METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DESIGN VERIFICATION USING PROOF-PARTITIONING

A design verifier includes a bounded model checker, a proof partitioner and a fixed-point detector. The bounded model checker verifies a property to a depth K and either finds a counterexample, or generates a proof in the form of a directed acyclic graph. If a counterexample is found, the bounded model checker selectively increases K and verifies the property to the new larger depth using the original constraints. If no counterexample is found, the proof partitioner provides an over-approximation of the states reachable in one or more steps using a proof generated by the bounded model checker. The fixed-point detector detects whether the over-approximation is at a fixed point. If the over-approximation is at a fixed-point, the design is verified. If the over-approximation is not at a fixed point, the bounded model checker can iteratively use over-approximations as a constraint and verify the property to a depth K.