US6263301B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for storing and viewing data generated from a computer simulation of an integrated circuit
Assignee: Cadence Design Systems Inc
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Filing: 1998-08-19
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Granted: 2001-07-17
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Expires: 2018-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for managing simulation results involves identifying distinct transactions in a group of simulation results so that the simulation results can be stored and viewed on a transaction basis instead of as a single continuous block of simulation results. A transaction is defined as a specific sequence of transitions on a selection or grouping of signals over a period of time where the signal activity has some higher level operational meaning. Simulation results are recorded on a transaction basis by storing standard simulation results information along with transaction-specific data elements, including the name of the transaction, the start time of the transaction, the end time of the transaction, and the interface on which the transaction takes place. Additional transaction-specific data elements may include parent and child relationships and predecessor and successor relationships between transactions. In addition to recording simulation results on a transaction basis, simulation results are also graphically displayed on a transaction basis in a manner that allows for quicker and more intuitive analysis and debugging of simulation results.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven G. Cox
- 👤 James M. Gallo
- 👤 Mark Glasser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/32; G06F30/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for managing simulation results from the simulation of a virtual integrated circuit comprising the steps of: embedding transaction-related calls into simulation code that is specific to executing said virtual integrated circuit simulation, where said transaction-related calls relate to transactions that occur during said virtual integrated circuit simulation; running said simulation code having said transaction-related calls so as to execute said virtual integrated circuit simulation, including generating simulation results as responses to running said simulation code; continuously collecting said simulation results generated from said virtual integrated circuit simulation, wherein said simulation results include embedded transaction-specific information that is generated as automated responses to said embedded transaction-related calls; and continuously storing said simulation results into a database.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for managing simulation results from the simulation of a virtual integrated circuit comprising the steps of: embedding transaction-related calls into simulation code that is specific to executing said virtual integrated circuit simulation, where said transaction-related calls relate to transactions that occur during said virtual integrated circuit simulation; running said simulation code having said transaction-related calls so as to execute said virtual integrated circuit simulation, including generating simulation results as responses to running said simulation code; continuously collecting said simulation results generated from said virtual integrated circuit simulation, wherein said simulation results include embedded transaction-specific information that is generated as automated responses to said embedded transaction-related calls; and continuously storing said simulation results into a database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of continuously collecting and storing simulation results include collecting and storing transaction-specific data elements for a specific transaction, wherein said transaction-specific data elements are a subset of said transaction-specific information, said transaction-specific data elements including: a name of said specific transaction; a start time of said specific transaction; an end time or duration of said specific transaction; an interface on which said specific transaction takes place; names of variables associated with said specific transaction; and variable values for each named variable associated with said specific transactions at identified times.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further including a step of graphically displaying said simulation results and said transaction-specific information such that distinct transactions are graphically distinct.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 further including a step of storing error identifiers related to said identified distinct transactions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further including a step of graphically displaying said transaction-specific information in a waveform display that includes waveforms generated from signal-specific simulation results.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 further including steps of: expanding said graphical display of said transaction-specific information to show more detailed information about said transactions; and utilizing a visual element to indicate when said more detailed information about said transactions is available.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said step of graphically displaying said transaction-specific information includes a step of displaying transactions associated with a same interface on a same horizontal line of said graphical display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 further including a step of identifying source code that is related to a selected transaction that is graphically displayed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further including a step of displaying in textual format said transaction-specific information in a register display along with the text values of said simulation results.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for storing and viewing simulation results from a computer simulation of an integrated circuit comprising: means for generating transaction-specific information in conjunction with simulation results where said transaction-specific information relates to distinct transactions that occur during a simulation of an integrated circuit; means for storing said simulation results and said transaction-specific information related to said distinct transactions; means for displaying said simulation results and said transaction-specific information related to said distinct transactions such that said distinct transactions are uniquely identified; and means for identifying parent and child relationships between said distinct transactions, each said parent and child relationship including a parent transaction and at least one child transaction that is executed as a sub-transaction of said parent transaction.