US6026220A — Method and apparatus for incremntally optimizing …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 164 words

A data processing system for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design, wherein the current version of the circuit design is stored in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is stored in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the data processing system comprising: a. determining means for comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. merging means coupled to said determining means for merging selected ones of the number of incremental changes and the previously optimized circuit design, thereby resulting in a partially optimized circuit design; and c. optimizing means coupled to said merging means for optimizing at least a portion of the partially optimized circuit design, including selected ones of the number of incremental changes.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 164 words

A data processing system for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design, wherein the current version of the circuit design is stored in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is stored in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the data processing system comprising: a. determining means for comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. merging means coupled to said determining means for merging selected ones of the number of incremental changes and the previously optimized circuit design, thereby resulting in a partially optimized circuit design; and c. optimizing means coupled to said merging means for optimizing at least a portion of the partially optimized circuit design, including selected ones of the number of incremental changes.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein said merging means includes substituting means for substituting a number of portions of the previously optimized circuit design with corresponding ones of the number of incremental changes.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein said determining means further identifies a no-change list, wherein the no-change list identifies selected portions of the current circuit design database that have not changed from the previous circuit design database.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

A data processing system according to claim 3, wherein said optimizing means is further coupled to said merging means, said optimizing means optimizing the partially optimized circuit design except for those portions identified by said no-change list.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein said determining means compares the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database using a cone-graph compare algorithm.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the current circuit design database includes a number of sub-portions and the previous circuit design database includes a number of corresponding sub-portions, and wherein selected ones of the sub-portions are assigned an updated revision identifier by a revision control block.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

A data processing system according to claim 6, wherein said determining means respectively compares the revision control identifiers of sub-portions of the current circuit design database with corresponding sub-portions of the previous circuit design database.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein said optimizing means is further coupled to an optimization control block, wherein said optimization control block provides a number of optimization control parameters to said optimizing means, said optimization control parameters influencing the optimization methodology of said optimizing means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

A data processing system according to claim 8, wherein selected ones of said optimization control parameters indicate that selected portions of the partially optimized circuit design are to be optimized to minimize power consumption.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

A data processing system according to claim 8, wherein selected ones of said optimization control parameters indicate that selected portions of the partially optimized circuit design are to be optimized to maximize performance.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A data processing system according to claim 8, wherein selected ones of said optimization control parameters indicate that selected portions of the partially optimized circuit design are to be optimized to minimize area.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

A data processing system according to claim 8, wherein selected ones of said optimization control parameters indicate that selected portions of the partially optimized circuit design are to be optimized to conform to a predefined set of rules.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

A data processing system according to claim 8, wherein said optimization control parameters are defined by a user.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

A data processing system according to claim 13, wherein said user defines said optimization control parameters via a spread sheet interface.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A data processing system according to claim 13, wherein said user defines said optimization control parameters via a menu interface.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 158 words

A data processing system for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design, wherein the current version of the circuit design is stored in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is stored in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the data processing system comprising: a. determining means for comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. optimizing means coupled to said determining means for optimizing selected ones of the number of incremental changes, thereby resulting in a number of optimized incremental changes; and c. merging means coupled to said optimizing means for merging selected ones of the number of optimized incremental changes and selected portions of the previous optimized circuit design.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 158 words

A data processing system for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design, wherein the current version of the circuit design is stored in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is stored in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the data processing system comprising: a. determining means for comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. optimizing means coupled to said determining means for optimizing selected ones of the number of incremental changes, thereby resulting in a number of optimized incremental changes; and c. merging means coupled to said optimizing means for merging selected ones of the number of optimized incremental changes and selected portions of the previous optimized circuit design.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design operable on a computer wherein the current version of the circuit design is represented in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is represented in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the method comprising the steps of: a. comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify at least some of the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. merging selected ones of the number of incremental changes and selected portions of the previous optimized circuit design, thereby resulting in a partially optimized circuit design; and c. selectively optimizing at least a portion of the partially optimized circuit design, including selected ones of the number of incremental changes.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design operable on a computer wherein the current version of the circuit design is represented in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is represented in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the method comprising the steps of: a. comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify at least some of the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. merging selected ones of the number of incremental changes and selected portions of the previous optimized circuit design, thereby resulting in a partially optimized circuit design; and c. selectively optimizing at least a portion of the partially optimized circuit design, including selected ones of the number of incremental changes.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 17, wherein said merging step includes a substituting step for substituting a number of portions of the previously optimized circuit design with corresponding ones of the number of incremental changes.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method according to claim 17, wherein said comparing step further identifies a no-change list, wherein the no-change list identifies selected portions of the current circuit design database that have not changed from the previous circuit design database.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method according to claim 19, wherein said optimizing step optimizes the partially optimized circuit design except for those portions identified by said no-change list.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method according to claim 17, wherein said comparing step compares the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database using a cone-graph compare algorithm.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method according to claim 17, further comprising a revision control step, wherein the current circuit design database includes a number of sub-portions and the previous circuit design database includes a number of corresponding sub-portions, and wherein selected ones of these sub-portions are assigned an updated revision identifier during the revision control step.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 22, wherein said comparing step compares the revision control identifiers of selected sub-portions of the current circuit design database with selected corresponding sub-portions of the previous circuit design database.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method according to claim 17, further comprising a providing step wherein said providing step provides a number of optimization control parameters that affect the optimization methodology of said optimizing step.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 24, wherein said optimization control parameters are defined by a user.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 25, wherein said user defines said optimization control parameters via a spread sheet interface.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 25, wherein said user defines said optimization control parameters via a menu interface.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method according to claim 17, further including the steps of: a. determining if there are any incremental changes in a selected portion of the current circuit design database; and b. skipping the optimization step for said selected portion of the current circuit design database if the determining step (a) determines that there are no incremental changes in the selected portion of the current circuit design database.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design operable on a computer, wherein the current version of the circuit design is represented in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is represented in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the method comprising the steps of: a. comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify at least some of the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. optimizing selected ones of the number of incremental changes, thereby resulting in a number of optimized incremental changes; and c. merging selected ones of the optimized incremental changes and selected portions of the previously optimized circuit design.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for incrementally optimizing a current version of a circuit design operable on a computer, wherein the current version of the circuit design is represented in a current circuit design database, and includes a number of incremental changes from a previous version of the circuit design, the previous version of the circuit design is represented in a previous circuit design database, the previous circuit design database further includes a corresponding previously optimized circuit design, the method comprising the steps of: a. comparing the current circuit design database and the previous circuit design database to identify at least some of the number of incremental changes therebetween; b. optimizing selected ones of the number of incremental changes, thereby resulting in a number of optimized incremental changes; and c. merging selected ones of the optimized incremental changes and selected portions of the previously optimized circuit design.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method according to claim 29, further including the steps of: a. determining if there are any incremental changes in a selected portion of the current circuit design database; and b. skipping the optimization step for said selected portion of the current circuit design database if the determining step (a) determines that there are no incremental changes in the selected portion of the current circuit design database.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 21 words

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein said optimizing means operates on said circuit design at a structural level.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-02-14	2003-08-16	2004-02-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-02-14	2007-08-16	2008-02-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-02-14	2011-08-16	2012-02-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for incremntally optimizing a circuit design

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