Abstract: A method and computer program are disclosed for optimizing RTL code for an integrated circuit design that include steps of method of optimizing register transfer level code for an integrated circuit design comprising steps of receiving as input a first register transfer level code for the integrated circuit design and receiving as input criteria defining a critical multiplex structure. The first register transfer level code is analyzed to identify multiplex structures in the first register transfer level code. Each of the multiplex structures identified in the first register transfer level code is compared to the criteria defining a critical multiplex structure. Each of the multiplex structures identified in the first register transfer level code that satisfy the criteria defining a critical multiplex structure is entered in a list of critical multiplex structures. The list of critical multiplex structures is generated as output.

Abstract: A method and computer program are disclosed for managing synchronous and asynchronous clock domain crossings that include steps of: (a) receiving as input an integrated circuit design; (b) identifying paths between synchronous clock domains and paths between asynchronous clock domains in the integrated circuit design; and (c) if a path between synchronous clock domains is defined as a false path in the integrated circuit design, then reporting a fatal violation.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for associating timing violations with critical structures in an integrated circuit design include steps of: (a) receiving as input an integrated circuit design; (b) identifying a critical structure in the integrated circuit design; and (c) generating as output a script for a static timing analysis tool that includes a timing check for a path having a start point at an input of the critical structure and an end point at an output of the critical structure.

Abstract: A method for developing a circuit design is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) editing a file for a circuit design based on a plurality of edits received from a designer, the file containing a code written in a hardware description language, (B) characterizing the code in the file while the designer is editing the code to generate a plurality of characterization results and (C) generating a plurality of suggestions to the designer to modify the code based on a comparison of a plurality of goals for the circuit design and the characterization results.

Abstract: A method and computer program product analyzes an integrated circuit design to identify and resolve a problematic structure characterized by multiple rule violations uses a Design Closure Knowledge Base to generate a corrective action strategy in a Design Closure Guidance Report. In one embodiment, a method includes steps of receiving as input an integrated circuit design and a set of design rules, analyzing the integrated circuit design to identify design rule violations, and generating as output a compilation of each of the design rule violations and a corresponding list of primary and secondary objects in the integrated circuit design for each of the design rule violations.

Abstract: A method of placing and routing an integrated circuit design includes steps of (a) generating an initial placement and routing for at least a portion of an integrated circuit design; (b) analyzing the initial placement and routing of the integrated circuit design to find a critical location; (c) partitioning the initial placement and routing of the integrated circuit design into a series of nested shells wherein each shell surrounds the critical location and each preceding shell; (d) selecting an ordering of the shells; (e) selecting at least one of a timing constraint and an area constraint for each shell; and (f) placing and routing each shell in the order selected in step (d) according to the at least one timing constraint and area constraint selected in step (e).

Abstract: A method and computer program are disclosed for optimizing RTL code for an integrated circuit design that include steps of method of optimizing register transfer level code for an integrated circuit design comprising steps of receiving as input a first register transfer level code for the integrated circuit design and receiving as input criteria defining a critical multiplex structure. The first register transfer level code is analyzed to identify multiplex structures in the first register transfer level code. Each of the multiplex structures identified in the first register transfer level code is compared to the criteria defining a critical multiplex structure. Each of the multiplex structures identified in the first register transfer level code that satisfy the criteria defining a critical multiplex structure is entered in a list of critical multiplex structures. The list of critical multiplex structures is generated as output.

Abstract: A method and computer program are disclosed for optimizing RTL code for an integrated circuit design that include steps of: (a) receiving as input a first register transfer level code for an integrated circuit design; (b) receiving as input a user defined optimum multiplex structure; (c) analyzing the first register transfer level code to identify a critical multiplex structure; (d) partitioning the global multiplex structure into local multiplex structures each identical to the user defined optimum multiplex structure; and (e) generating as output a second register transfer level code for the integrated circuit design that replaces the global multiplex structure with the local multiplex structures.

Abstract: A method of automatically analyzing RTL code includes receiving as input RTL code for an integrated circuit design. An RTL platform is selected that incorporates design rules for a vendor of the integrated circuit design. The design rules are displayed from the RTL platform on a graphic user interface. A number of the design rules are selected from the graphic user interface. An analysis is performed in the RTL platform of the RTL code for each of the selected design rules. A result of the analysis is generated as output for each of the selected design rules.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for associating timing violations with critical structures in an integrated circuit design include steps of: (a) receiving as input an integrated circuit design; (b) identifying a critical structure in the integrated circuit design; and (c) generating as output a script for a static timing analysis tool that includes a timing check for a path having a start point at an input of the critical structure and an end point at an output of the critical structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit design library includes a timing parameter representative of a design element in an integrated circuit; an area size parameter representative of the design element in an integrated circuit; and a routing demand parameter representative of a number of connections required for the design element for each value of the timing parameter and the area size parameter.

Abstract: A method and computer program are disclosed for managing synchronous and asynchronous clock domain crossings that include steps of: (a) receiving as input an integrated circuit design; (b) identifying paths between synchronous clock domains and paths between asynchronous clock domains in the integrated circuit design; and (c) if a path between synchronous clock domains is defined as a false path in the integrated circuit design, then reporting a fatal violation.

Abstract: A method and computer program are disclosed for optimizing RTL code for an integrated circuit design that include steps of: (a) receiving as input a first register transfer level code for an integrated circuit design; (b) receiving as input a user defined optimum multiplex structure; (c) analyzing the first register transfer level code to identify a critical multiplex structure; (d) partitioning the global multiplex structure into local multiplex structures each identical to the user defined optimum multiplex structure; and (e) generating as output a second register transfer level code for the integrated circuit design that replaces the global multiplex structure with the local multiplex structures.

Abstract: A method of estimating congestion for register transfer level code includes steps for receiving as input a floor plan mapped from the register transfer level code, identifying regions in the floor plan, computing routing demand numbers for the regions in the floor plan, computing routing resource numbers for the regions in the floor plan, and generating a congestion estimate of the register transfer level code as a function of the routing demand numbers and the routing resource numbers.

Abstract: An integrated circuit design library includes a timing parameter representative of a design element in an integrated circuit; an area size parameter representative of the design element in an integrated circuit; and a routing demand parameter representative of a number of connections required for the design element for each value of the timing parameter and the area size parameter.

Abstract: A method of automatically analyzing RTL code includes steps for receiving as input RTL code for an integrated circuit design, selecting an RTL platform incorporating circuit design rules for a vendor of the integrated circuit design, displaying the design rules from the RTL platform on a graphic user interface, selecting a number of the design rules from the graphic user interface, performing an analysis in the RTL platform of the RTL code for each of the selected design rules, and generating as output a result of the analysis for each of the selected design rules.

Abstract: A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for executing the steps of: receiving information about a driving cell from a layout tool, receiving information about an interconnect from a layout tool, determining buffer cell information based upon information about the driving cell and the interconnect by accessing a previously defined library lookup table, relaying the buffer cell information from the library look up table to the layout tool.

Abstract: A method of estimating congestion for register transfer level code includes steps for receiving as input a floor plan mapped from the register transfer level code, identifying regions in the floor plan, computing routing demand numbers for the regions in the floor plan, computing routing resource numbers for the regions in the floor plan, and generating a congestion estimate of the register transfer level code as a function of the routing demand numbers and the routing resource numbers.

Abstract: A method of generating a length matrix for register transfer level code includes steps for receiving as input register transfer level code, an I/O block list, a plurality of compile units, and a user defined hierarchical depth; mapping the register transfer level code to a design library, generating a connectivity matrix for the plurality of compile units, generating a priority list of interconnections from the connectivity matrix, generating placement coordinates for the compile units from the priority list of interconnections and the connectivity matrix, and generating as output at least one of the connectivity matrix and the placement coordinates.

Abstract: A method of generating a length matrix for register transfer level code includes steps for receiving as input register transfer level code, an I/O block list, a plurality of compile units, and a user defined hierarchical depth; mapping the register transfer level code to a design library, generating a connectivity matrix for the plurality of compile units, generating a priority list of interconnections from the connectivity matrix, generating placement coordinates for the compile units from the priority list of interconnections and the connectivity matrix, and generating as output at least one of the connectivity matrix and the placement coordinates.