Patent US6742165B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6742165B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System, method and computer program product for web-based integrated circuit design
Assignee: ARM Finance Overseas Ltd
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Filing: 2001-03-28
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Granted: 2004-05-25
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Expires: 2021-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A Web-based integrated circuit design system, method and computer program product tool allows design engineers to utilize a well-understood graphical interface (i.e., a Web browser) to access a wealth of data and services. The services and data include competing standard architectures and reference designs. The integrated circuit design tool allows users (e.g., design engineers) to efficiently design cores and systems-on-a-chip (SOCs). The integrated circuit design tool is a “virtual lab” which allows and aides design engineers at every stage of IC product design—architecture choice, implementation options, software development, and hardware design.
Inventors
- 👤 Lavi A. Lev
- 👤 David A. Courtright
- 👤 John B. Knowles
- 👤 Darren M. Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for integrated circuit design, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a reference design for an integrated circuit; (b) a plurality of servers, each connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said plurality of servers, that services connections from a plurality of user machines over the Internet; and (d) means for allowing said plurality of user machines to remotely perform at least the following phases of the design via a graphical user interface by communicating with one of said plurality of servers and said application database, via said Web server: (i) system architecture exploration; (ii) software development; (iii) circuit design; (iv) verification; and (v) synthesis, layout and static timing analysis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for integrated circuit design, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a reference design for an integrated circuit; (b) a plurality of servers, each connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said plurality of servers, that services connections from a plurality of user machines over the Internet; and (d) means for allowing said plurality of user machines to remotely perform at least the following phases of the design via a graphical user interface by communicating with one of said plurality of servers and said application database, via said Web server: (i) system architecture exploration; (ii) software development; (iii) circuit design; (iv) verification; and (v) synthesis, layout and static timing analysis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said phases further comprise auto test pattern generation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said phase of software development further comprises application development.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein said application development further comprises accessing debugger tools.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein said application development further comprises accessing compiler tools.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for integrated circuit design, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a list of design components for integrated circuits; (b) a plurality of servers, each connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said plurality of servers, that services connections from a plurality of user machines over the Internet; and (d) means for allowing said plurality of user machines to remotely perform at least the following phases of integrated circuit design via a graphical user interface by communicating with one of said plurality of servers and said application database, via said Web server: (i) system architecture exploration; (ii) software development; (iii) design; (iv) verification; and (v) synthesis, layout and static timing analysis.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for integrated circuit design, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a list of design components for integrated circuits; (b) a plurality of servers, each connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said plurality of servers, that services connections from a plurality of user machines over the Internet; and (d) means for allowing said plurality of user machines to remotely perform at least the following phases of integrated circuit design via a graphical user interface by communicating with one of said plurality of servers and said application database, via said Web server: (i) system architecture exploration; (ii) software development; (iii) design; (iv) verification; and (v) synthesis, layout and static timing analysis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein said phases further comprise auto test pattern generation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein said phase of software development further comprises application development.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein said application development further comprises accessing debugger tools.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein said application development further comprises accessing compiler tools.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit by using only a single application, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a reference design for an integrated circuit; (b) a server connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said server, that services connections from a client device used by the user over the Internet; (e) a graphical user interface that is provided to the user on said client device by said Web server; (f) a system simulation tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware of an integrated circuit being designed; (g) a chip design flow tool, remotely accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (h) a compiler and debugger tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that facilitates the software development of said integrated circuit being designed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit by using only a single application, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a reference design for an integrated circuit; (b) a server connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said server, that services connections from a client device used by the user over the Internet; (e) a graphical user interface that is provided to the user on said client device by said Web server; (f) a system simulation tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware of an integrated circuit being designed; (g) a chip design flow tool, remotely accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (h) a compiler and debugger tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that facilitates the software development of said integrated circuit being designed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said software development further comprises application development.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a list of design components for integrated circuits; (b) a server connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said server, that services connections from a client device used by the user over the Internet; (e) a graphical user interface that is provided to the user on said client device by said Web server; (f) a system simulation tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware of an integrated circuit being designed; (g) a chip design flow tool, remotely accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (h) a compiler and debugger tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that facilitates the software development of said integrated circuit being designed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, comprising: (a) an application database that stores information about a list of design components for integrated circuits; (b) a server connected to said application database; (c) a Web server, connected to said server, that services connections from a client device used by the user over the Internet; (e) a graphical user interface that is provided to the user on said client device by said Web server; (f) a system simulation tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware of an integrated circuit being designed; (g) a chip design flow tool, remotely accessible via said graphical user interface, that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (h) a compiler and debugger tool, accessible via said graphical user interface, that facilitates the software development of said integrated circuit being designed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein said software development further comprises application development.