Hierarchical Power Domain Display for UPF Debugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power design/debugging tools display power designs in a flat manner, making it difficult for designers to efficiently debug and verify power designs, leading to inefficiencies in the design and verification process.
Innovation Solution
A method to show hierarchical structure for power intent described in a power intent description language with a design described in a hardware design description language, using a data structure to create a power domain hierarchy for coverage annotation, debugging, or design review, and displaying this hierarchy to enhance user experience and design/verification environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional power design/debugging tools display power design in a flat manner, then the display is simple and straightforward, but the user cannot easily debug and the design process becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flat power design information into a hierarchical structure with multiple levels (power domain hierarchy), organizing raw information into structured groups that represent different abstraction levels of the power design, making it easier to navigate and debug specific portions of the design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the flat, two-dimensional display into a multi-dimensional hierarchical structure that adds an organizational dimension to the power design information, allowing users to view and interact with power design data at different levels of abstraction simultaneously
2Ease of operation
If conventional tools provide raw power design information, then the information is complete, but the user experience is not user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments raw power design information into organized hierarchical groups that preserve all original information while adding structural context, allowing users to access complete information in a user-friendly organized manner rather than as undifferentiated raw data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that transforms raw power design information into a structured hierarchical representation, acting as a mediator between the complete but unwieldy raw data and the user's need for organized, accessible information
Data Source
AI summary
A method for showing hierarchical structure for a given power intent described in a power intent description language (e.g. a formal power intent description language) with a design described in a hardware design description language, an associated apparatus, and an associated computer program product are provided, where the method includes: retrieving hardware design description contents written in the hardware design description language from a hardware design description file, and retrieving power intent description contents written in the power intent description language from a power intent description file; and controlling a display module to display a power domain hierarchy associated with the power intent description contents and the hardware design description contents respectively retrieved from the power intent description file and the hardware design description file, wherein the power domain hierarchy includes at least one power domain. For example, the power intent description language is the unified power format (UPF) language.