System and method for coevolutionary circuit design

• US 20030126562A1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Semiconductor, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamlin, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 716/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/126 Evolutionary algorithms, e.g. genetic algorithms or genetic programming

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for coevolutionary circuit design. A system suitable for providing integrated circuit design may include a memory suitable for storing a first set of instructions and a second set of instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is suitable for performing the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions. The first set of instructions is suitable for configuring a processor to provide an integrated circuit development environment in which a support methodology for an integrated circuit is created. The second set of instructions is suitable for configuring a processor to provide tools for implementing a platform architecture of an integrated circuit in which the platform architecture supplies a structure of the integrated circuit. The first set of instructions and the second set of instructions are linked through at least one formalism so that at least one of an action taken utilizing the platform architecture influences the support methodology and an action taken utilizing the support methodology influences the platform architecture.

Claims

1. A system suitable for providing integrated circuit design, comprising:

a memory storing a first set of instructions and a second set of instructions; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor suitable for performing the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions, wherein the first set of instructions is suitable for configuring a processor to provide an integrated circuit development environment in which a support methodology for an integrated circuit is created and the second set of instructions is suitable for configuring a processor to provide tools for implementing a platform architecture of an integrated circuit in which the platform architecture supplies a structure of the integrated circuit, the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions linked through at least one formalism so that at least one of an action taken utilizing the platform architecture influences the support methodology and an action taken utilizing the support methodology influences the platform architecture.

2. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the formalism includes a differential game.

3. The system as described in claim 2, wherein the differential game is a zero sum game.

4. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the formalism includes a genetic algorithm.

5. The system as described in claim 4, wherein the genetic algorithm guides the training of a neural network.

6. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the formalism is utilized to implement a coevolutionary relationship.

7. The system as described in claim 6, wherein the coevolutionary relationship is implemented between the platform architecture and support methodology.

8. A method of designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

receiving functional specifications and constraints of an integrated circuit; and

interacting with a system configured to provide an environment for deriving a support methodology for an integrated circuit having the received functional specifications, wherein the interaction with the support methodology for the integrated circuit influences an environment for designing a platform architecture for the integrated circuit.

9. The method as described in claim 8, wherein interacting includes manipulation by a user of a graphical user interface as implemented on an information handling system.

10. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the environment for designing a platform architecture is provided by an information handling system, the information handling system including a display of information manipulable by a user.

11. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the support methodology influences the environment for designing the platform architecture through the use of a formalism including a differential game.

12. The method as described in claim 11, wherein the differential game is a zero sum game including a game of pursuit.

13. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the support methodology influences the environment for designing the platform architecture through the use of a formalism wherein the formalism is utilized to implement a coevolutionary relationship.

14. The method as described in claim 13, wherein the coevolutionary relationship is implemented between the platform architecture and the support methodology.

15. A method of designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

receiving functional specifications and constraints of an integrated circuit; and

interacting with a system configured to provide an environment for deriving a platform architecture for an integrated circuit having the received functional specifications, wherein the interaction with the platform architecture for the integrated circuit influences an environment for designing a support methodology for the integrated circuit.

16. The method as described in claim 15, wherein interacting includes manipulation by a user of a graphical user interface as implemented on an information handling system.

17. The method as described in claim 15, wherein the environment for designing a support methodology is provided by an information handling system, the information handling system including a display of information manipulable by a user.

18. The method as described in claim 15, wherein the platform architecture influences the environment for designing the support methodology through the use of a formalism including a differential game.

19. The method as described in claim 18, wherein the differential game is a zero sum game including a game of pursuit.

20. The method as described in claim 15, wherein the platform architecture influences the environment for designing support methodology the through the use of a formalism wherein the formalism is utilized to implement a coevolutionary relationship.