On Uniformly Sampling Traces of a Transition System (Extended Version)

A key problem in constrained random verification (CRV) concerns generation of input stimuli that result in good coverage of the system's runs in targeted corners of its behavior space. Existing CRV solutions however provide no formal guarantees on the distribution of the system's runs. In this paper, we take a first step towards solving this problem. We present an algorithm based on Algebraic Decision Diagrams for sampling bounded traces (i.e. sequences of states) of a sequential circuit with provable uniformity (or bias) guarantees, while satisfying given constraints. We have implemented our algorithm in a tool called TraceSampler. Extensive experiments show that TraceSampler outperforms alternative approaches that provide similar uniformity guarantees.Comment: Extended version of paper that will appear in proceedings of International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD '20); changed wrong text color in sec 7; added 'extended version

A Two-State Methodology for RTL Logic Simulation

This paper describes a two-state methodology for register transfer level (RTL) logic simulation in which the use of the X-state is completely eliminated inside ASIC designs. Examples are presented to show the gross pessimism and optimism that occurs with the X in RTL simulation. Random two-state initialization is offered as a way to detect and diagnose startup problems in RTL simulation. Random two-state initialization (a) is more productive than the X-state in gate-level simulation, and (b) provides better coverage of startup problems than X-state in RTL simulation. Consistent random initialization is applied (a) as a way to duplicate a startup state using a slower diagnosisoriented simulator after a faster detection-oriented simulator reports the problem, and (b) to verify that the problem is corrected for that startup state after the design change intended to fix the problem. In addition to combining the earlier ideas of two-state simulation, and random initialization with consistent values across simulations, an original technique for treatment of tri-state Z's arriving into a two-state model is introduced