Commentary: Models hold value, not IP

 
While the intrinsic value of intellectual property (IP) is rooted in its functionality, it is the model that holds all practical value. Likewise, it is the model that generates most of the expense. The cost to develop, verify, maintain and support IP models is equal to that of designing an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The trouble with models is that they come in all shapes and sizes, and there is no one shape that fits all needs. For a given IP core, there may be a high-level reference model, a cycle or transaction accurate system-level model used for software development and system architectural analysis.

Chances are, there's a register transfer level (RTL) model for implementation and multiple gate-level netlists optimized for various technologies. Depending on customer requirements, the provider may also supply models in multiple design languages and with interfaces. Very quickly, the effort of revision control and quality assurance dwarfs the cost of IP innovation.

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