Method, system and program product providing a configuration specification language supporting arbitrary mapping functions for configuration constructs
View Patent ↗A method is disclosed of associating a mapping function with a configuration construct of a digital design defined by one or more hardware description language (HDL) files. According to the method, in the HDL files, a configuration latch is specified within a design entity forming at least a portion of the digital design. In addition, a Dial is specified that defines a relationship between each of a plurality of input values and a respective one of a plurality of different output values. The HDL files also include a statement that instantiates an instance of the Dial in association with the configuration latch such that a one-to-one correspondence exists between a value contained within the configuration latch and an input value of the instance of the Dial. The HDL files further include a statement associating the Dial with a mapping function that applies a selected transformation to values read from or written to the instance of the Dial.
1. A method in a data processing system of creating an association between a configuration construct and a mapping function, said method comprising:
receiving one or more design intermediate files representing a digital design, said one or more design intermediate files specifying a configuration latch within said digital design and including:
a Dial specification statement defining a relationship between each of a plurality of Dial input values of the Dial and a respective one of a plurality of different Dial output values of the Dial;
a Dial instantiation statement instantiating an instance of said Dial in association with said configuration latch such that a one-to-one correspondence exists between a value contained within said configuration latch and Dial input value of said instance of said Dial; and
a statement associating a mapping function with the Dial such that a selected transformation is applied to values read from or written to said instance of said Dial, wherein said selected transformation is selected from a set of transformations consisting of a mathematical transformation, a logical transformation, a shift and generation of a pseudo-random value; and
in response to receiving said one or more design intermediate files, creating at least one entry in a configuration database representing said association between said Dial and said mapping function.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein creating said entry comprises creating an indication of a storage location of a file containing said mapping function.