SYSTEMVERILOG MAILBOX

Systemverilog Mailbox is communication mechanism to allows packets(object of sequence item/transaction) to be exchanged between two blocks/components/processes of Testbench.

Systemverilog Mailbox can efficiently use to exchange information between two independent components.

LIMITATION OF SEMAPHORE

Systemverilog Semaphore could not exchange information between to process. It can useful only for locking mechanism between to processes. Which means Semaphore could not able to send packet(object of sequence item) from one process to another process.Mailbox is automatic class of semaphore.

REQUIREMENT

It is the most required process to send a packet from one process to another process. Consider the scenario to send entire packet information like address, data, packet_no, message_no to another process.

APPLICATION

To send data from generator to driver.

ANALOGY
It is like pipe line connection between to process/components for data exchange.

USER WANTS CODE
program mailbox;
  mailbox m1;
  int i,j;
  initial
    begin
      m1 = new;  // allocate memory to mailbox
      repeat(5)
        begin
          m1.put(i); //put value in mailbox
          i++;
          m1.get(j); // get value in mailbox
          $display("value of j = %d",j);
         
        end
    end
endprogram

To run simulation click on below link:

Link: https://www.edaplayground.com/x/7jr

Semaphore

Requirement:
While developing testbench, it is required to process the data between to separate entity. In Verilog provides the option of "event" but, that is a static object. Verilog language does not have the ability to create the dynamic event. Semaphore is the built-in class to use for synchronization.

Application:
Consider two threads are ongoing parallel. Now need to control this two thread. While the First thread is ongoing second thread need to wait to complete the operation of the Fist thread. Similarly, when the second thread is ongoing, First thread need to wait to complete the process for the Second thread.

Analogy:

Consider in the cafeteria where a limited number of chairs are available. Need to manage the arrangement of the cafeteria. The only Premium customer can use the cafeteria. So, every time when the customer enters the cafeteria key is provided to it. Similarly, while leaving the customer drop the key in the box.When there is no keys are available means all the chairs are occupied.
No place to sit in the cafeteria.












Similarly, the semaphore is like a cafeteria, the process is like the customer and key is like the chair. While constructing the semaphore user will decide the size of the semaphore means the number of chairs. When process start simulation semaphore provides the key to it. Once all the keys are occupied means semaphore is full. Once process will complete it drop the key indicate space is again created in semaphore.







USER WANT CODE:

program semaphore_example();
semaphore cafeteria;

task provide_chair(int addr, int data);
  $display("Taking FOOD addr %d", addr);
  #10;// do some operation
endtask

int done = 0, i = 0;
initial
 begin
  // here we initialize the semaphore with one token
  cafeteria = new(1);
  fork
  begin
   // here is one parallel thread competing
    while(!done)
    begin
      // wait for some random time
      $display("First customer is waiting to get the chair");
      #($random() % 100);
      // attempt to get the one semaphore token
      cafeteria.get(1);
      // got it!, lets use the bus
      $display("First customer got the chair");
      provide_chair(200, $random());
      i++;
      // we must return the semaphore token
      cafeteria.put(1); 
      $display("First customer drop the chair"); 
    end
  end
  begin
    // here is second parallel thread competing
    while(!done)
    begin
      // wait for some random time
      $display("Second customer is waiting to get the chair");
      #($random() % 100);
      // attempt to get the one semaphore token
      cafeteria.get(1);
      $display("Second customer got the chair");   
      provide_chair(200, $random());
      i++;
      // we must return the semaphore token
      cafeteria.put(1);
      $display("Second customer drop the chair");         
    end
  end

  // here is a another parallel thread
  // this is to decide close the cafeteria
  begin
    while(!done)
    begin
      @(i);
      if (i > 10)
      done = 1;
    end
  end
  join
  $display ("done -- out\n");
 end
endprogram

To run simulation click on below link.
Link: https://www.edaplayground.com/x/5nkS