CAV in Industry Series:

Bob Kurshan

AT&T Bell Labs

The Story of FormalCheck

DIMACS Center - Room 431

Busch Campus

Piscataway, New Jersey

February, 2 2:30 P.M.

Abstract:

Only slightly less exciting than its namesake, FormalCheck is the name of a CAD tool for computer-aided verification of hardware which grew out of some important technological advances of the last decade. I'll talk about the tool and the process through which it evolved from a concept to commerce.

The concepts were founded in logic, automata and computational complexity. The process involved jumping the hurdles of technology transfer, resistance to change and commercial justification, including the world of pay-back and back-bite. The experience plows through the center of issues such as: Is there such a thing as "Technology Transfer"? If so, how do you do it? If not, why does everyone talk about it? Is there really a role for fundamental science anymore? If so, who will support it?