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In this paper, we explain hardware abstraction layer (HAL) and related issues in the context of SoC design. First, we give a HAL definition and examples of HAL function. HAL gives an abstraction of HW architecture to upper layer software (SW). It hides the implementation details of HW architecture, such as processor, memory management unit (MMU), cache, memory, DMA controller, timer, interrupt controller, bus/bus bridge/network interface, I/O devices, etc. HAL has been used in the conventional area of operating system to ease porting OSs on different boards. In the context of SoC design, HAL keeps still the original role of enabling the portability of upper layer SW. However, in SoC design, the portability impacts on the design productivity in two ways: SW reuse and concurrent HW and SW design. As in the case of HW interface standards, e.g. VCI, OCP-IP, etc., the HAL API needs also a standard. However …