VERIFICATION FOR A LEADING SUPPLIER OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (ICS) FOR BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS

CUSTOMER PROFILEThe customer is a global player that manufactures communications semiconductor solutions that enable network connectivity and bandwidth delivery from the core network to the home network.

CHALLENGES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe customer wanted to do an ASIC for Router Gateway applications with many improved feature additions over its predecessor within a challenging timeframe and some executional challenges. Our expertise-led approach and two-pronged strategy helped achieve the goal and divested management burdens.

Time was a major constraint to gather a skilled engineering team to verify the key networking blocks. The other challenge was the lack of proper knowledge transfer to understand the previous product

SOLUTIONSWith our expertise in verification of networking products, System-On-Chip, Cerium Systems took up the challenge. It provided the client with technical expertise and eased management burdens. A single point of interface for client in order to reduce management overheads. Based on customer’s technical requirements, two teams were created. First, one comprised of verification experts in Ethernet, switching and traffic management. The second team was formed with responsibility of verifying high speed peripherals, memory controllers and full chip end to end verification.

RESULTS AND ROI

Cerium systems’ experience helped client unearth important feature bug in early design stages avoiding painful ECO’s.

• Creating new tests complying with client’s verification methodology and style of test writing

• Multiple fully passing regressions

• 100% Functional Coverage

• 100% Code coverage (after design engineer waivers) for module level verification

• 100% interface coverage for top level verification

• Supporting Gate Level Simulations