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; (2) retrieving a plurality of reference designs for said application from a database, in response to said application selection; (3) displaying, via a graphical user interface, said plurality of reference designs for said application; (4) receiving from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating one of said plurality of reference designs; (5) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, using said selected reference design, of said integrated circuit being designed; (6) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (7) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; (2) retrieving a plurality of reference designs for said application from a database, in response to said application selection; (3) displaying, via a graphical user interface, said plurality of reference designs for said application; (4) receiving from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating one of said plurality of reference designs; (5) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, using said selected reference design, of said integrated circuit being designed; (6) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (7) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein said software development further comprises application development.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; (2) retrieve a list of design components for said application from a database, in response to said application selection; (3) displaying, via a graphical user interface, said list of design components for said application; (4) receiving from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating at least one of said list of design components; (5) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, including said at least one of said list of design components, of said integrated circuit being designed; (6) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (7) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for allowing a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; (2) retrieve a list of design components for said application from a database, in response to said application selection; (3) displaying, via a graphical user interface, said list of design components for said application; (4) receiving from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating at least one of said list of design components; (5) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, including said at least one of said list of design components, of said integrated circuit being designed; (6) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and (7) providing the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said software development further comprises application development.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
315 words
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to allow a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, said control logic comprising: first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to access a database, in response to said application selection, in order to retrieve a plurality of reference designs for said application; third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to display, via a graphical user interface, said plurality of reference designs for said application; fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating one of said plurality of reference designs; fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, using said selected reference design, of said integrated circuit being designed; sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface accessed over the Internet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
315 words
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to allow a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, said control logic comprising: first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to access a database, in response to said application selection, in order to retrieve a plurality of reference designs for said application; third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to display, via a graphical user interface, said plurality of reference designs for said application; fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating one of said plurality of reference designs; fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, using said selected reference design, of said integrated circuit being designed; sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface accessed over the Internet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The product of claim 19 , wherein said software development further comprises application development.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
323 words
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to allow a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, said control logic comprising: first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to access a database, in response to said application selection, in order to retrieve a list of design components for said application; third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to display, via a graphical user interface, said list of design components for said application; fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating at least one of said list of design components; fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, including said at least one of said list of design components, of said integrated circuit being designed; sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface accessed over the Internet.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
323 words
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to allow a user to perform integrated circuit design by using only a single application, said control logic comprising: first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user a selection indicative of an application for which the user is designing an integrated circuit; second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to access a database, in response to said application selection, in order to retrieve a list of design components for said application; third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to display, via a graphical user interface, said list of design components for said application; fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive from the user, via said graphical user interface, a selection indicating at least one of said list of design components; fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a system simulation tool that allows the user to select, simulate and prototype the hardware, software and middleware, including said at least one of said list of design components, of said integrated circuit being designed; sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, a chip design flow tool that allows the user to perform register transfer level design, verification, synthesis, layout and static timing analysis of said integrated circuit being designed; and seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to provide the user, via said graphical user interface, access to at least one compiler and debugger tool in order to facilitate the software development of said integrated circuit being designed; whereby the user remotely performs all phases of integrated circuit design, from conception to tape-out, via said graphical user interface accessed over the Internet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The product of claim 21 , wherein said software development further comprises application development.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-25 | 2007-11-24 | 2008-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-25 | 2011-11-24 | 2012-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-25 | 2015-11-24 | 2016-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |