A graphical hardware design language

Gdl is a graphical hardware design language that separates design decisions into three interrelated but distinct domains: behavioral, structural, and physical. Specific language features are provided to represent a design in each of these domains. The process model for Gdl is described. Functional behavior is separated into distinct activities called 'processes' (autonomous control centers). The computations performed by a process are specified in its behavior graph. Processes may communicate with each other through ports where the channel between two ports may be an abstract logical link or may be a physical bus. Provisions are made for synchronization. Gdl is evaluated and suggestions are made for future research.<<ETX>>

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