Minutes SV-AC 03/27/03
Written by: Stephen Meier

ATTN: Next SV-AC Meeting Th April 3th 9:30-10:30AM PST 
	Dial-In = 888-830-6260
	Intl: 1-505-242-2420
	PartID = 908704

Legend:
	x = attended
	- = missed
	r = represented
	. = not yet a member
	v = valid voter (3 out of last 4)
	n = not valid voter

v[xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx----x.] Faisal Haque (Cisco, Chairman)
v[xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-x-x-x] Steve Meier (Synopsys, Co-Chair)
v[xxx-xxxxxxxxxxx-xxx--x] Roy Armoni (Intel)
v[xxxxrxxxxxxx-x-xxxrxx.] Surrendra Dudani (Synopsys)
v[xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxrxrx] Cindy Eisner (IBM)
v[xxxxxxxxxxxxxrxx-xxx..] John Havlicek (Motorola)
v[x--xxrxxxxxx-xx-xxxxx.] Richard Ho (0-in)
v[xxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxrx-] Adam Krolnik (LSI)
v[xxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxx---xx] Joseph Lu (Sun)
n[rx--xxxxxxxxxxxx--xxxx] Erich Marschner (Cadence)
v[-x-xxxrxxxx-x-xxxxxx-x] Andrew Seawright (0-in)
v[xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-xrxxxx] Bassam Tabbara (Novas)
v[x-x-xxxxx.............] Tej Singh (Mentor)
v[-xx-xxxx..............] Connie O'dell (Consultant)
n[x-x-xxx-x--xxx-x--xx-x] David Lacey (HP, OVL Chairman)
v[x-xxxxx---x...........] Hillel Miller (Motorola)
v[-xxxx.................] Kurt Shultz (Motorola)

n[-x---------------------] Ping Chao (Axis)
n[----xxxx-x-xxxxx-xxxx-] Prakash Narain (Real Intent)
n[------xx-xxx-rx-xxxrrx] Harry Foster (Verplex)
n[-------xx-----xxxxxxx.] Ambar Sarkar (Paradigm Works)
n[---------xxxxx........] Yaron Wolfsthal (IBM)
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1. Review of ASWG Syntax Outcome

Dave Rich and the ASWG members (Jay, Surrendra, Neil) walked through ASWG outcome based on document titled BNF_3_26.doc , which corresponds to BNF and LRM sent to SVAC.  

1.a Concurrent assertions

Discussion on semantics restrictions for concurrent assertions to not occur within functions or tasks.  Dave indicated that functions and tasks can be used in continous assignment so the can occur in mixed both concurrent and procedural context and this would be ambiguous.

1.b Declarative assertions

Dave explained that any time assertion appears at top level it is always checked.

1.c Property Declaration

Adam expressed concern that the property expression cannot be expressed in-line.  The restriction is that only named properties can be instantiated.  Adam would like ability to have in-line convenience of writing sequence in line with assertion in immediate code.  Joseph agreed that this is very common usage for assertions.  Dave indicated that he sees that a change could be to allow a keyword property with a property expression in-line with assertion.  John, Cindy, Joseph strongly agree with the concern.  This will be issue #22 for DWG resolution.

For resolution Adam would like ability to have property expression in-line inside of assertion statement.  Surrendra noted that there would need to be restrictions on what type of sequences, as an example the declaration of local variable may not be possible.

1.d Sequence arguments:

Discussion on arguments of a sequence.  There was change in final revision which Jay felt was not reviewed and agreed to within ASWG.  He has concern on the change.  The prior proposal had separate variable declaration with types. He has concern about lifetime of the variables.  Dave indicated that sequences handle arguments much like a macro in that they are expanded.  Jay indicated that without the separate variable list it is not possible to perform semantic checks such as restriction that variables are only declared in sequences.  ASWG to resolve.

1.e On property_spec:

Jay indicated that BNF has also changed from ASWG outcome in its direct use of sequence_spec.  John indicated that the prior ASWG BNF took away multi-clock contatentation and only supported it with named sequences.  Jay expresed willingness to provide this but suggested other ways.

John indicated that multi-clock semantics required only specific form of concatenation and does not support any other syntax operations.  Roy indicated that there is issue with suffix implication.  John, Adam, Roy, Joseph would like the issue is addressed #23.

1.f sequence_spec

Roy asked why the and and or operators where changed from &&, || and he did not see they conflict in precedence.  Jay indicated that by using word keywords it explicitly indicates which elements are being treated as boolean versus sequence.  Dave indicated that it removes need of parentheses to override precedence.  Jay indicated that with this change it is possible to make semantic checks which were not otherwise possible.  ASWG outcome is final syntax.

1.g repeat forms

Discussion on forms and alignment with PSL.  Jay indicated that the outcomne is consistent, Erich indicated the same earlier in DWG.

1.h system functions

It was pointed out that certain system functions are restricted to only be used on sampled variables.

1.i Templates

Discussion on whether body of template (template_body) is required to be legal syntax before expansion or not.  Jay indicated that there are cases where the body would not be legal and he mentioned example of event control expressions.  This needs further clarification by ASWG.

Adam asked if tasks could be inside a template. Jay explained that it can.  Care would need to be taken to only use templates in legal locations.  Procedural code inside of procedural code, concurrent code inside of concurrent code.

Adam would like to raise issue that it does not fully supported desired functionality for instantiating templates within procedural context.  Supported by Jay (for Erich) and Bassam.  ASWG will review Adam's desired requirements and give feedback on what can be supported.

Meeting Concluded