Relational Database for Integrated Circuit Design Data Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional integrated circuit design processes face challenges in efficiently generating statistical reports from large volumes of data, requiring repeated loading into memory and being time-consuming, which hinders the identification of design errors and weaknesses.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a relational database as a persistent data store for design data, allowing for cross-referencing and analysis of different types of CAD data, such as layout and timing data, to facilitate report generation and error correction, with features like geometric operations and concurrent access for multiple users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional memory-based data processing is used for statistical report generation, then data can be accessed and processed, but the process becomes time-consuming and memory-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical memory-based data processing system with a relational database system. This substitution enables efficient statistical report generation by using database queries and indexing mechanisms instead of loading entire datasets into memory, thereby significantly reducing processing time and resource consumption while maintaining data accessibility and analysis capabilities.
2Quantity of substance
If large volumes of design data are loaded into memory for analysis, then comprehensive data processing is possible, but memory resources are consumed and processing becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts essential data processing functions from the memory-based system and relocates them to the relational database system. By using database queries with selective data retrieval and indexing, the system can process large volumes of design data without loading everything into memory, thus reducing memory resource consumption while maintaining comprehensive data processing capabilities.
3Reliability
If design data is stored and analyzed using traditional methods, then data can be processed, but error identification and correction becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the relational database system that enable efficient error detection and correction. The system can query and analyze design data to identify errors, provide feedback to designers about potential issues, and track correction processes. This feedback loop significantly improves error detection accuracy while reducing the time required compared to traditional manual analysis methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A relational database may be integrated into an integrated circuit design and analysis environment as the persistent data store for data associated with the design. This design data may include two or more abstractions of the design, such as layout data models and timing data models, in some embodiments. Design data may be partitioned in the database and indexed according to various attributes. The use of a relational database may facilitate cross-probing of design data corresponding to different abstractions of the design. The relational database may be queried to produce design reports and to identify design errors or weaknesses. Reports may be graphical or tabular, and may be displayed, printed, stored, or posted for viewing. Proposed modifications to a design may be investigated by modifying data in the relational database, rather than in the actual design. Design reports may be re-generated and compared with corresponding reports for the un-modified design.