OSCI debuts standard for SystemC AMS extensions

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: The Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI), an independent non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing SystemC as an industry-standard language for electronic system-level (ESL) design, released the first draft standard of the SystemC Analog/Mixed-Signal (AMS) extensions here during the IP-based System Design Conference (IP 08).

The AMS draft 1 standard proposes the first definitions for the design and modeling of embedded analog/mixed-signal systems at higher levels of abstraction, such as those found in telecommunication, automotive and imaging sensor applications.

The AMS draft 1 standard is available for download under open-source license at www.systemc.org.  The kit includes the AMS draft language
reference manual (LRM), the requirements specification, a whitepaper introducing the AMS language constructs, and a first example showing
the basic capabilities of the AMS extensions.

This marks the beginning of a public review period of the AMS draft 1 standard open through March 31, 2009. The worldwide SystemC
community of users, architects, ESL tool developers and AMS  IP providers are encouraged to participate and provide feedback using the
AMS discussion forum at http://www.systemc.org/Discussion_Forums/ams_forum/.

Designed for use with IEEE Std. 1666™-2005, "Standard SystemC Language Reference Manual," the AMS draft 1 standard proposes new class
libraries layered on top of the SystemC standard with focused AMS system-level modeling and simulation capabilities. These dedicated libraries provide features which can be applied in combination with digitally oriented ESL design methods. The AMS draft language reference manual details these new language constructs by proposing predefined modules, interfaces, channels and ports, and introducing new execution semantics for efficient simulation of discrete- and continuous-time behavior.

"This release clearly shows the commitment of OSCI to standardize SystemC extensions for AMS modeling in response to electronic industry
needs," said Ken Tallo, OSCI Chairman. "With input from the SystemC community, I am confident we are one step closer in developing an AMS
standard that continues to accelerate system-level product development methodologies."

The AMS standard is under development by the OSCI AMS Working Group formed in 2006 with the objective to define a rich set of modeling
styles for the design and verification of AMS systems. Different modeling concepts based on data-flow and signal-flow models of computation are proposed, including linear electrical networks to efficiently simulate analog descriptions. The AMS class libraries facilitate system-level design at different levels of abstraction for use cases such as functional modeling, architecture exploration, integration validation and virtual prototyping.

"The AMS extensions will enrich the SystemC language by introducing well-known modeling formalisms used for AMS system-level design," said
Martin Barnasconi, Chairman of OSCI's AMS Working Group. "We look forward to interacting with the SystemC community to further strengthen and enhance these extensions."

The AMS Working group will utilize feedback taken from the public review period to produce updates of the AMS standard. OSCI currently
plans to present the results of the initial public review in Q2 2009.