Patents by Inventor Alasdair Scott

Alasdair Scott has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8001509
    Abstract: A user logic design for a mask-programmable logic device (“MPLD”) may be designed on a comparable or compatible user-programmable logic device (“UPLD”) and migrated to the MPLD, or may be designed directly on an MPLD. If the design is designed on a UPLD, the constraints of the target MPLD—i.e., differences between the devices—are taken into account so that the migration will be successful. If the design is designed directly on an MPLD, constraints of a comparable compatible UPLD are taken into account if the user indicates that the design will be migrated to the UPLD for testing. This means that when a logic design is intended to be migrated back-and-forth between a UPLD and an MPLD, only the intersection of features can be used. To facilitate migration, fixed mappings between pairs of devices may be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Perry, Gregor Nixon, Larry Kong, Alasdair Scott, Andrew Hall, Lingli Wang, Chris Dettmar, Jonathan Park, Richard Price
  • Patent number: 7337101
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a programmable logic device (PLD) includes translating a timing requirement of the system into a geographical constraint. Resources on the PLD are fitted onto locations on the PLD in response to the geographical constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Perry, Gregor Nixon, Ziad Abu-Lebdeh, Alasdair Scott, Philippe Marti
  • Publication number: 20080005716
    Abstract: A user logic design for a mask-programmable logic device (“MPLD”) may be designed on a comparable or compatible user-programmable logic device (“UPLD”) and migrated to the MPLD, or may be designed directly on an MPLD. If the design is designed on a UPLD, the constraints of the target MPLD—i.e., differences between the devices—are taken into account so that the migration will be successful. If the design is designed directly on an MPLD, constraints of a comparable compatible UPLD are taken into account if the user indicates that the design will be migrated to the UPLD for testing. This means that when a logic design is intended to be migrated back-and-forth between a UPLD and an MPLD, only the intersection of features can be used. To facilitate migration, fixed mappings between pairs of devices may be created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Perry, Gregor Nixon, Larry Kong, Alasdair Scott, Andrew Hall, Lingli Wang, Chris Dettmar, Jonathan Park, Richard Price
  • Patent number: 7290237
    Abstract: A user logic design for a mask-programmable logic device (“MPLD”) may be designed on a comparable or compatible user-programmable logic device (“UPLD”) and migrated to the MPLD, or may be designed directly on an MPLD. If the design is designed on a UPLD, the constraints of the target MPLD—i.e., differences between the devices—are taken into account so that the migration will be successful. If the design is designed directly on an MPLD, constraints of a comparable compatible UPLD are taken into account if the user indicates that the design will be migrated to the UPLD for testing. This means that when a logic design is intended to be migrated back-and-forth between a UPLD and an MPLD, only the intersection of features can be used. To facilitate migration, fixed mappings between pairs of devices may be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Perry, Gregor Nixon, Larry Kong, Alasdair Scott, Andrew Hall, Lingli Wang, Chris Dettmar, Jonathan Park, Richard Price
  • Patent number: 7234125
    Abstract: Programming software for mask-programmable logic devices provides a timing estimation to the user for the user's logic design during the compilation stage, notwithstanding that the software is not aware of the ultimate placement and routing of the design, which will be performed by the mask-programmable logic device supplier. The software includes a timing model based on actual delay measurements for different user designs in similar devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Alasdair Scott, Gregor Nixon
  • Patent number: 7216330
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a PLD is disclosed according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A logic design is optimized. Logic circuits from the logic design are mapped to resources on the PLD. At least some of the resources are fitted onto locations on the PLD by utilizing a user-specified procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Perry, Gregor Nixon, Alasdair Scott, Philippe Marti
  • Publication number: 20070066296
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information to a portable wireless device. The method comprises the steps of: arranging apparatus including a storage device, a transmitter and an antenna to define a zone of coverage; storing information in the storage device; detecting a portable wireless device within the defined zone; requesting the portable wireless device for permission to send information; if consent is received from the portable wireless device, sending the information stored in the storage device to the portable wireless device, and if consent is not received from the portable wireless device, not sending said stored information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Alasdair Scott-Goddard, Simon O'Regan
  • Publication number: 20040261052
    Abstract: A user logic design for a mask-programmable logic device (“MPLD”) may be designed on a comparable or compatible user-programmable logic device (“UPLD”) and migrated to the MPLD, or may be designed directly on an MPLD. If the design is designed on a UPLD, the constraints of the target MPLD—i.e., differences between the devices—are taken into account so that the migration will be successful. If the design is designed directly on an MPLD, constraints of a comparable compatible UPLD are taken into account if the user indicates that the design will be migrated to the UPLD for testing. This means that when a logic design is intended to be migrated back-and-forth between a UPLD and an MPLD, only the intersection of features can be used. To facilitate migration, fixed mappings between pairs of devices may be created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: ALTERA CORPORATION, a corporation of Delaware
    Inventors: Steven Perry, Gregor Nixon, Larry Kong, Alasdair Scott, Andrew Hall, Lingli Wang, Chris Dettmar, Jonathan Park, Richard Price