Automated circuit design case management

Claim 1

A system for managing files used by a timing analysis tool, the timing analysis tool responsive to a set of timing files, a set of input files, and a batch command file, said system including: a plurality of cases, each said case for defining a case flow for the timing analysis tool and including a plurality of timing files in a format suitable for use by the timing analysis tool; a plurality of circuit designs, each said circuit design including a set of information files; a tool for reading information associated with a first case and for creating a second case responsive to said information, said second case including a first subset of timing files which are each identical to a corresponding first subset of timing files for said first case, and said second case including a second subset of timing files which differ from a corresponding second subset of timing files for said first case, wherein said tool includes a case management module adapted for generating the batch command file and a model preprocessor adapted for receiving said set of information files which are associated with a case to be processed and for generating the set of input files from said set of information files, said model preprocessor including a set of format translator modules for translating said set of information files to the input files; and a set of links linking said first subset of timing files from said first case and said first subset of timing files from said second case, said set of links enabling said tool to update said second set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case.

Claim 2

A system for managing files used by a timing analysis tool, the timing analysis tool responsive to a set of timing files, a set of input files, and a batch command file, said system including: a plurality of cases, each said case for defining a case flow for the timing analysis tool and including a plurality of timing files in a format suitable for use by the timing analysis tool; a plurality of circuit designs, each said circuit design including a set of information files; a tool for reading information associated with a first case and for creating a second case responsive to said information, said second case including a first subset of timing files which are each identical to a corresponding first subset of timing files for said first case, and said second case including a second subset of timing files which differ from a corresponding second subset of timing files for said first case, wherein said tool includes a case management module adapted for generating the batch command file and a model preprocessor adapted for receiving said set of information files which are associated with a case to be processed and for generating the set of input files from said set of information files, said model preprocessor including a set of format translator modules for translating said set of information files to the input files; and a set of links linking said first subset of timing files from said first case and said first subset of timing files from said second case, said set of links enabling said tool to update said second set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case.

Claim 6

A method for managing files used by a timing analysis tool, said method including: storing a plurality of cases, said step of storing including the steps of storing, for each said case, a plurality of timing files and a plurality of circuit designs, each said circuit design including a set of information files; responsive to an external input, reading information associated with a first case and creating a second case responsive to said information, said step of creating a second case including the step of creating a first subset of timing files which are each identical to a corresponding first subset of timing files for said first case, and said step of creating a second case including the step of creating a second subset of timing files which differ from a corresponding second subset of timing files for said first case; generating a batch command file to which a timing analysis tool is responsive, said batch command file for manipulating said timing files; receiving said set of information files which are associated with a case to be processed; generating a set of input files from said set of information files by translating said set of information files to a format suitable for use by a timing analysis tool; and linking said first subset of files from said first case and said first subset of files from said second case, said set of links enabling said tool to update said second set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case.

Claim 7

A method for managing files used by a timing analysis tool, said method including: storing a plurality of cases, said step of storing including the steps of storing, for each said case, a plurality of timing files and a plurality of circuit designs, each said circuit design including a set of information files; responsive to an external input, reading information associated with a first case and creating a second case responsive to said information, said step of creating a second case including the step of creating a first subset of timing files which are each identical to a corresponding first subset of timing files for said first case, and said step of creating a second case including the step of creating a second subset of timing files which differ from a corresponding second subset of timing files for said first case; generating a batch command file to which a timing analysis tool is responsive, said batch command file for manipulating said timing files; receiving said set of information files which are associated with a case to be processed; generating a set of input files from said set of information files by translating said set of information files to a format suitable for use by a timing analysis tool; and linking said first subset of files from said first case and said first subset of files from said second case, said set of links enabling said tool to update said second set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case.

Claim 20

A system for managing case flows for a timing analysis tool, comprising: a timing analysis tool; a plurality of cases each said case for defining a case flow for said timing analysis tool and including a plurality of timing files in a format suitable for use by said timing analysis tool; a plurality of circuit designs, each said circuit design including a set of information files; a model preprocessor for receiving a set of information files associated with a case flow to be processed and for generating said set of input files using said set of information files; a set of links linking a first subset of timing files from said first case and said first subset of timing files from a second case, said set of links enabling said timing analysis tool to update said first set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case, said first case including a second subset of files which are different from a second subset of files in said second case; a case management module for generating said set of batch commands; and wherein, said timing analysis tool generates at least one output file in response to said set of timing files, said set of input files, said set of links, and said batch command file.

Claim 21

A system for managing case flows for a timing analysis tool, comprising: a timing analysis tool; a plurality of cases each said case for defining a case flow for said timing analysis tool and including a plurality of timing files in a format suitable for use by said timing analysis tool; a plurality of circuit designs, each said circuit design including a set of information files; a model preprocessor for receiving a set of information files associated with a case flow to be processed and for generating said set of input files using said set of information files; a set of links linking a first subset of timing files from said first case and said first subset of timing files from a second case, said set of links enabling said timing analysis tool to update said first set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case, said first case including a second subset of files which are different from a second subset of files in said second case; a case management module for generating said set of batch commands; and wherein, said timing analysis tool generates at least one output file in response to said set of timing files, said set of input files, said set of links, and said batch command file.

Claim 27

A method for providing an automated management of case flows for a timing analysis tool, comprising: a plurality of cases, each said case for defining a case flow for the timing analysis tool and including a plurality of timing files in a format suitable for use by the timing analysis tool; a set of links linking a first subset of timing files from a first case and a first subset of timing files from a second case, said set of links enabling the timing analysis tool to update said first set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case, including a second subset of files which are different from a second subset of files in said second case; providing a model preprocessor for receiving a set of information files associated with a case to be processed and for generating a set of files to be passed to the timing analysis tool; and providing a case management module for generating a set of batch commands for manipulating said timing files, the timing analysis tool responsive to said set of batch commands.

Claim 28

A method for providing an automated management of case flows for a timing analysis tool, comprising: a plurality of cases, each said case for defining a case flow for the timing analysis tool and including a plurality of timing files in a format suitable for use by the timing analysis tool; a set of links linking a first subset of timing files from a first case and a first subset of timing files from a second case, said set of links enabling the timing analysis tool to update said first set of timing files in said second case by updating said first set of timing files in said first case, including a second subset of files which are different from a second subset of files in said second case; providing a model preprocessor for receiving a set of information files associated with a case to be processed and for generating a set of files to be passed to the timing analysis tool; and providing a case management module for generating a set of batch commands for manipulating said timing files, the timing analysis tool responsive to said set of batch commands.