User interface for inherited connections in a circuit
First Claim
1. A method of providing inherited connections in circuits, comprising:
- specifying a hierarchical arrangement for a circuit including cell instances and connectors arranged in a tree structure that includes a top-level node at a top end of the hierarchical arrangement, wherein the cell instances include electrical devices, and the connectors include wires and pins;
associating one or more connectivity expressions with the connectors for identifying corresponding signal sources for the connectors, wherein each connectivity expression includes a property name for identifying a signal source and a default value for the signal source;
associating one or more property-setting expressions with the cell instances, wherein each property-setting expression relates a property name to a specified connector and associates a signal source for the property name with a signal source for the specified connector;
using a computer to resolve a first signal source for a first connector associated with a first connectivity expression that includes a first property name and a first default value by following a path in the hierarchical arrangement from the first connector toward the top-level node and using one or more connectivity expressions and property-setting expressions along the path to determine the first signal source; and
displaying values from the path to a user including a sequence of one or more property names and corresponding property-setting expressions along the path between the first connector and the first signal source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain embodiments of the present invention enable a user to display and edit the effects of inherited connections in a circuit that is characterized as a hierarchical arrangement including cell instances and connectors. The hierarchical arrangement may include a tree structure where the cell instances include devices and the connectors include wires and pins. Property names are associated with connectors for identifying corresponding signal sources, and property-setting expression are associated with cell instances for specifying property-name values and making the corresponding identifications. Displays may include a path along the hierarchical arrangement from a given connector to a corresponding signal source including the effects of property names and property-setting expressions along the path. Displays may enable editing by the user to change property names and property-setting expressions along the path and view corresponding results for the inherited connections.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing inherited connections in circuits, comprising:
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specifying a hierarchical arrangement for a circuit including cell instances and connectors arranged in a tree structure that includes a top-level node at a top end of the hierarchical arrangement, wherein the cell instances include electrical devices, and the connectors include wires and pins; associating one or more connectivity expressions with the connectors for identifying corresponding signal sources for the connectors, wherein each connectivity expression includes a property name for identifying a signal source and a default value for the signal source; associating one or more property-setting expressions with the cell instances, wherein each property-setting expression relates a property name to a specified connector and associates a signal source for the property name with a signal source for the specified connector; using a computer to resolve a first signal source for a first connector associated with a first connectivity expression that includes a first property name and a first default value by following a path in the hierarchical arrangement from the first connector toward the top-level node and using one or more connectivity expressions and property-setting expressions along the path to determine the first signal source; and displaying values from the path to a user including a sequence of one or more property names and corresponding property-setting expressions along the path between the first connector and the first signal source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a computer program for causing a computer to provide inherited connections in circuits, wherein the computer program includes instructions for:
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specifying a hierarchical arrangement for a circuit including cell instances and connectors arranged in a tree structure that includes a top-level node at a top end of the hierarchical arrangement, wherein the cell instances include electrical devices, and the connectors include wires and pins; associating one or more connectivity expressions with the connectors for identifying corresponding signal sources for the connectors, wherein each connectivity expression includes a property name for identifying a signal source and a default value for the signal source; associating one or more property-setting expressions with the cell instances, wherein each property-setting expression relates a property name to a specified connector and associates a signal source for the property name with a signal source for the specified connector; resolving a first signal source for a first connector associated with a first connectivity expression that includes a first property name and a first default value by following a path in the hierarchical arrangement from the first connector toward the top-level node and using one or more connectivity expressions and property-setting expressions along the path to determine the first signal source; and displaying values from the path to a user including a sequence of one or more property names and corresponding property-setting expressions along the path between the first connector and the first signal source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for providing inherited connections in circuits, the apparatus comprising a computer for executing computer instructions, wherein the computer includes computer instructions for:
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specifying a hierarchical arrangement for a circuit including cell instances and connectors arranged in a tree structure that includes a top-level node at a top end of the hierarchical arrangement, wherein the cell instances include electrical devices, and the connectors include wires and pins; associating one or more connectivity expressions with the connectors for identifying corresponding signal sources for the connectors, wherein each connectivity expression includes a property name for identifying a signal source and a default value for the signal source; associating one or more property-setting expressions with the cell instances, wherein each property-setting expression relates a property name to a specified connector and associates a signal source for the property name with a signal source for the specified connector; resolving a first signal source for a first connector associated with a first connectivity expression that includes a first property name and a first default value by following a path in the hierarchical arrangement from the first connector toward the top-level node and using one or more connectivity expressions and property-setting expressions along the path to determine the first signal source; and displaying values from the path to a user including a sequence of one or more property names and corresponding property-setting expressions along the path between the first connector and the first signal source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification