Automated Processor Hardware Synthesis

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Continuing the line of thought from previous work from my supervisorsand senior research group member, the overarching goal of thisresearch is to synthesize processor hardware, specifically hardware tointerface between a processor and complex memory system. This consistsof several sub-goals.These sub-goals are to determine the formal/mathematical specificationof the processor, it's details, and the processor's system detailsthat are required in order to have a software tool correctlysynthesize hardware units for processors.These sub-goals will also require the development of analysisprocedures, likely involving a combination of formal and heuristicanalyses for synthesizing correct and functional hardware, andpotentially optimizing the performance of the generated hardware.Additionally, the tool would need an appropriate internalrepresentation of the processor's hardware structures in order toperform analyses.The broader question this would work towards answering is if it ispossible or reasonable to synthesize hardware for a complex systemsuch as a processor. This would develop novel engineeringmethodologies and answer multiple sub-questions such as what is theappropriate input specification that is required to describe aprocessor in a way that is natural for processor designers to expressand explore different hardware designs. Another important sub-questionis how should this software tool represent the processor designinternally to allow it to verify the correctness and functionality ofthe design as well as optimize it. The novel methodology developed inanswering these questions is improving a processor designer's workflowby giving them the ability to quickly have this tool synthesizecorrect and optimal hardware of their intended design, rather thanmanually implement a potentially error prone design. Additionallyidentifying an appropriate formal specification of the processorsystem that allows processor designers to express hardware designswould be another novel contribution. Determining the appropriateanalyses and synthesis procedures a synthesis tool needs to perform isanother novel engineering methodology this would contribute towards.