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Virginia Tech

Guiding RTL Test Generation Using Relevant Potential Invariants

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In this thesis, we propose to use relevant potential invariants in a simulation-based swarmintelligence-based test generation technique to generate relevant test vectors for design validation at the Register Transfer Level (RTL). Providing useful guidance to the test generator for such techniques is critical. In our approach, we provide guidance by exploiting potential invariants in the design. These potential invariants are obtained using random stimuli such that they are true under these stimuli. Since these potential invariants are only likely to be true, we try to generate stimuli that can falsify them. Any such vectors would help reach some corners of the design. However, the space of potential invariants can be extremely large. To reduce execution time, we also implement a two-layer filter to remove the irrelevant potential invariants that may not contribute in reaching difficult states. With the filter, the vectors generated thus help to reduce the overall test length while still reach the same coverage as considering all unfiltered potential invariants. Experimental results show that with only the filtered potential invariants, we were able to reach equal or better branch coverage than that reported by BEACON in the ITC99 benchmarks, with considerable reduction in vector lengths, at reduced execution time.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Computer Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2018

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Khanna, Tania
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Hsiao, Michael S.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Abbott, A. Lynn
  • Zeng, Haibo

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:16690
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/84483

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Khanna, Tania. Guiding RTL Test Generation Using Relevant Potential Invariants. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/84483