Open Core Protocol (OCP)
Encyclopedia
The Open Core Protocol is an openly licensed, core-centric protocol intended to meet contemporary system level integration challenges. OCP defines a bus-independent, configurable and scalable interface for on-chip subsystem communications. OCP International Partnership (OCP-IP) now offers the 2.2 version specification that further extends capabilities in areas such as very high performance multithreading, synchronization primitives and single-request/multiple-data transactions. OCP data transfer models range from simple request-grant handshaking through pipelined request-response to complex out-of-order operations.
Legacy IP cores
can be adapted to OCP, while new implementations may take full advantage of advanced features: designers select only those features and signals encompassing a core’s specific data, control and test configuration. Core definition using OCP encapsulates a complete system integration description enabling core and test bench reuse without rework. Not only does OCP provide clear delineation of design responsibilities for core authors and System-on-Chip (SoC) integrators, but also institutes a key partitioning formalism for verification engineers and automation software.
The aim of the members is to establish a de facto standard which is widely supported by the industry
designs. It focuses exclusively on IP core interfacing without preempting interconnect topology or other application-specific integration choices.
Legacy IP cores
Semiconductor intellectual property core
In electronic design a semiconductor intellectual property core, IP core, or IP block is a reusable unit of logic, cell, or chip layout design that is the intellectual property of one party. IP cores may be licensed to another party or can be owned and used by a single party alone...
can be adapted to OCP, while new implementations may take full advantage of advanced features: designers select only those features and signals encompassing a core’s specific data, control and test configuration. Core definition using OCP encapsulates a complete system integration description enabling core and test bench reuse without rework. Not only does OCP provide clear delineation of design responsibilities for core authors and System-on-Chip (SoC) integrators, but also institutes a key partitioning formalism for verification engineers and automation software.
The aim of the members is to establish a de facto standard which is widely supported by the industry
Advantages
- Eliminates the ongoing task of interface protocol (re)definition, verification, documentation and support
- Readily adapts to support new core capabilities
- Testbench portability simplifies (re)verification
- Limits test suite modifications for core enhancements
- Interfaces to any bus structure or on-chip network
- Delivers industry-standard flexibility and reuse
- Point-to-point protocol can directly interface two cores
Highlights
The OCP promotes IP core reusability and reduces design time, design risk and manufacturing costs for SoCSOC
SOC or SoC may refer to:Social Networking / Entertainment* Soc.TV, an internet based, social television network* Soldier of ChristBusiness* Sirte Oil Company* South Oil CompanyScience and technology...
designs. It focuses exclusively on IP core interfacing without preempting interconnect topology or other application-specific integration choices.
- Enables IP core creation to be independent of system architecture and application domain
- Describes all inter-core communications
- Optimizes die area by configuring into the OCP interface only those features needed by the core
- Specified timing categories assure core interoperability
- Facilitates rapid, plug-and-playPlug-and-playIn computing, plug and play is a term used to describe the characteristic of a computer bus, or device specification, which facilitates the discovery of a hardware component in a system, without the need for physical device configuration, or user intervention in resolving resource conflicts.Plug...
IP integration