SmartSand, Inc. of Sunnyvale Ca. announces tool-neutral Synthesis environment for FREE distribution to end users by IP Providers

5/30/2000 - SmartSand, Inc. of Sunnyvale Ca. announces tool-neutral Synthesis environment for FREE distribution to end users by IP Providers.

sysm-Developer - Automated Tool-Neutral Synthesis Capability for IP Providers

sysm-Developer provides additional features to the SmartMerlins -- Synthesis product and is intended for IP Providers. sysm-Developer allows automated generation of a tool-neutral synthesis flow that can be exported to end customers along with the IP that is provided.
With sysm-Developer, IP providers can synthesize their IP in a tool-neutral environment utilizing the full capabilities of the SmartMerlins -- Synthesis product, then export this methodology to their customers along with sysm-IP.
sysm-IP is shipped to end customers along with software variables unique to the IP. The synthesis flow remains consistent with the SmartMerlins -- Synthesis product, ensuring that the synthesis methodology is consistent across both synthesis tools, and is fully compatible with other IP supported with sysm-IP. An encrypted file is also generated that restricts the customer from changing the hierarchical structure of the IP provided, while allowing them the full functionality for synthesizing the IP as found in the licensed SmartMerlins -- Synthesis product.

sysm-IP - A Freely Distributable Tool-Neutral Synthesis Environment

sysm-IP represents a new, standardized way of distributing a flexible synthesis methodology to end users of IP. This tool is available for free distribution to customers of IP Providers who license sysm-Developer.
All of the programmable aspects of synthesis found in sysm are available to users of sysm-IP. The essential restriction of sysm-IP is that the user can only apply the sysm methodology to designs exported by IP providers. A seamless synthesis environment is provided for customers who integrate sysm and their own designs with IP provided by supporters of sysm-Developer.

Future SmartMerlins Products

Our next area of focus is to continue development of our tool-neutral products. We will continue to innovate in ways to offer tool-neutral solutions to our most prevalent problems.
SmartMerlins -- Simulation is one of our next areas of focus. The Simulation SmartMerlin offered today along with SmartMerlins -- Synthesis can take the same arsm output and perform compilation of the design for simulation. Our next area of focus, however, for the simulation environment is to provide an automated regression suite. As users develop tests, the tests will be checked into the regression suite. As the design changes are continually made, the SmartMerlins -- Simulation will track the regression test suite and will ensure that all regression tests have been run within a programmable number of days.
SmartMerlins -- Formal Verification is currently in the architectural stage and will interact with SmartMerlins -- Synthesis in order to offer our customers an automated tool-neutral solution for Formal Verification.
We continue to make incremental improvements and release enhancements to our products. Since our products are used by our internal consulting staff, they are continually adapted to enhance our own design flow.

About SmartSand

SmartSand Inc was formed as an ASIC Design Services Consulting firm in October, 1994. Since our founding we have continually developed design flow automation tools to enhance the productivity of our front-end design services.
By using these tools every day in our work, you are assured that the design flow was written with the mindset to improve productivity of hardware designers. The SmartMerlins-Synthesis tools have been used with our customers since mid-1995 and have led to successful implementation of dozens of ASIC designs.

Contact Information:

John Simmons
Vice President, Business Development
SmartSand Inc.
1095 E. Duane Ave #205
Sunnyvale CA 94086
408-738-8874 x112 (Office)
408-738-8876 (fax)
jsimmons@smartsand.com
www.smartsand.com