System and method for designing an integrated circuit

• US 6,792,584 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• 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., Eneboe, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, ANNETTE M
• Application Number:
  US10/021,619
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 716/8, 716/18, 716/1, 716/17, 716/2, 716/7
• US Class Current: 716/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design

Abstract

The present invention provides a comprehensive design environment defining a system architecture and methodology that may integrate interconnects, cores, ePLC, re-configurable processors and software into a manageable and predictable system designs that achieve on-time system IC design results meeting desired specifications and budgets. For example, an interscalable interconnect maybe provided that is scalable and isochronous capable. Additionally, an abstract language may be provided to be able to describe interconnecting core functions. Further, a self-programmable chip may be provided that, upon receiving a construct, it could program itself to achieve the desired functionality, such as through the use of on-chip knowledge and the like.

Claims

1. A method for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

manipulating representations of components of an integrated circuit on a display device by a user;

specifying an interconnect having at least one of a communication characteristic and a performance characteristic between a first represented component and a second represented component; and

extracting data suitable for describing the specified interconnect between the first represented component and the second represented component;

wherein the extracted data includes a direct connectivity definition.

2. A method for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

manipulating representations of components of an integrated circuit on a display device by a user;

specifying an interconnect having a characteristic between a first represented component and a second represented component; and

extracting data suitable for describing the specified interconnect between the first represented component and the second represented component;

wherein the specified characteristic includes at least one of bandwidth, latency and scalability.

3. A method for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

manipulating representations of components of an integrated circuit on a display device by a user;

specifying an interconnect having a characteristic between a first represented component and a second represented component;

extracting data suitable for describing the specified interconnect between the first represented component and the second represented component; and

optimizing at least one of the components and interconnects;

wherein optimizing includes at least one of arranging components of the integrated circuit and specifying bandwidth between components.

4. The method as described in claim 3, wherein components are arranged based on latency, scalability, timing considerations, power considerations, data switching and bandwidth.

5. A method for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

manipulating representations of components of an integrated circuit on a display device by a user;

specifying an interconnect having a characteristic between a first represented component and a second represented component;

extracting data suitable for describing the specified interconnect between the first represented component and the second represented component; and

optimizing at least one of the components and interconnects;

wherein optimizing is performed without user intervention by an agent.

6. A method for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

manipulating representations of components of an integrated circuit on a display device by a user;

specifying an interconnect having a characteristic between a first represented component and a second represented component; and

extracting data suitable for describing the specified interconnect between the first represented component and the second represented component;

wherein components include standardized interfaces.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the standardized interfaces communicate over interscalable, isochronous interconnect glue logic.

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

manipulating representations of components of an integrated circuit on a display device by a user;

specifying an interconnect having a characteristic between a first represented component and a second represented component; and

extracting data suitable for describing the specified interconnect between the first represented component and the second represented component;

wherein interconnects not specified by a user are automatically configured by an agent.

9. A system for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

a display device, the display device suitable for displaying representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user;

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions; and

a processor suitable for performing the program of instructions, the processor communicatively coupled to the display device and the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the processor to

display representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user on the display device so that a user, will specify an interconnect having a characteristic between a first component representation and a second component representation, and

extract data describing the first represented component, the second represented component and the specified interconnect as manipulated by the user;

wherein the specified characteristic includes at least one of bandwidth, scalability and latency.

10. The system as described in claim 9, wherein the scalability specified includes at least one of number of links and speed of links.

11. A system for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

a display device, the display device suitable for displaying representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user;

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions; and

a processor suitable for performing the program of instructions, the processor communicatively coupled to the display device and the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the processor to

display representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user on the display device so that a user will specify an interconnect having a characteristic between a first component representation and a second component representation, and

extract data describing the first represented component, the second represented component and the specified interconnect as manipulated by the user;

wherein interconnects not specified by a user are automatically configured by an agent.

12. A system for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

a display device, the display device suitable for displaying representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user;

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions;

a processor suitable for performing the program of instructions, the processor communicatively coupled to the display device and the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the processor to

display representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user on the display device so that a user will specify an interconnect having a characteristic between a first component representation and a second component representation; and

extract data describing the first represented component, the second represented component and the specified interconnect as manipulated by the user; and

an integrated circuit communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the integrated circuit receives the extracted data, wherein the extracted data is utilized by the integrated circuit for being programmed to include the interconnect having the characteristic between a first component corresponding to the first component representation and a second component corresponding to the second component representation;

wherein the specified characteristic includes at least one of bandwidth, latency and scalability.

13. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the scalability specified includes at least one of number of links and speed of links.

14. A system for designing an integrated circuit, comprising:

a display device, the display device suitable for displaying representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user;

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions;

a processor suitable for performing the program of instructions, the processor communicatively coupled to the display device and the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the processor to

display representations of components of an integrated circuit for manipulation by a user on the display device so that a user will specify an interconnect having a characteristic between a first component representation and a second component representation; and

extract data describing the first represented component, the second represented component and the specified interconnect as manipulated by the user; and

an integrated circuit communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the integrated circuit receives the extracted data, wherein the extracted data is utilized by the integrated circuit for being programmed to include the interconnect having the characteristic between a first component corresponding to the first component representation and a second component corresponding to the second component representation;

wherein interconnects not specified by a user are automatically configured by an agent.

15. An application specific integrated circuit, comprising:

a first component suitable for providing an integrated circuit function, the first component communicatively coupled to a first interface device;

a second component suitable for providing an integrated circuit function, the second component communicatively coupled to a second interface device;

an interconnect suitable for communicatively coupling the first interface device with the second interface device so as to enable communication of the first component with the second component;

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions, the program of instructions including data received for configuring an interconnect having a characteristic between components of an application specific integrated circuit; and

a microprocessor suitable for performing the program of instructions, the microprocessor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the microprocessor to configure the first component, the second component, and the interconnect to correspond to an interconnect having the characteristic as indicated by the program of instructions;

wherein the interconnect is interscalable.

16. An application specific integrated circuit, comprising:

a first component suitable for providing an integrated circuit function, the first component communicatively coupled to a first interface device;

a second component suitable for providing an integrated circuit function, the second component communicatively coupled to a second interface device;

an interconnect suitable for communicatively coupling the first interface device with the second interface device so as to enable communication of the first component with the second component;

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions, the program of instructions including data received for configuring an interconnect having a characteristic between components of an application specific integrated circuit; and

a microprocessor suitable for performing the program of instructions, the microprocessor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the microprocessor to configure the first component, the second component, and the interconnect to correspond to an interconnect having the characteristic as indicated by the program of instructions;

wherein the microprocessor is suitable for self-programming to enable optimization of the ASIC, and

wherein optimization includes routing of packeted data.

17. An application specific integrated circuit, comprising:

a first component suitable for providing an integrated circuit function, the first component communicatively coupled to a first interface device;

a second component suitable for providing an integrated circuit function, the second component communicatively coupled to a second interface device;

an interconnect suitable for communicatively coupling the first interface device with the second interface device so as to enable communication of the first component with the second component;

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions, the program of instructions including data received for configuring an interconnect having a characteristic between components of an application specific integrated circuit; and

a microprocessor suitable for performing the program of instructions, the microprocessor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the microprocessor to configure the first component, the second component, and the interconnect to correspond to an interconnect having the characteristic as indicated by the program of instructions;

wherein packeted data is routed based on at least one of an indicated priority of data, component resource availability, priority of data when compared through use of heuristic data and data characteristic.

18. The application specific integrated circuit as described in claim 17, wherein the data characteristic includes streaming data and electronic storage device data.

19. The application specific integrated circuit as described in claim 17, wherein component resource availability is determined by at least one of an amount of data previously transferred to a component, amount of data received from the component, characteristic of data sent to the component and characteristic of data received from the component.