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for storing and viewing simulation results from a computer simulation of an integrated circuit comprising: means for generating transaction-specific information in conjunction with simulation results where said transaction-specific information relates to distinct transactions that occur during a simulation of an integrated circuit; means for storing said simulation results and said transaction-specific information related to said distinct transactions; means for displaying said simulation results and said transaction-specific information related to said distinct transactions such that said distinct transactions are uniquely identified; and means for identifying parent and child relationships between said distinct transactions, each said parent and child relationship including a parent transaction and at least one child transaction that is executed as a sub-transaction of said parent transaction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further including a means for graphically displaying said transaction-specific information related to said distinct transactions in a waveform display that includes waveforms generated from individual signals identified within said simulation results.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means for graphically displaying said parent and child relationships between said distinct transactions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means for identifying and graphically displaying predecessor and successor relationships between distinct transactions, each said predecessor and successor relationship including a predecessor transaction and a successor transaction which is enabled by accessing said predecessor transaction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for generating includes software calls that are embedded into simulation code that enables said computer simulation of said integrated circuit.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for storing and viewing data generated from the simulation of a virtual integrated circuit comprising steps of: embedding transaction-identification commands into simulation code that is utilized to initiate and execute simulation of a virtual integrated circuit; continuously recording simulation results from said simulation of said virtual integrated circuit, including embedding into said simulation results transaction-specific information that is generated in automated response to said transaction-identification commands that are embedded into said simulation code; and displaying said simulation results on a transaction basis utilizing said recorded transaction-specific information.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for storing and viewing data generated from the simulation of a virtual integrated circuit comprising steps of: embedding transaction-identification commands into simulation code that is utilized to initiate and execute simulation of a virtual integrated circuit; continuously recording simulation results from said simulation of said virtual integrated circuit, including embedding into said simulation results transaction-specific information that is generated in automated response to said transaction-identification commands that are embedded into said simulation code; and displaying said simulation results on a transaction basis utilizing said recorded transaction-specific information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said step of displaying includes a step of graphically displaying distinct transactions as transaction boxes wherein a single transaction box visually identifies a single one of said distinct transactions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of graphically displaying distinct transactions includes a step of graphically associating related transactions such that a transaction relationship is visually identifiable, said transaction relationship being at least one of a parent/child relationship and a predecessor/successor relationship.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for managing simulation results from the simulation of an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: embedding transaction-related calls into simulation code where said transaction-related calls relate to transactions that occur during said integrated circuit simulation, including embedding transaction-related calls that relate to transaction relationships between a first specific transaction and a second specific transaction; collecting simulation results generated from said integrated circuit simulation, wherein said simulation results include transaction-specific information generated from said embedded transaction-related calls, including collecting transaction-relationship information generated from said transaction-related calls that relate to said transaction relationships; and storing said simulation results into a database, including storing said transaction-relationship information generated from said transaction-related calls that relate to said transaction relationships.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for managing simulation results from the simulation of an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: embedding transaction-related calls into simulation code where said transaction-related calls relate to transactions that occur during said integrated circuit simulation, including embedding transaction-related calls that relate to transaction relationships between a first specific transaction and a second specific transaction; collecting simulation results generated from said integrated circuit simulation, wherein said simulation results include transaction-specific information generated from said embedded transaction-related calls, including collecting transaction-relationship information generated from said transaction-related calls that relate to said transaction relationships; and storing said simulation results into a database, including storing said transaction-relationship information generated from said transaction-related calls that relate to said transaction relationships.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step of embedding transaction-related calls that relate to said transaction relationships is a step of embedding transaction-related calls that identify at least one of a parent-and-child relationship, and a predecessor-and-successor relationship between said first specific transaction and said second specific transaction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 further including a step of graphically displaying said transaction relationships.
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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) | 2004-07-16 | 2005-01-15 | 2005-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-16 | 2009-01-15 | 2009-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-16 | 2013-01-15 | 2013-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |