Abstract: An embodiment of the invention involves: providing a database that includes layout information representing a layout within an integrated circuit of an electrical circuit; identifying from the information in the database each conductive path of a selected type in the electrical circuit; extracting layout information from the database for each conductive path of the selected type; and calculating an electrical parameter for each conductive path of the selected type, as a function of the layout information obtained for that conductive path during the extracting. In addition, in a different configuration of the embodiment, a report can be generated containing information based on the electrical parameter calculated during the calculating for at least one of the conductive paths of the selected type.

Abstract: A receive-side client interface for a media access controller embedded in an integrated circuit having programmable circuitry is described. A media access controller core includes a receive engine. A receive-side datapath is coupled to the media access controller core. The receive-side datapath is configured to operate at two frequencies to accommodate the programmable circuitry in the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A media access system in an integrated circuit device having programmable resources for interfacing to a network. The media access system has at least one embedded media access controller configured to provide access to and from the network via a physical layer interface, programmable resources coupled to the embedded controller via a client interface, tie-off pin inputs coupled to the embedded controller for receiving a configuration vector for configuring the embedded controller without having to use a microprocessor for such configuration with the client interface being for communication between the embedded controller and the programmable resources for access to and from the network, and the embedded controller including a multi-mode interface coupled to the client interface for coupling to the programmable resources, the multi-mode interface including a plurality of Media Independent Interface modes, the multi-mode interface configured to be coupled to the physical layer interface.

Abstract: A media access controller system embedded in an integrated circuit is described. A platform dependent bridge for communicating with a first processor, where the platform dependent bridge is associated with a platform of the first processor and where the first processor is embedded in an integrated circuit. Host interface circuitry is coupled to the platform dependent bridge and is configured to provide a processor interface, where the processor interface is for communicating with the first processor via the platform dependent bridge and where the processor interface has a platform independent bus for communication with a second processor. At least one media access controller is coupled to the host interface circuitry.

Abstract: A transmit-side client interface for a media access controller embedded in an integrated circuit having programmable logic is described. A media access controller core includes a transmit engine. A transmit-side datapath is coupled to the media access controller core. The transmit-side datapath is configured to operate at two frequencies to accommodate the programmable logic in the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A media access controller system embedded in a programmable logic device is described. A platform dependent bridge for communicating with a first processor, where the platform dependent bridge is associated with a platform of the first processor and where the first processor is embedded in a programmable logic device. Host interface circuitry is coupled to the platform dependent bridge and is configured to provide a processor interface, where the processor interface is for communicating with the first processor via the platform dependent bridge and where the processor interface has a platform independent bus for communication with a second processor. At least one media access controller is coupled to the host interface circuitry.

Abstract: A clock interface for a media access controller in a programmable logic device is described. The media access controller includes a clock generator for providing a clock signal to configured configurable routing of the programmable logic device to obtain a loaded version thereof. The loaded clock signal is provided to a clock network of the media access controller and to a delay cell of the media access controller to obtain an indication of the loading by the user instantiated design.

Abstract: A receive-side client interface for a media access controller embedded in an integrated circuit having programmable logic is described. A media access controller core includes a receive engine. A receive-side datapath is coupled to the media access controller core. The receive-side datapath configured is configured to operate at two frequencies to accommodate the programmable logic in the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method for address filtering is described. A host interface including device registers is provided. A user program is initiated for loading of data and control information respectively into a first data register and a control register of the device registers. Responsive to the loading, hardware is initiated for writing of information loaded into the first data register into a host interface register, where the first data register is associated with an address table configuration entry and the information includes read or write information and address information. Responsive to the read or write information and the address information, a multicast address is obtained from storage; a first portion of the multicast address is deposited into the first data register; and a second portion of the multicast address is deposited into a second data register.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for timing modeling is described. More particularly, wire information, including wire lengths, is obtained from a routing output. Signals associated with such wire information are classified as input or output signals from an embedded core. Respective templates are automatically selected for the input signals and the output signals, respectively, at least in partial response to the wire lengths. Furthermore, timing information for the embedded core is obtained and classified according to condition, and the input signals and the output signals from the embedded core are determined to obtain rise and fall timing information for such signals.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for address filtering for a media access controller is described. An application specific integrated circuit block located in a programmable logic device includes a media access controller. The media access controller includes an address filter, which includes: address filter modules, a first logic tree coupled to each of the address filter modules and configured to provide a frame drop signal for delineation between a dropped frame and an address filtered frame; and a second logic tree coupled to each of the address filter modules to provide an address valid signal.

