Abstract: An interface, system and method enabling dynamic reconfiguration of an electronic device in a convenient and efficient manner. The interface enables basic operations, such as adding or deleting a device configuration and switching between different device configuration views/workspaces. In some embodiments, the system and method apply global device parameter values to each device configuration and/or allow only valid or legal states for device configurations beyond the first configuration. In another embodiment, the electronic device includes a microprocessor, a plurality of internal peripherals, an interconnecting component, an external coupling port, and a memory for storing instructions. The plurality of internal peripherals, the interconnecting component and the external coupling port are programmably configurable to perform a variety of functions.

Abstract: A design tool provides a graphical user assignable register map. The design tool graphically displays a register map that indicates locations of system variables in a memory of a processing device for an embedded application. The design tool further provides a user interface element for a user to arrange an order of the system variables in the register map.

Abstract: A system and method for graphically displaying modules and resources within a chip design software application. The system and method provide a data driven model for matching the hardware resource requirements for an associated user module and the available hardware resources on an underlying chip. Databases are utilized to describe the hardware resource requirements which are dictated by the particular user module and the available hardware resources of a particular chip. The user module descriptive database can be updated in response to additional user modules being added or changes to the hardware resource requirements of existing user modules. The hardware description database can be updated in response to additional chips being added. Further, the graphical interface relates both a user module and the possible hardware resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically reconfiguring a programmable system on a chip. A graphical user interface for dynamically reconfiguring a programmable system on a chip includes graphical user interface (GUI) display elements of a plurality of parameter values presently controlling operation of a device on a target apparatus. The GUI display elements are operable to accept modifications to the plurality of parameter values and for communicating the modifications to the programmable system on a chip. The GUI display elements may present parameter values in alphanumeric and/or graphical formats, and may accept changes via keyboard or cursor directing device input.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for supporting multivariable functions of an application includes receiving user input pertaining to two or more variables associated with a multivariable function of the application, and then causing code for the function to be automatically generated to update the variables based on the user input.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for adding a new function type to an application development tool includes determining that a function specified by a user for a design of an application is of a new type, and presenting a user interface (UI) associated with the specified function. The method further includes creating custom metadata based on input provided by the user via the UI for the specified function, and converting the custom metadata into expression metadata having a format understandable by a code generator.

Abstract: Power management architectures, methods and systems for programmable integrated circuit are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a power management software architecture which comprises power management modules each associated with a respective driver. Each driver is associated with a component of a programmable integrated circuit and displayable as a graphic image within an on-screen display of an integrated circuit design tool for programming the programmable integrated circuit. In addition, each power management module is operable to report power consumption data customized to its respective driver. The power management software architecture also comprises a power source module associated with a power source for the programmable integrated circuit for reporting power supply characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a microcontroller. An XML description of the microcontroller's hardware resources may be accessed. A user may select from available hardware resources and pre-defined user modules to select a configuration. Configuration information, which may include register bit patterns and microprocessor instructions, may be automatically generated. Additionally, application programming interface calls and structure, as well as interrupt vector tables may be automatically generated. Embodiments of the present invention provide improved ease of use and the ability to manage greater complexity in the configuration of configurable microcontrollers.

Abstract: A method of defining a configuration of hardware resources, using a subgraph isomorphism process. The method executes a subgraph isomorphism process to discover possible resources in a hardware resource space that are suitable to implement a function. The hardware resource space may be defined by a target graph and the function may be defined by a subgraph. Next, the target graph is annotated to establish configuration settings for selected resources of the possible resources. The configuration settings may be established based on the subgraph mapping to the target graph. The target graph may also be annotated to specify parameters for the selected resources. This annotation may be performed in response to receiving parameters for the function.

Abstract: A method and system of automatically generating source code for configuring a programmable microcontroller. The method involves displaying virtual blocks in a computerized design system where the virtual blocks correspond to programmable circuit blocks in a microcontroller chip. The user selects a user module that defines a particular function to be performed on the microcontroller. The user assigns the virtual blocks to the user module. The design system then automatically generates source code for configuring the programmable blocks to perform the desired function. The source code can then be assembled, linked and loaded into the microcontroller's memory system. When executed on the microcontroller, the executable code will then set registers within the blocks to implement the function. Source code is automatically generated for: (1) realizing the user module in a hardware resource; and also (2) to configure the user module to behave in a prescribed manner.

