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Automatic Constraint Generation

Concept

Automatic constraint generation is a research direction within constraint-based stimuli generation for simulation-based functional verification. It aims to derive simulation constraints automatically—rather than through manual composition—to support coverage-driven verification of complex Systems-on-Chips (SoCs). The technique was introduced for guided random simulation by Yeh and Huang (2010) and has been pursued by follow-up work that improves the controllability of internal signals and reduces the manual effort required to formulate stimuli constraints.

First seen 8/6/2026
Last seen 8/6/2026
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Automatic Constraint Generation

Definition and Motivation

Automatic constraint generation refers to techniques that derive simulation constraints algorithmically, instead of relying on a verification engineer to hand-write them. It is positioned within the broader area of constraint-based stimuli generation, which is widely used in simulation-based verification of complex Systems-on-Chips (SoCs) to produce stimuli that deliberately trigger corner-case behavior and previously under-covered scenarios. The motivation for automating constraint generation is twofold: it reduces the time-consuming and error-prone manual constraint composition process, and it can improve the controllability of internal signals, both of which contribute to higher functional coverage during simulation-based verification.

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RELATIONSHIPS

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The Yeh & Huang paper introduces automatic constraint generation for guided random simulation.
Constraint-based Stimuli Generation ← uses 85% 1e
Automatic constraint generation is used to improve constraint-based stimuli generation.

CITATIONS

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4 citations — click to collapse
[1] Automatic constraint generation aims to derive simulation constraints automatically, reducing manual constraint composition effort and improving controllability of internal signals. Minimal Stimuli Generation in Simulation-based Verification
[2] The concept was introduced by H.-H. Yeh and C.-Y. Huang in 'Automatic Constraint Generation for Guided Random Simulation' at the ASP Design Automation Conference (2010). Minimal Stimuli Generation in Simulation-based Verification
[3] Automatic constraint generation is one of two research trends that improve constraint-based stimuli generation, alongside techniques that manipulate existing constraints to obtain compact stimulus sets or faster solving. Minimal Stimuli Generation in Simulation-based Verification
[4] Constraint-based stimuli generation is used in coverage-driven simulation-based verification of complex Systems-on-Chips to trigger corner-case and insufficiently covered scenarios. Minimal Stimuli Generation in Simulation-based Verification