Abstract: A statistics interface for a media access controller is described. The media access controller core includes a receive engine configured to provide a receive statistics vector associated with receive traffic. The receive engine is configured to output the receive statistics vector within an inter-frame gap over a number of receive clock cycles, where a portion of the receive statistics vector is provided with each clock cycle of the receive clock cycles.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is physical layer interface for a network interface including a plurality of input/output pins. The input/output pins are coupled for being multiplexed into a physical layer interface selected from among a Reduced Gigabit Media Independent Interface and a Gigabit Media Independent Interface. The input/output pins internal to a programmable logic device are for access to and from a processor block located in the programmable logic device.

Abstract: Method to determine path timing to and from an embedded device is described. More particularly, clock-to-output delays, interconnects and interconnect logic delays, and setup and hold times for input and output paths from a microprocessor core and a memory controller are obtained and determined, as applicable. These times are assembled in a spreadsheet for associating with respective signals. Times for each of the signals are totaled to determine respective path delays for comparison with a target clock period.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for address filtering for a media access controller is described. An application specific integrated circuit block) located in a programmable logic device includes a media access controller. The media access controller includes an address filter, which includes: address filter modules, a first logic tree coupled to each of the address filter modules and configured to provide a frame drop signal for delineation between a dropped frame and an address filtered frame; and a second logic tree coupled to each of the address filter modules to provide an address valid signal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for timing modeling is described. More particularly, sub-processes for obtaining timing information are described. Each of these sub-process is limited to a portion of a gasket module for coupling an embedded device to a host device, and each of these sub-process may be limited to a lithographic process dimension or adjusted accordingly. By dividing timing information gathering into sub-process, output from each of the sub-process may be combined with timing information provided with an embedded core to determine path delays.

Abstract: Method to determine path timing to and from an embedded device is described. More particularly, clock-to-output delays, interconnects and interconnect logic delays, and setup and hold times for input and output paths from a microprocessor core and a memory controller are obtained and determined, as applicable. These times are assembled in a spreadsheet for associating with respective signals. Times for each of the signals are totaled to determine respective path delays for comparison with a target clock period.

Abstract: An asynchronous communications element which incorporates user-selectable FIFOs both as transmitter and receiver buffers to reduce CPU interrupt overhead. The asynchronous communications element includes a receiver shift register which receives serial data transfers from a communication station, a receiver FIFO which receives parallel data transfers from the receiver shift register for transfer to the CPU, a transmitter FIFO which receives parallel data transfers from the CPU, and a transmitter shift register which receives parallel data transfers from the transmitter FIFO for serial transfer to the communications station. A transmitter time delay eliminates multiple interrupts for a transmitter FIFO "empty" condition that has already been indicated to the CPU. Programmable interrupt levels on the receiver FIFO, together with a receiver FIFO that continues to fill beyond the programmed interrupt level, allow adjustments for variable CPU latency times.

Abstract: An asynchronous communications element which incorporates user-selectable FIFOs both as transmitter and receiver buffers to reduce CPU interrupt overhead. The asynchronous communications element includes a receiver shift register which receives serial data transfers from a communication station, a receiver FIFO which receives parallel data transfers from the receiver shift register for transfer to the CPU, a transmitter FIFO which receives parallel data transfers from the CPU, and a transmitter shift register which receives parallel data transfers from the transmitter FIFO for serial transfer to the communications station. A transmitter time delay eliminates multiple interrupts for a transmitter FIFO "empty" condition that has already been indicated to the CPU. Programmable interrupt levels on the receiver FIFO, together with a receiver FIFO that continues to fill beyond the programmed interrupt level, allow adjustments for variable CPU latency times.

Abstract: An asynchronous communications element which incorporates user-selectable FIFOs both as transmitter and receiver buffers to reduce CPU interrupt overhead.The asynchronous communications element includes a receiver shift register which receives serial data transfers from a communications station, a receiver FIFO which receives parallel data transfers from the receiver shift register for transfer to the CPU, a transmitter FIFO which receives parallel data transfers from the CPU, and a transmitter shift register which receives parallel data transfers from the transmitter FIFO for serial transfer to the communications station. A transmitter time delay eliminates multiple interrupts for a transmitter FIFO "empty" condition that has already been indicated to the CPU. Programmable interrupt levels on the receiver FIFO, together with a receiver FIFO that continues to fill beyond the programmed interrupt level, allow adjustments for variable CPU latency times.