US6144933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for remotely probing and stimulating a programmable logic device
Assignee: Xilinx Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-20
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Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2019-05-20
Abstract
Abstract An interactive graphical software tool is provided that can be used to report the configuration data (i.e., the state of the various configuration bits) in a programmed device as well as to probe and stimulate circuits in the programmed device. A graphical or textual representation of the configuration data can be displayed. When used with a programmable device having addressable flip-flops, such as a member of the Xilinx XC6200 family, one embodiment of the invention can change the state of any addressable flip-flop in the configured device. The graphical tool of the invention is preferably implemented using a high level programming language such as Java and features a graphical point and click user interface, remote access to hardware, and symbolic debug capability. According to another aspect of the invention, data can be written into a programmable device using an interactive software tool and a hardware device designed to interface with the programmable device. The software tool can optionally access the hardware device via a network server, thereby enabling remote configuration of the programmable device.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven A. Guccione
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/3698; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/3185; G01R31/318516; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/362; G06F11/3636; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A software tool for reading data remotely from a programmable logic device, the tool comprising: means for remotely accessing a hardware device designed to interface with the programmable logic device; means for specifying a logic cell in the programmable logic device; means for reading data from the specified logic cell via the hardware device; and means for displaying the data from the specified logic cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A software tool for reading data remotely from a programmable logic device, the tool comprising: means for remotely accessing a hardware device designed to interface with the programmable logic device; means for specifying a logic cell in the programmable logic device; means for reading data from the specified logic cell via the hardware device; and means for displaying the data from the specified logic cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The software tool of claim 1, wherein the data comprises configuration data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The software tool of claim 1, wherein the means for specifying comprises a configuration data file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The software tool of claim 1, wherein the means for specifying is interactive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The software tool of claim 1, wherein the means for specifying comprises an interactive graphical display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The software tool of claim 1, wherein the means for remotely accessing comprises a remote server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The software tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is implemented in a high level programming language.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The software tool of claim 1, wherein the hardware device comprises a PCI board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The software tool of claim 1, further comprising: means for applying stimulus to probe points in the programmable logic device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for reading data remotely from a programmable logic device, comprising: remotely accessing a hardware device designed to interface with the programmable logic device; specifying a logic cell in the programmable logic device; reading data from the specified logic cell via the hardware device; and displaying the data from the specified logic cell.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for reading data remotely from a programmable logic device, comprising: remotely accessing a hardware device designed to interface with the programmable logic device; specifying a logic cell in the programmable logic device; reading data from the specified logic cell via the hardware device; and displaying the data from the specified logic cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the data comprises configuration data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the logic cell is specified using a configuration data file.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the logic cell is specified interactively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the logic cell is specified using an interactive graphical display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the hardware device is remotely accessed using a remote server.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the method is performed using a software tool implemented in a high level programming language.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the hardware device comprises a PCI board.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
A software tool for remotely stimulating a circuit in a programmable logic device having addressable flip-flops, the tool comprising: means for remotely accessing a hardware device interfacing with the programmable logic device; means for addressing a flip-flop in the programmable logic device; means for specifying the data to be written to the addressed flip-flop; and means for changing a state of the addressed flip-flop via the hardware device to match the specified data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A software tool for remotely stimulating a circuit in a programmable logic device having addressable flip-flops, the tool comprising: means for remotely accessing a hardware device interfacing with the programmable logic device; means for addressing a flip-flop in the programmable logic device; means for specifying the data to be written to the addressed flip-flop; and means for changing a state of the addressed flip-flop via the hardware device to match the specified data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The software tool of claim 18, wherein the data comprises configuration data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The software tool of claim 18, wherein the means for specifying comprises a configuration data file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The software tool of claim 18, wherein the means for specifying is interactive.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The software tool of claim 18, wherein the means for specifying comprises an interactive graphical display.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The software tool of claim 18, wherein the means for remotely accessing comprises a remote server.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The software tool of claim 18, wherein the tool is implemented in a high level programming language.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The software tool of claim 18, wherein the hardware device comprises a PCI board.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The software tool of claim 18, further comprising: means for reading the state of the addressed flip-flop; and means for displaying the state of the addressed flip-flop.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The software tool of claim 18, further comprising: means for reading configuration from the programmable logic device; and means for displaying the configuration data.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for remotely stimulating a circuit in a programmable logic device having addressable flip-flops, comprising: remotely accessing a hardware device interfacing with the programmable logic device; addressing a flip-flop in the programmable logic device; specifying the data to be written to the addressed flip-flop; and changing a state of the addressed flip-flop via the hardware device to match the specified data.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for remotely stimulating a circuit in a programmable logic device having addressable flip-flops, comprising: remotely accessing a hardware device interfacing with the programmable logic device; addressing a flip-flop in the programmable logic device; specifying the data to be written to the addressed flip-flop; and changing a state of the addressed flip-flop via the hardware device to match the specified data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the data comprises configuration data.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the data is specified using a configuration data file.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the data is specified interactively.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the data is specified using an interactive graphical display.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the hardware device is remotely accessed using a remote server.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the method is performed using a software tool implemented in a high level programming language.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the hardware device comprises a PCI board.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising: reading the state of the addressed flip-flop; and displaying the state of the addressed flip-flop.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising: reading configuration data from the programmable logic device; and displaying the configuration data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |