IP Block Identification via Search Wizard and Expert Services
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern integrated circuit designers face challenges in identifying suitable IP blocks and vendors from the vast number of available options to meet specific design project requirements, especially with the complexity added by hard macros on predefined processes.
Innovation Solution
A search wizard and expert system services are provided to facilitate the identification of IP blocks, guiding users through focused search steps and connecting consumers with appropriate vendors, using a portal that catalogs IP blocks and vendors, and a request manager to ensure matching requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a designer manually searches through a large number of IP blocks and suppliers to find suitable components, then the designer can potentially find a matching IP block, but the time and effort required for identification increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (IP catalog with search functionality and concierge service) that mediates between the designer and the large number of IP blocks and suppliers. The system automatically processes design requirements, matches them with suitable IP blocks, and presents filtered results to the designer, thereby reducing manual search time while maintaining identification accuracy.
2Productivity
If the designer narrows down the search criteria to reduce the number of potential IP blocks, then the identification process becomes faster, but the risk of missing suitable IP blocks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic search capabilities where the system can adjust search criteria based on user input and automatically refine results. The concierge service dynamically interacts with the designer to clarify requirements and expand search parameters if needed, ensuring that the search remains both efficient and comprehensive without requiring the designer to manually balance these competing concerns.
3Loss of information
If the system provides detailed information about all available IP blocks to ensure complete information, then the designer can make informed decisions, but the complexity of the information presentation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information presentation into hierarchical levels: a catalog view providing overview information, detailed views for specific IP blocks, and on-demand technical specifications. The concierge service further segments information delivery by providing targeted details based on the designer's specific requirements, rather than presenting all possible information at once, thereby reducing presentation complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved approach is described for identifying IP for an electronic design. The present approach can be used to handle situation where there may be difficulties in identifying which, if any, IP matches the desired requirements of an electronic design for which the IP is to be used or integrated. The search wizard of the present approach facilitates identification of IP for an electronic design. Expert systems and expert system services are provided for identifying IP blocks for an electronic design. Concierge-like services may be used to facilitate a connection between a consumer of electronic IP and the provider or vendor of the electronic IP in conjunction with the expert services.