The temporal logic model checking algorithm of Clarke, Emerson, and Sistla [17] is modified to represent state graphs using binary decision diagrams (BDD’s) [7] and partitioned trunsirion relations [lo], 1111. Because this representation captures some of the regularity in the state space of circuits with data path logic, we are able to verify circuits with an extremely large number of states. We demonstrate this new technique on a synchronous pipelined design with approximately 5 x 10^120 states. Our model checking algorithm handles full CTL with fairness constraints. Consequently, we are able to express a number of important liveness and fairness properties, which would otherwise not be expressible in CTL. We give empirical results on the performance of the algorithm applied to both synchronous and asynchronous circuits with data path logic.

We present a study of the computational aspects of model checking based on binary decision diagrams (BDDs). By using a trace-based evaluation framework, we are able to generate realistic benchmarks and perform this evaluation collaboratively across several different BDD packages. This collaboration has resulted in significant performance improvements and in the discovery of several interesting characteristics of model checking computations. One of the main conclusions of this work is that the BDD computations in model checking and in building BDDs for the outputs of combinational circuits have fundamentally different performance characteristics. The systematic evaluation has also uncovered several open issues that suggest new research directions. We hope that the evaluation methodology used in this study will help lay the foundation for future evaluation of BDD-based algorithms.

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A recursive algorithm for solving Boolean relations is presented. It provides several features: wide exploration of solutions, parametrizable cost function and efficiency. The experimental results show the applicability of the method and tangible improvements with regard to previous heuristic approaches.