Automated Module Port Mapping for Circuit Design Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implementation tools face challenges in processing modules with multiple interfaces of the same type during circuit design, requiring strict adherence to naming conventions and lacking flexibility, especially when user-defined or custom interfaces are involved.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that automatically identifies module ports, matches them with standardized ports based on type, directionality, and latency, and generates a programmatic interface description, allowing for user-defined interfaces and flexible mapping without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual port mapping is used to import modules into circuit design, then flexibility in handling custom interfaces is improved, but time and complexity of the process increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies module ports and creates interfaces without requiring manual port-by-port mapping. The tool extracts port information from the module description and generates the necessary interface connections autonomously, eliminating the time-consuming manual mapping process while maintaining flexibility for custom interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and classification of ports before the actual interface creation. By pre-processing the module description to extract port information, types, and directions, the system prepares all necessary mapping data in advance, enabling rapid interface generation without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If implementation tools use strict naming conventions for interfaces, then processing reliability is improved, but adaptability to user-defined interfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the approach from rigid string matching to parameter-based port identification. Instead of requiring strict naming convention adherence, the tool extracts ports based on their functional parameters (data type, direction, width) and automatically generates appropriate interface names, maintaining reliability through systematic processing while enabling user-defined interface names.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the module ports and the circuit design interfaces. This intermediary automatically translates and maps ports, serving as a buffer that accommodates user-defined naming conventions while ensuring proper connection through standardized internal processing.
3Productivity
If automated interface processing is implemented, then productivity is improved, but ability to handle multiple interfaces of the same type deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the interface creation process into distinct stages: port identification, interface type determination, and connection generation. This segmentation allows the automated system to handle multiple interfaces of the same type by processing them through the same standardized pipeline, maintaining productivity while enabling versatile handling of different interface configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of incorporating a module within a circuit design can include, responsive to identifying the module to be imported into the circuit design, automatically identifying each port of the module, displaying a list of the ports of the module, and receiving a user input selecting a plurality of ports of the module for inclusion in an interface through which the module communicates with the circuit design. Responsive to a user input specifying an interface type, the interface type can be associated with the plurality of ports. The interface type can be associated with a port list including standardized ports. Individual ones of the plurality of ports can be automatically matched with standardized ports from the port list. A programmatic interface description specifying the interface for the module can be output.