Arm and Co-Design Automation Provide High-Speed Co-Verification Solution for Embedded Systems

New encapsulated simulation approach enables high-performance hardware/software co-verification for  ARM processor-based designs

CAMBRIDGE, UK and LOS ALTOS, CALIF - Mar. 4, 2002 -- ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor technology, and Co-Design Automation, Inc., a provider of next-generation system simulation technology, announced today at DATE, Paris, France that they have collaborated to produce a hardware/software co-verification product for embedded system designers. Co-Design Automation has also joined ARM's electronic design automation (EDA) Partnership Program.

 The two companies have worked together to integrate Co-Design Automation's SYSTEMSIM[tm] simulator including its CBlend[tm] technology with the ARM® processor models and software debug environment. The new product allows the simulator to be encapsulated within an ARM core-based embedded design, accelerating simulation performance to allow pre-prototype software verification, and enabling design debug using native hardware and software development environments.

 The joint solution will help reduce time-to-market by enabling software verification to start earlier in the design process, while reducing the probability of chip iterations due to functional problems. In addition, verifying real software on the hardware design prior to prototype will increase the confidence that the system will operate as expected when manufactured.

 "ARM is working with a number of Partners in the emerging hardware/software co-verification space, and our collaboration with Co-Design Automation provides system developers with a further opportunity to their reduce time-to-market," said Duncan Bryan, ARM EDA Partnership Program manager. "ARM's Cycle Callable Model (CCM) technology makes good use of the CBlend technology to enable a very efficient integration within the SYSTEMSIM environment. The CBlend and CCM combination has removed the need for a co-verification kernel, which has led to impressive simulation performance while retaining overall accuracy."

 "Co-Design Automation's CBlend technology allows a C program to directly drive simulation, enabling a unique, high-performance approach to platform verification," said Simon Davidmann, Co-Design Automation's president and chief executive officer. "Our collaboration has allowed the utilization of this SUPERLOG&3153;-based technology for verifying devices containing ARM models more efficiently and effectively than previously possible, significantly improving our customers design cycle time."

 Availability and Pricing
The SYSTEMSIM ARM model integration is available today running on Sun Solaris and Linux operating systems. It will be distributed by Co-Design Automation through its channels worldwide.

 SYSTEMSIM is available either as a perpetual or time based license, starting at $18,400 per year for a three-year contract.

 About the ARM EDA Partnership Program
The ARM EDA Partnership Program brings together ARM's expertise in reusable intellectual property (IP) generation and IP modeling, with the electronic design automation (EDA) design methodology expertise of leading EDA tool vendors to develop faster, more accurate, routes to system-on-chip (SoC) products. Members include Axis Corporation, AXYS Design, Cadence, Co-Design Automation, CoWare, IKOS, Innoveda, Mentor Graphics, Synopsys and Virtio.

 The Program establishes a framework of co-operation between engineering teams. The goal is to specify a range of core models, or IP views, that are developed by ARM as an integral component of the internal IP generation flow.

 About ARM
ARM is the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC micro-processor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming a volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at www.arm.com

 About Co-Design Automation
Co-Design Automation is an EDA company focused on advanced simulation products for large-scale system designs. It is privately held and funded by investors from within the EDA developer and user communities, including Intel Capital Corporation and Redwood Venture Partners, Inc. The staff includes notable simulation experts Phil Moorby, creator of the Verilog HDL and the first fellow at Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDN), and Peter Flake, creator of the HILO HDL. In 1999, Co-Design announced the SUPERLOG system design language, now utilized by 12 partner companies. Its products -- SYSTEMSIM and SYSTEMEX -- are achieving success throughout the electronics industry worldwide in system platform and advanced verification applications. Corporate headquarters is in Los Altos, Calif. Telephone: (877) 6 CODESIGN. Facsimile: (408) 273-6025. Email: info@co-design.com. On-line information is found at its Web Site: http://www.co-design.com.
 

SUPERLOG is a registered trademark and SYSTEMSIM, SYSTEMEX, CBlend are trademarks of Co-Design Automation, Inc. Verilog is a trademark of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Co-Design Automation acknowledge trademarks or registered trademarks of other organizations for their respective products and services.

 ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea LTD.: ARM Taiwan; and ARM France SAS.
 

For more information, contact:

 Michelle Spencer
ARM
+44 1628 427780
michelle.spencer@arm.com

 Nanette Collins
Public Relations for Co-Design
(617) 437-1822
nanette@nvc.com

 David Kelf
Vice President of Marketing at Co-Design
(617) 571-9883
davek@co-design.com