In IP integrator, a connection is made on the block diagram between a Master Interface and a Slave Interface, possibly through interconnect IP. This is called an Address Path. The slave interfaces have one or more Slave Segments which are addressable regions of memory or registers that the master wants to access.
Each master block has one or more Address Spaces (for example, an instruction and data address space). The slave segments are visible to the master at specific addresses in a master’s address space. Address Assignment is the act of choosing an base address (that is, the starting address) and range within a master's address space where the slave is be visible to the master. This assigned address is then stored with the master's address space as a Master Segment. A master segment is simply an address assignment, which assigns the base address and range at which a master can access a slave.
The preceding figure illustrations the address path from a Master Interface
(master_block) across an Address Path to a Slave
Interface (slave_block), allowing a master's Address
Space to access a Slave Segment resource. A Master Segment is created within the
master's Address Space during address assignment. A Master Segment devotes a portion of
the master's Address Space (defined by base address and range) for accessing the Slave
Segment resource.
