. This book serves as both a user's guide for learning the Verilog PLI, and as a comprehensive reference manual on the Verilog PLI standard. Both the TF/ACC ("PLI 1.0") and the VPI ("PLI 2.0") generations of the PLI are presented, based on the IEEE 1364 Verilog standard. The second edition of this book adds detailed coverage of the many enhancements added in the latest IEEE 1364-2001 Verilog standard ("Verilog-2001").

The Verilog Programming Language Interface, commonly called the Verilog PU, is one of the more powerful features of Verilog. The PU provides a means for both hardware designers and software engineers to interface their own programs to commercial Verilog simulators. Through this interface, a Verilog simulator can be customized to perform virtually any engineering task desired. Just a few of the common uses of the PU include interfacing Veri log simulations to C language models, adding custom graphical tools to a simulator, reading and writing proprietary file formats from within a simulation, performing test coverage analysis during simulation, and so forth. The applications possible with the Verilog PLI are endless. Intended audience: this book is written for digital design engineers with a background in the Verilog Hardware Description Language and a fundamental knowledge of the C programming language. It is expected that the reader: Has a basic knowledge of hardware engineering, specifically digital design of ASIC and FPGA technologies. Is familiar with the Verilog Hardware Description Language (HDL), and can write models of hardware circuits in Verilog, can write simulation test fixtures in Verilog, and can run at least one Verilog logic simulator. Knows basic C-language programming, including the use of functions, pointers, structures and file I/O. Explanations of the concepts and terminology of digital

Principles of Verilog PLI is a `how to do' text on Verilog Programming Language Interface. The primary focus of the book is on how to use PLI for problem solving. Both PLI 1.0 and PLI 2.0 are covered. Particular emphasis has been put on adopting a generic step-by-step approach to create a fully functional PLI code. Numerous examples were carefully selected so that a variety of problems can be solved through ther use. A separate chapter on Bus Functional Model (BFM), one of the most widely used commercial applications of PLI, is included. Principles of Verilog PLI is written for the professional engineer who uses Verilog for ASIC design and verification. Principles of Verilog PLI will be also of interest to students who are learning Verilog.

During the past few years there has been an dramatic upsurge in research and development, implementations of new technologies, and deployments of actual solutions and technologies in the diverse application areas of embedded systems. These areas include automotive electronics, industrial automated systems, and building automation and control. Comprising 48 chapters and the contributions of 74 leading experts from industry and academia, the Embedded Systems Handbook, Second Edition presents a comprehensive view of embedded systems: their design, verification, networking, and applications. The contributors, directly involved in the creation and evolution of the ideas and technologies presented, offer tutorials, research surveys, and technology overviews, exploring new developments, deployments, and trends. To accommodate the tremendous growth in the field, the handbook is now divided into two volumes. New in This Edition: Processors for embedded systems Processor-centric architecture description languages Networked embedded systems in the automotive and industrial automation fields Wireless embedded systems Embedded Systems Design and Verification Volume I of the handbook is divided into three sections. It begins with a brief introduction to embedded systems design and verification. The book then provides a comprehensive overview of embedded processors and various aspects of system-on-chip and FPGA, as well as solutions to design challenges. The final section explores power-aware embedded computing, design issues specific to secure embedded systems, and web services for embedded devices. Networked Embedded Systems Volume II focuses on selected application areas of networked embedded systems. It covers automotive field, industrial automation, building automation, and wireless sensor networks. This volume highlights implementations in fast-evolving areas which have not received proper coverage in other publications. Reflecting the unique functional requirements of different application areas, the contributors discuss inter-node communication aspects in the context of specific applications of networked embedded systems.