Virtual Use Of Electronic Design Automation Tools

• US 20130311627A1
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Limited (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Fuller, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 10,326,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet

Abstract

A control server facilitates communication between a tool server hosting an instance of a software tool and a client device employed by a user of the software tool. The client device initially contacts the control server to request the use of the software tool. The control server then arranges for a separate computer to be configured as a tool server that can provide remote access to an instance of the software tool. The control server may provide usage information to the tool server that will control how the software tool may be used. The control server may also provide connection information to the client device, which the client device then can use to establish a connection with the tool server. Using the connection information, the client device then establishes a remote connection with the tool server, allowing the user of the client device to use the software tool hosted on the tool server through the remote connection.

Claims

1. A method of providing use of a software tool, comprising

receiving a request to use a software tool from a client device;

arranging for a computer system to instantiate a tool server for providing use of the software tool to the client device, and

providing the client device with connection information for remotely connecting to the tool server instantiated on the computer system.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising

arranging for the computer system to instantiate the tool server by identifying an entity associated with the client device;

determining an electronic communication port value for a previously successful remote connection between a second computer system instantiating the software tool and a second client device associated with the entity, and

configuring the tool server instantiated on the first computer system to employ the port value for remotely connecting with first client device.

3. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising providing the client device with connection information that includes the port value.

4. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the first client device and the second client device are the same.

5. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the first computer system and the second computer system are the same.

6. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising identifying the entity associated with the first client device by obtaining entity identification information from a user of the client device.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the entity identification information is an electronic mail address, and further comprising identifying the entity with the first client device based upon a domain name of the electronic mail address.

8. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising identifying the entity associated with the first client device by obtaining an internet protocol address associated with the first client device.

9. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising

arranging for the computer system to instantiate the tool server by configuring the tool server instantiated on the first computer system to employ a specific internet protocol address, and

providing the client device with connection information that includes the specific internet protocol address.

10. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

arranging for the computer system to instantiate the tool server by configuring the tool server instantiated on the first computer system to employ a specific internet protocol address, and

providing the client device with connection information that includes the specific internet protocol address.

11. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising arranging for the computer system to instantiate the tool server by selecting the specific internet protocol address from a pool of internet protocol addresses.

12. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising arranging for the computer system to instantiate the tool server by:

identifying a geographic location of the client device; and

selecting the computer system from a plurality of computer systems based upon a geographic proximity of the computer system to the geographic location of the client device.

13. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising providing the client device with connection information for remotely connecting to the tool server instantiated on the computer system by:

obtaining configuration information from the computer system;

packaging the configuration information into a configuration file that can be used by a remote connection application employed by the client device; and

providing the configuration file to the client device for use by the remote connection application.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the configuration information includes one or more of the group consisting of:

a name for the computer system, a screen resolution for the computer system, an electronic communication port value, and an internet protocol address.

15. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising providing the client device with connection information for remotely connecting to the tool server instantiated on the computer system by configuring the remote connection application to automatically employ the provided configuration file.

16. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising arranging for a computer system to instantiate a tool server by providing usage information to the tool server.

17. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising arranging for a computer system to instantiate a tool server by providing usage information that associates a memory resource of the tool server with a user of the client device.

18. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising arranging for a computer system to instantiate a tool server by providing usage information that includes use parameter values for controlling use of the tool server by a user of the client device.

19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the use parameter values include one or more values selected from the group consisting of:

a total maximum use time value, a session maximum use time value, a maximum session value, a maximum data output value, a maximum design value, and a cost value.