A model-based expert system for digital system design

The authors describe an expert system that generates digital system design from high-level specifications. The system is based on a three-phase model of digital system design. First, the high-level behavioral specifications are translated into a sequence of primitive behavioral operations. Next, these primitive operations are grouped to form intermediate-level behavioral functions. Finally, structural function modules are selected to implement these functions. The advantages of this model-based reasoning technique is that more design solutions are possible and the design is easier to optimize.