Arkle Res Regulatory News (ARK)

1 Oct 2007 07:45

ARC International (LSE: ARK) today released the VTOC(R) 4.0Toolset for creating 100 percent cycle accurate C++ and SystemC modelsfrom Verilog and VHDL RTL. VTOC 4.0 includes a new intelligent codeanalysis system that enables developers to generate C++ and SystemCmodels that are more efficient and achieve higher performance. Thesesource code models accelerate the development of performance criticalfirmware such as device drivers and codecs and functional verificationof this software within a complete SoC; a complete software suite canbe developed and debugged before the target SoC sees first silicon.ARC IP eXchange, based on VTOC technology, enables IP vendors,semiconductor, and fabless companies to securely deliver C++ andSystemC models to software developers, partners and customers. £ VTOC 4.0 continues a 5 year history of reducing system designcosts, by shortening overall SoC development time and reducingre-spins due to functional errors. In June 2007, ARC Internationalacquired the developers of VTOC, Tenison Design Automation, and sincethen has accelerated development of the next generation of products.VTOC 4.0 is now available for evaluation worldwide: emailinfo@arc.com. £ Intelligent Code Analysis Engine Makes Model Creation Even Easier £ Major functionality of the VTOC 4.0 Toolset's new intelligent codeanalysis system includes the following: £ 1. Reporting errors and potential errors in the RTL, with adiagnosis to help the design engineer fix the problem; £ 2. Identifying RTL that can cause bottlenecks in modeling,allowing hand-coded C++/SystemC models to be substituted usingindustry standard interfaces; and £ 3. Providing run-time analysis and feedback, so models can betuned for optimal performance for a specific application. £ With minimal effort the professional engineer is able toautomatically create 100 percent cycle accurate models. £ Builds on Existing VTOC Model Generation Technology £ VTOC uses synthesis technology to create highly optimized,100-percent cycle accurate source C++ and SystemC models that are at ahigher level of abstraction than the original RTL. These models areideal for: £ 1. Architectural exploration, enabling reuse of legacy RTL inSystemC based design tools. £ 2. Early software development and verification, using fast,100-percent cycle accurate C++ models of the actual hardware, which,being source code, are easily integrated into software developmentenvironments. With guaranteed cycle accuracy they are ideal fordevelopment of performance critical firmware such as device driversand codecs, and functional verification of that software within thecomplete SoC before first silicon is available. £ 3. IP distribution using ARC IP eXchange. IP eXchange is based onVTOC technology that enables intellectual property (IP) vendors,semiconductor and fabless companies to address the problem of safelydelivering verification IP models. The models are compiled to binaryand stripped of symbols to make a highly secure way of distributing IPin a platform independent fashion to partners or potential customers. £ VTOC was developed at the University of Cambridge ComputerLaboratory and first released in September 2002. Since then it hasbeen used in the design of numerous SoCs (System on Chip) now inproduction by companies worldwide. £ About ARC's Patented Configurable Technology £ ARC's patented configurable processor technology enables SoCdesigners to create silicon that is optimized to the end application.Designers have the freedom to retain necessary functionality whileremoving unneeded features in a configurable ARC subsystem orprocessor. In addition, adding custom instructions to ARC's subsystemsand cores, designers can achieve major gains in application efficiencyby defining custom extensions that accelerate critical code. Thebenefit is a system-on-chip (SoC) with an optimal balance of speed,area, and power for a specific application, resulting in a lowerpower, smaller chip that is less expensive to manufacture. £ VTOC 4.0 is extensively used within ARC and has been used tocreate fast, 100-percent cycle accurate models of the ARC 600 and ARC700 series configurable processors as well as the recently introducedARC(R) Video Subsystems based on the VRaptor Multicore Architecture. £ Availability £ ARC VTOC 4.0 is now available for licensing by companiesworldwide. For more information or to evaluate VTOC, contact ARCInternational at info@arc.com or visit www.arc.com. £ About ARC International plc £ ARC International is the world leader in configurable mediasubsystems and CPU/DSP processors. Used by over 140 companiesworldwide, ARC's configurable solutions enable the creation of highlydifferentiated system-on-chips (SoCs) that ship in hundreds ofmillions of devices annually. ARC's patented subsystems and cores aresmaller, consume less power, and are less expensive to manufacturethan competing products. £ ARC International maintains a worldwide presence with corporateand research and development offices in Silicon Valley and St. Albans,UK. For more information visit www.ARC.com. ARC International islisted on the London Stock Exchange as ARC International plc (LSE:ARK). £ ARC and the ARC logo and VTOC are trademarks or registeredtrademarks of ARC International. All other brands or product namescontained herein are the property of their respective owners. Thispress release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" thatinvolve risks and uncertainties, including the development,implementation, and release of features described herein. These are atthe sole discretion of ARC International. Licenses from 3rd partiesfor certain software and essential patents may be required dependingon licensee's use/implementation. For other factors that could causeactual results to differ, visit the company's Website as well as thelisting particulars filed with the United Kingdom Listing Authorityand the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales. Copyright Business Wire 2007