Business Trends and Design Methodologies for IP Reuse

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Business Trends and Design Methodologies for IP
Reuse

• Allen C.-H. Wu
• Department of Computer Science
• Tsing Hua University
• Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C
• Email chunghaw_at_cs.nthu.edu.tw

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What are IPs?

• Soft IP synthesizable HDL description.
• Firm IP gate-level netlists.
• Hard IP silicon blocks.

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Design Reuse

• It has been a common practice in software
  developments for years.
• It has been a common practice in electronic
  product developments for years.
• Whats new here?
• Is it for real or hype???

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IPs and Design Reuse in Software
Soft IP
Reuse
Hard IP
Program
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Horizontally VS. Vertically Integrated System
Companies

• Horizontally integrated system companies focus on
  system designs only and outsourcing many design
  tasks.
• Vertically integrated system companies use a
  system-to-silicon in-house model.

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In-House Model
Reuse
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Business Trends

• System companies are interested in designing and
  manufacturing systems quickly with low developing
  costs.
• Semiconductor companies are interested in
  attracting more customers and increasing the
  volume of their production.
• INCREASING THEIR REVENUE

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Why IP Reuse is a Need in Chip and System Design

• Increasing design complexity.
• System-on-a-chip technology.
• Time-to-Market pressure.
• Worldwide designer shortage.

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IP-based Model
Reuse
IPs
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The Factors to Achieve a Successful IP Business
Who are the customers?
Where is the market?
Whats your business model?
Is the technology ready?
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Market for IPs

• Soft IPs too many hurdles need to be overcome
  e.g., legal and security issues.
• Firm IPs some technical issues need to be
  resolved e.g., performance and security issues.
• Hard IPs may be more realistic which has been
  used in many projects.

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Who are the Customers?

• The system companies who are only interesting in
  buying your IPs.
• The system companies who are interesting in both
  of the IPs and the ASIC design service.

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Obstacles for Commercial IP

• Commodity IP isnt a sustainable business model
• Support costs three times as much as core
  development.
• Scalable products will survivors, e.g., MIPS
  Technology Inc., Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. And
  DSP Group Inc.

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Business Strategy for IP Vendors

• NOW gt Provide cell libraries.
• NOW gt Provide chip layout services.
• How to enter IP business and bring in more
  revenue?
• How to use IPs to sell cell libraries?
• How to use design services to sell IPs?
• How to use cell libraries and IPs to bring in
  more design service revenue?

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Considerations for IP Vendors

• Definition of suitable cores with high usability.
• Design of these cores with proper set of
  parameters to cover a broad segment of the
  market.
• Packaging those cores with proper interfaces and
  documentation for easy use.
• Support IP-reuse evaluation and design
  methodologies and platform.
• Developing business and customer model for
  distribution and use of cores.

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Requirements for Supporting IP Reuse

• Define the sufficient specification to support IP
  reuse, such as functionality, electrical,
  mechanical, and timing parameters.
• Provide multi-level HDL models to support design
  verification, simulation, and testing.
• Provide test bench and testing scheme.
• Provide techniques for generating interfaces for
  IP reuse.
• IP upgrading for functionality and features.

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Design Methodologies supporting IP Reuse
Hard Firm IPs
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Design Methodologies supporting IP Reuse
Functionality Performance
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IP-based Synthesis Method and Environment

• Platform to map a design specification to a RTL
  design by reusing IPs.
• Platform for design verification and evaluation.
• gt How to convince your customers to use your
  IPs?

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Business and Customer Model

• Marketing strategy.
• Accounting .
• Customer training in reuse techniques for
  different IPs.
• Patenting, licensing and royalty collection from
  the IP users.

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Business Model 1

• Buying IPs only the system companies have their
  own system integration methodology and
  environment.
• Hard IPs modeling issues.
• Firm IPs modeling and security issues.

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Business Model 2

• Buying IPs and ASIC design service.
• IP-reuse methodology and environment.
• Licensing issues when using third-party IPs.
• Modeling issues.
• Minimal security issues.
• Very flexible - provide either hard or firm IPs.
• How to include IP-reuse into current design flow
  - a IP-reuse driven design flow.

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Hurdles Need to be Overcome

• Modeling issues.
• IP-reuse synthesis methodology and environment.
• An IP-based chip design methodology.
• Security issues.
• Customer-specific business models.