System, method and article of manufacture for collaborative hardware design

• US 20030066057A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daryl Rudusky
• Original Assignee: Daryl Rudusky
• Inventors: RuDusky, Daryl
• Application Number:
  US09/791,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066057A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/327 Logic synthesis; Behaviour synthesis, e.g. mapping logic, HDL to netlist, high-level language to RTL or netlist
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/347 Physical level, e.g. placement or routing

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for providing one or more modules conforming to a hardware design specification. A user specification for at least a portion of a hardware design is received. One or more modules conforming to the specification are identified. The module(s) are retrieved and sent to the user. The module can be used to configure a configurable hardware device.

Claims

1. A method for providing at least one module conforming to a hardware design specification, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a user specification for at least a portion of a hardware design;

(b) identifying at least one module conforming to the specification, wherein the module is used to configure a configurable hardware device;

(c) retrieving the at least one module; and

(d) sending the at least one module to the user.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein an amount of money is charged for performing at least one of the steps (a)-(d).

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein price information for the at least one module is provided to the user.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the user is allowed to bid on a price for obtaining the module.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from a library of existing code.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from a contractor.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the contractor is allowed to bid on a price for providing the at least one module.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the contractor receives the at least one module from a third party.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from an Application Service Provider (ASP).

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the ASP analyzes the user specification, wherein the ASP selects the at least one module based on the user specification.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the ASP is transparent to the customer.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the ASP determines whether components of the specification are compatible.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein a website of the ASP provides options which the user can select for generating the specification.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the ASP retrieves the at least one module from a remote site.

15. A computer program product for providing at least one module conforming to a hardware design specification, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving a user specification for at least a portion of a hardware design;

(b) computer code for identifying at least one module conforming to the specification, wherein the module is used to configure a configurable hardware device;

(c) computer code for retrieving the at least one module; and

(d) computer code for sending the at least one module to the user.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein an amount of money is charged for at least one of receiving the user specification, identifying the at least one module, retrieving the at least one module, and sending the at least one module to the user.

17. A computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein price information for the at least one module is provided to the user.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the user is allowed to bid on a price for obtaining the module.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from a library of existing code.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from a contractor.

21. A computer program product as recited in claim 20, wherein the contractor is allowed to bid on a price for providing the at least one module.

22. A computer program product as recited in claim 20, wherein the contractor receives the at least one module from a third party.

23. A computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from an Application Service Provider (ASP).

24. A computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein the ASP analyzes the user specification, wherein the ASP selects the at least one module based on the user specification.

25. A computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein the ASP is transparent to the customer.

26. A computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein the ASP determines whether components of the specification are compatible.

27. A computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein a website of the ASP provides options which the user can select for generating the specification.

28. A computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein the ASP retrieves the at least one module from a remote site.

29. A system for providing at least one module conforming to a hardware design specification, comprising:

(a) logic for receiving a user specification for at least a portion of a hardware design;

(b) logic for identifying at least one module conforming to the specification, wherein the module is used to configure a configurable hardware device;

(c) logic for retrieving the at least one module; and

(d) logic for sending the at least one module to the user.

30. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein an amount of money is charged for at least one of receiving the user specification, identifying the at least one module, retrieving the at least one module, and sending the at least one module to the user.

31. A system as recited in claim 30, wherein price information for the at least one module is provided to the user.

32. A system as recited in claim 30, wherein the user is allowed to bid on a price for obtaining the module.

33. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from a library of existing code.

34. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from a contractor.

35. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein the contractor is allowed to bid on a price for providing the at least one module.

36. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein the contractor receives the at least one module from a third party.

37. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein the at least one module is retrieved from an Application Service Provider (ASP).

38. A system as recited in claim 37, wherein the ASP analyzes the user specification, wherein the ASP selects the at least one module based on the user specification.

39. A system as recited in claim 37, wherein the ASP is transparent to the customer.

40. A system as recited in claim 37, wherein the ASP determines whether components of the specification are compatible.

41. A system as recited in claim 37, wherein a website of the ASP provides options which the user can select for generating the specification.

42. A system as recited in claim 37, wherein the ASP retrieves the at least one module from a remote site.