Method and apparatus for utilizing constraints for the routing of a design on a programmable logic device

• US 7,757,197 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Pantofaru, Caroline, Betz, Vaughn, Swartz, Jordan
• Primary Examiner(s): Levin; Naum B
• Application Number:
  US10/447,554
• Time in Patent Office: 2,602 Days
• Field of Search: 716 12- 16, 326 38- 41
• US Class Current: 716/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/12 Timing analysis or timing optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/347 Physical level, e.g. placement or routing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/394 Routing G06F30/396 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for designing a system on a programmable logic device (PLD) is disclosed. Routing resources are selected for a user specified signal on the PLD in response to user specified routing constraints. Routing resources are selected for a non-user specified signal on the PLD without utilizing the user specified routing constraints.

Claims

1. A method for designing a system on a target device, comprising:

selecting routing resources from a plurality of wires for a user specified signal on the target device in response to user specified routing constraints to route the user specified signal specifying one of a specific wire and a category of wires from the plurality of wires on the target device;

selecting routing resources for a non-user specified signal on the target device without utilizing the user specified routing constraints; and

ordering the user specified signal and the non-user specified signal such that the non-user specified signal is routed on the target device with routing resources selected for the non-user specified signal after the user specified signal is routed on the target device with the routing resources selected for the user specified signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified signal on the target device in response to the user specified routing constraints comprises selecting routing resources for a user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified signal on the target device in response to the user specified routing constraints further comprises selecting a routing resource for a non-user specified connection on the target device without utilizing the user specified routing constraints.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints comprises selecting a routing resource for a user specified segment of the user specified connection according to the user specified routing constraints.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting routing resources for the user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints further comprises selecting a routing resource for a non-user specified segment of the user specified connection without utilizing the user specified routing constraints.

6. A method for designing a system on a target device, comprising:

selecting routing resources from a plurality of wires for a user specified signal on the target device in response to user specified routing constraints to route the user specified signal specifying one of a specific wire and a category of wires from the plurality of wires on the target device;

selecting routing resources for a non-user specified signal on the target device without utilizing the user specified routing constraints; and

ordering a user specified connection and a non-user specified connection such that the non-user specified connection is routed on the target device with the routing resources selected for the non-user specified signal after the user specified connection is routed on the target device with the routing resources selected for the user specified signal.

7. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform:

selecting routing resources from a plurality of wires for a user specified signal on a target device in response to user specified routing constraints specifying one of a specific wire and a category of wires from the plurality of wires on the target device to route the user specified signal;

selecting routing resources for a non-user specified signal on the target device without utilizing the user specified routing constraints; and

routing a non-user specified connection on the target device with routing resources selected for the non-user specified signal after routing a user specified connection on the target device with the routing resources selected for the user specified signal.

8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified signal on the target device in response to the user specified routing constraints comprises selecting routing resources for a user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints.

9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to further perform selecting a routing resource for a non-user specified connection on the target device without utilizing the user specified routing constraints.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints comprises selecting a routing resource for a user specified segment of the user specified connection according to the user specified routing constraints.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform selecting a routing resource for a non-user specified segment of the user specified connection without utilizing the user specified routing constraints.

12. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform:

selecting routing resources from a plurality of wires for a user specified signal on a target device in response to user specified routing constraints specifying one of a specific wire and a category of wires from the plurality of wires on the target device to route the user specified signal;

selecting routing resources for a non-user specified signal on the target device without utilizing the user specified routing constraints; and

routing the non-user specified signal on the target device with routing resources selected for the non-user specified signal after routing a user specified signal on the target device with the routing resources selected for the user specified signal.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified signal on the target device in response to the user specified routing constraints comprises selecting routing resources for a user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified signal on the target device in response to the user specified routing constraints further comprises selecting a routing resource for a non-user specified connection on the target device without utilizing the user specified routing constraints.

15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein selecting the routing resources for the user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints comprises selecting a routing resource for a user specified segment of the user specified connection according to the use specified routing constraints.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein selecting routing resources for the user specified connection on the target device according to the user specified routing constraints further comprises selecting a routing resource for a non-user specified segment of the user specified connection without utilizing the user specified routing constraints.