Continuous and discrete components may be integrated in diverse embedded systems ranging across defense, medical, communication, and automotive applications. The global validation of these systems requires new validation techniques, the main challenge being the definition of global simulation models able to accommodate the different concepts specific to continuous and discrete models. This paper presents the operational semantic for the continuous/discrete synchronization model and the formal definition of the internal architecture of simulation interfaces required for the design of a co-simulation tool for continuous/discrete systems validation. IntroductionSystems on chip are becoming complex not only in terms of density of components but also in terms of heterogeneity. These systems may be found in various domains like defense, medical, communication and automotive. In a recent ITRS study the conclusion is that heterogeneity is "a form of diversity that arises with respect to system-level SOC integration" and the design specification and validation are extremely challenging, particularly with respect to complex operating contexts. Continuous/discrete systems, with direct applications in mixed-signal and RF domains, are presented as main system drivers [1].The main challenge in the definition of CAD tools for continuous/discrete (C/D) systems is due to the heterogeneity of concepts manipulated by the discrete and the continuous components. In the case of validation tools, several execution semantics have to be taken into consideration in order to perform global simulation. The most important are the following: -In discrete models, time represents a global notion for the overall system and advances discretely when passing by time stamps of events, while in continuous models, the time is a global variable involved in data computation and it advances by integration steps that may be variable.-In discrete models, processes are sensitive to events while in continuous models processes are executed at each integration step. Therefore, the global validation of continuous/discrete systems requires simulation interfaces providing synchronization models for the accommodation of the heterogeneous aspects cited above. This implies a complex behavior for the simulation interfaces, their design being time consuming and an important source of error. These interfaces play also an important role in the accuracy and the performance of the global simulation. Consequently, new validation tools able to automatically generate simulation interfaces for the global simulation of continuous/discrete systems are mandatory. The key issue is the rigorous definition of the behavior and architecture of simulation interfaces. This paper presents the operational semantic for a synchronization model required in the global simulation of continuous/discrete systems. The formal definition of the internal architecture of simulation interfaces is also provided. These definitions enabled the design of a cosimulation tool providing global simulation mo...

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This paper surveys the multi-technology Multiprocessors Systems-on-Chip (MP SoC) -we emphasize the systems including optical solution for on-chipinterconnects as an alternate solution for the current challenges in MP SoCs such as networks bandwidth, scalability and flexibility. We present also some tools and methodologies for global specification of multitechnology systems and the challenges for CAD tools design.