Methodology and graphical user interface for building logic synthesis command scripts using micro-templates

• US 6,697,880 B1
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Dougherty, W. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BULLOCK JR, LEWIS ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/228,347
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 709/311, 709/310, 709/328, 709/320, 345/762-763, 717/100-178, 716/1-12, 716/18
• US Class Current: 719/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

A template for a logic synthesis command script is broken into smaller and functionally independent templates termed “micro-templates.” Using micro-templates, logic synthesis time may be significantly reduced. Each micro-template may correspond to a particular synthesis operation and may be enabled or disabled. Where synthesis of a particular set of synthesis operations is desired, the micro-templates corresponding to those synthesis operations are enabled.

Claims

1. A micro-template graphical user interface (GUI) for building a logic synthesis command script using micro-templates, the GUI comprising:

a build graphical user interface (GUI) to selectively enable and disable a plurality of micro-templates; and

a create script option of the build GUI to build a logic synthesis command script corresponding to the enabled micro-templates,

wherein each of the plurality of micro-templates contains a skeleton logic synthesis script, and

wherein the logic synthesis command script controls an electronic design automation tool for synthesizing a circuit design.

2. The GUI of claim 1, further comprising:

a task selector to select a task associated with the plurality of micro-templates.

3. The GUI of claim 1, the build GUI, comprising:

a plurality of micro-template options corresponding to the plurality of micro-templates to selectively enable and disable the plurality of micro-templates.

4. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-templates correspond to a plurality of synthesis operations.

5. The GUI of claim 1, further comprising:

a task definition setup screen to define a task corresponding to the plurality of micro-templates.

6. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the build GUI is presented through a web browser.

7. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the build GUI is encapsulated in a design framework.

8. A computer system adapted for building a logic synthesis command script using micro-templates, comprising:

a display;

a processor coupled to the display;

computer readable media accessible by the processor;

a design framework on the computer readable media executable by the processor, the design framework when executed providing a micro-template graphical user interface (GUI) on the display for building a logic synthesis command script using a plurality of micro-templates, the micro-template graphical user interface comprising;

a build script graphical user interface (GUI) to selectively enable and disable the plurality of micro-templates; and

a create script option of the build GUI to build a logic synthesis command script corresponding to enabled micro-templates,

wherein each of the plurality of micro-templates contains a skeleton logic synthesis script, and

wherein the logic synthesis command script controls an electronic design automation tool for synthesizing a circuit design.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the GUI further comprises:

a task selector to select a task associated with the plurality of micro-templates.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the build GUI comprises:

a plurality of micro-template options corresponding to the plurality of micro-templates to selectively enable and disable the plurality of micro-templates.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of micro-templates correspond to a plurality of synthesis operations.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the GUI further comprises:

a task definition setup screen to define a task corresponding to the plurality of micro-templates.

13. A method of building a logic synthesis command script using micro-templates, comprising the steps of:

selectively enabling a first set of micro-templates from a plurality of micro-templates;

selectively disabling a second set of micro-templates of the plurality of micro-templates; and

building a logic synthesis command script corresponding to the first set of micro-templates,

wherein each of the plurality of micro-templates contains a skeleton logic synthesis script, and

wherein the logic synthesis command script controls an electronic design automation tool for synthesizing a circuit design.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein only the first set of micro-templates from the plurality of micro-templates are currently of debug interest.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of micro-templates correspond to a plurality of synthesis operations.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

performing logic synthesis based on the logic synthesis command script.

17. The method of claim 13, farther comprising the step of:

defining a task associated with a plurality of micro-templates.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

selecting a task associated with a plurality of micro-templates.