Network path trace apparatus and network path trace method

• US 4,947,365 A
• Filed: 07/21/1988
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Masubuchi, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US07/222,255
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 716/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/12 Timing analysis or timing optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/18 Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/3312 Timing analysis

Abstract

A path trace apparatus according to this invention for tracing path having specified start, middle and end points in a network comprises means for tracing a path in a forward direction from the middle point to the end point based on data representing the coupling relationship between elements constituting the network, and means for tracing a path in a reverse direction from the middle point to the start point based on the data. In tracing a path in a network by specifying three points, signal paths are traced in the forward and reverse directions with the middle point as the center, thus eliminating the wasteful tracing of paths which do not pass the middle point and thereby significantly increasing the tracing efficiency.

Claims

1. A path trace apparatus comprising:

coupling data storage means for storing data representing a coupling relationship between elements constituting a network;

input means for inputting data specifying start, middle and end elements of a path to be traced;

forward trace means for inspecting said data representing said coupling relationship between said middle and end elements in said network to trace the path coupling said middle and end elements in a forward direction in said network, said forward direction being defined as a direction from said middle elements toward said end element;

reverse trace means for inspecting said data representing said coupling relationship between said middle and start elements in said network to trace the path coupling said middle and start elements in a reverse direction in said network, said reverse direction being defined as a direction from said middle element toward said start element;

main control means for controlling said forward trace means and said reverse trace means in such a way as to cause said forward trace means to trace the path coupling said middle and end elements, and to cause said reverse trace means to trace the path coupling said middle and start elements; and

output means for outputting an information representing that said path between said start and end elements is coupled under the control of said main control means.

2. The path trace apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said forward trace means comprises a forward trace control section and a first working stack, and said forward trace control section traces a path by performing storage/abandonment of data of said constituent elements of said network to and from said first working stack based on data stored in said coupling data storage means.

3. The path trace apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reverse trace means comprises a reverse trace control section and a second working stack, and said reverse trace control section traces a path by performing storage/abandonment of data of said constituent elements of said network to and from said second working stack based on data stored in said coupling data storage means.

4. The path trace apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coupling data storage means stores data representing a coupling relation between elements constituting a logic circuit.

5. A path trace apparatus comprising:

coupling data storage means for storing data representing a coupling relationship between elements constituting a network;

input means for inputting data specifying start, middle and end elements of a path to be traced;

path trace means for inspecting said data representing said coupling relationship between said middle and end elements in said network to trace the path on the network coupling said specified middle and end elements in a direction from said middle element toward said end element, and for inspecting said data representing said coupling relationship between said middle and start elements in said network to trace the path on said network coupling said specified middle and start elements in a direction from said middle element toward said start element; and

output means for outputting an information representing that said path between said start and end elements is coupled under the control of said path trace means.

6. The path trace apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said path trace means comprises a bi-directional trace control section and first and second working stacks, and said bi-directional trace control section traces a path by performing storage/abandonment of data of said constituent elements of said network to and from said first and second working stacks, based on data stored in said coupling data storage means.

7. The path trace apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said coupling data storage means stores data representing a coupling relationship between elements constituting a logic circuit.

8. A path trace method for tracing a path having specified start, middle and end elements in a network based on data representing a coupling relationship between constituent elements of said network, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting data specifying start, middle and end elements of the path to be traced;

forward tracing the path in said network coupling specified middle and end elements from said middle element toward said end element;

reverse tracing the path in said network coupling specified middle and start elements from said middle element toward said start element; and

outputting an information representing that said path between said start and end elements is coupled by said forward and reverse tracing steps.