METHOD OF MONITORING A COMPUTER SIMULATION OF AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT

A simulation monitor (502) automatically generates a monitor file (510) from a static timer output file (504). The monitor file instantiates a function, a firing equation, that triggers if and only if a critical timing path also triggers. The monitor file is written in a high level language description, suitable for efficient simulation. The test vectors which trigger the firing equation can thereby be monitored and used for hardware test at a later time. The invention may be extended to monitor other conditions of interest.