Abstract: A design tool provides interactive graphical pin assignment. In one embodiment, the design tool identifies layout restrictions of a configurable processing device that includes a plurality of pins. The design tool further provides an interactive visual representation of a pin assignment that accommodates the layout restrictions and a user input.

Abstract: A system and method for matching the hardware resource requirements of a user module with the available resources of an underlying integrated circuit is shown. Databases are utilized to describe the requirements of a particular user module and the resources of a particular chip. A graphical interface is utilized to relate a selected user module with potentially appropriate resources, and to illustrate alternative placements. This graphical interface utilizes highlights of both the module and the associated resource in patterns, grayscales, or colors to graphically illustrate the relationship between the module and the associated resource.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically generating a project configuration datasheet. Module and device descriptions are stored in extensible markup language (XML) format. The IDE includes an XSL (extensible stylesheet language) stylesheet. The module and device descriptions are combined with parameterization information as prescribed by the XSL stylesheet to produce a project configuration report. The project configuration report may be formatted in hypertext markup language (HTML) and may be rendered as a visual datasheet by a browser.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for constructing an application includes presenting to a user a list of possible elements for a logic expression. The possible elements may include one or more names of variables. The method further includes receiving a user selection of one or more elements from the list of possible elements, presenting the selected elements as part of the logic expression, and allowing the user to complete the logic expression using the selected elements and at least one logical operator.

Abstract: A system and method for graphically displaying modules and resources within a chip design software application. The system and method provide a data driven model for matching the hardware resource requirements for an associated user module and the available hardware resources on an underlying chip. Databases are utilized to describe the hardware resource requirements which are dictated by the particular user module and the available hardware resources of a particular chip. The user module descriptive database can be updated in response to additional user modules being added or changes to the hardware resource requirements of existing user modules. The hardware description database can be updated in response to additional chips being added. Further, the graphical interface relates both a user module and the possible hardware resource.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a microcontroller. An XML description of the microcontroller's hardware resources may be accessed. A user may select from available hardware resources and pre-defined user modules to select a configuration. Configuration information, which may include register bit patterns and microprocessor instructions, may be automatically generated. Additionally, application programming interface calls and structure, as well as interrupt vector tables may be automatically generated. Embodiments of the present invention provide improved ease of use and the ability to manage greater complexity in the configuration of configurable microcontrollers.

Abstract: A method of generating an application programming interface (API) for an electronic circuit. A graphical user interface is displayed through which a user can initiate generation of the API. A component is selected from a plurality of components for placement in said electronic circuit. The component represents an implementable function in the electronic circuit. The component is configured using the graphical user interface. The data pertaining to the selected component and the configuration of the component is stored. The graphical user interface is utilized to access the stored data. The interface is initiated to invoke a processing of said data which causes a generation of the application programming interface. The application interface is for controlling the function of the component in said electronic circuit.

Abstract: The present invention system and method enables dynamic reconfiguration of an electronic device with appropriate interrupts in a convenient and efficient manner. A plurality of internal peripherals, an interconnecting component and the external coupling ports are programmably configurable to perform a variety of functions with different interrupts. In response to interrupt request names that are utilized in multiple configurations, an interrupt dispatcher component directs operations to an appropriate interrupt handler for a particular configuration based upon both the configuration image and the interrupt service request indicator. The electronic device can be automatically reconfigured based upon the existence of a predetermined condition by activating different configuration images and associated interrupts are automatically included. Pending interrupt state indicators are resolved (e.g., deleted) during the reconfiguration.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for constructing an application includes identifying one or more channel types for a design of the application. Each of the identified channel types specifies resource needs of a hardware function pertaining to the design. The method further includes creating channel instances of the identified channel types for an application project having sufficient hardware resources for hardware functions pertaining to the design, where each of the created channel instances is customized for the design.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for supporting multivariable functions of an application includes receiving user input pertaining to two or more variables associated with a multivariable function of the application, and then causing code for the function to be automatically generated to update the variables based on the user input.