Network timing analysis method which eliminates timing variations between signals traversing a common circuit path

A statistical method of analyzing timing differences between arrival times of distinct signals propagating through an electronic circuit comprising a plurality of circuit elements interconnected by a plurality of conductive paths, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) identifying at least one first beginning point for a first data path over which data arrival times may be propagated to a data endpoint;
• (ii) identifying at least one second beginning point for a second data path leading to said data endpoint, and for a clock path leading to a clock endpoint, said data and clock endpoints constituting an endpoint pair;
• (iii) identifying at least one common point at which said second data path and said clock path diverge;
• (iv) propagating a plurality of data arrival times to said data endpoint from said at least one first beginning point along said first data path and from said at least one second beginning point along said second data path, and tagging said data arrival times propagated along said second data path with one of said at least one common point;
• (v) propagating a plurality of clock arrival times to said clock endpoint from said at least one second beginning point along said clock path, and tagging said clock arrival times with one of said at least one common point, said plurality of data and clock arrival times constituting a plurality of clock/data arrival time pairs at said endpoint pair;
• (vi) determining the slack at said endpoint pair for each of said plurality of clock/data arrival time pairs and identifying a worst clock/data arrival time pair causing the worst slack determination;
• and
• (vii) recomputing the slack at said endpoint pair for said worst clock/data arrival time pair, if the data arrival time in said worst clock/data arrival time pair is tagged with the same common point, by eliminating slack which is caused by data and clock arrival time propagation on a shared portion of said second data path and said clock path between said at least one second beginning point and said same common point.