Revision control for database of evolved design

• US 20030212718A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Semiconductor, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tester, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90 Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of controlling access to a database of a design. The method may comprise the step of identifying a version of the design by a first identifier, allocating first authorization information to the first identifier, and controlling access to the database. The first authorization information may indicate a permission of one or more users to access information in the database in respect of the first identifier. The access may be controlled in accordance with the first authorization information.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a database of a design, comprising the steps of:

(A) identifying a version of said design by a first identifier;

(B) allocating first authorization information to said first identifier for indicating a first permission of one or more of a plurality of users to access information in said database in respect of said identifier; and

(C) controlling access to said database in accordance with said first authorization information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said design is of an integrated circuit.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first authorization information comprises (i) first information for a first type of said users, and (ii) second information for a second type of said users.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first authorization information comprises (i) first information for a first identity among said users, and (ii) second information for a second identity among said users.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a second version of said design by a second identifier;

allocating second authorization information to said second identifier for indicating a second permission of one or more of said users to access information in said database in respect of said second identifier; and

controlling access to said database in accordance with said second authorization information for said second identifier.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first authorization information is distinct from said second authorization information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first authorization information comprises information associated with a selected one or more of said users, indicative of whether said selected one or more of said users has permission to access said version of said design from said database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said database is organised as a plurality of design files representing one or more versions of parts of said design.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first identifier is associated with a plurality of said design files to represent a version of said design.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first authorization information comprises information associated with a selected one or more of said users, indicative of whether said selected one or more users has access to a list of said design files representing said version of said design.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said first authorization information comprises information associated with a selected one or more of said users, indicative of whether said selected one or more users has access to said version of said design represented by said plural design files.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said authorization information comprises information associated with a selected one or more of said users, indicative of whether said selected one or more of said users has access to modify said list of said design files associated with said first identifier.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said authorization information comprises information associated with a selected one or more of said users, indicative of whether said selected one or more of said users has access to modify said first authorization information.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first identifier and said first authorization information are stored as a file object in said database.

15. A system for managing information representing a design, the system comprising:

a database configured for storing;

(i) design files representing plural versions of said design; and

(ii) identifiers for identifying different versions of said design, each said identifier comprising authorization information indicative of a user'"'"'s permission to access said information in said database in respect of said identifier; and

a controller for controlling access to said information is said database in respect of said identifier.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said design is of an integrated circuit.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said authorization information comprises information indicative of a user'"'"'s permission to access said design files representing said design by said identifier.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said authorization information comprises information indicative of a user'"'"'s permission to modify said information in said database in respect of said identifier.

19. A system for managing information representing a design, the system comprising:

a database configured for storing;

(i) design module file objects representing modules of said design, and configured for, storing plural versions of said modules; and

(ii) identifier file objects each (i) being associated with definable versions of said modules to represent a definable version of said design and (ii) comprising authorization information indicative of permission of a user to access said information in said database system in respect of said definable version of said design; and

a controller for controlling a user'"'"'s access to said database in accordance with said authorization information.

20. The database system according to claim 19, wherein said design is of an integrated circuit.

21. A system comprising:

means for identifying a version of a design by an identifier;

means for allocating authorization information to said identifier for indicating a permission of a user to access information in said database in respect of said identifier; and

means for controlling access to said database in accordance with said authorization information.