Visualizing hardware cost in high level modeling systems
AssigneeXilinx, Inc.
InventorsAlexander Carreira, Alexander R. Vogenthaler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Within a high level modeling system (HLMS), a method of visualizing a circuit design can include identifying the circuit design and reading hardware cost information for the circuit design. The method also can include presenting a graphical representation of the circuit design having at least one visual characteristic which can be varied according to the hardware cost information.
Claims12
Within a high level modeling system, a method using a computer system of visualizing a circuit design comprising:
- identifying the circuit design;
- identifying at least one hardware cost metric for the circuit design, wherein each hardware cost metric specifies usage, by the circuit design, of a type of resource available on a target programmable logic device in which the circuit design is to be implemented;
- computing a measure of hardware cost using each hardware cost metric for individual circuit blocks of the circuit design;
- and
- visually rendering a physical layout of the circuit design, as implemented within the target programmable logic device, using a graphic visualization technique to illustrate the measure of hardware cost on a per circuit block basis.
Within a high level modeling system (HLMS), a method using a computer system of visualizing a circuit design comprising:
- associating a cost function with a graphic visualization technique;
- identifying hardware cost information indicating usage, by the circuit design, of at least one type of resource available on a target programmable logic device in which the circuit design is to be implemented;
- processing the hardware cost information using the cost function to determine a measure of hardware cost for circuit blocks of the circuit design, wherein the cost function indicates a measure of combined usage, on a per circuit block basis, for each type of resource specified in the hardware cost information;
- and
- applying the graphic visualization technique to vary a visual attribute of a graphic illustration of the physical layout of the circuit design, on a per circuit block basis, according to the measure of hardware cost.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.