DASC standards track IP-based design trends

The common engineering practice of decomposing complex problems into a series of simpler subproblems to arrive at effective solutions is mirrored in the electronics industry by the definition and use of IP blocks. Although such blocks were initially fairly simple, the industry has been moving toward the exchange of highly complex, configurable parts such as microprocessors and digital-signal processors. Hence, there's a need for specific IP standards to manage this increased complexity. Although many aspects of the industry could benefit from standardization, three of them are currently being actively addressed: concise, vendor-neutral descriptions of IP characteristics; metrics for IP quality; and IP encryption for protected information exchange. The new standards that the IEEE Design Automation Standards Committee (DASC) is addressing cover both the technical aspects of IP use and the infrastructure for developing sound business models for IP production and distribution.