Congestion estimation for programmable logic devices

A system comprising:

• one or more processors, and
• one or more memory devices adapted to store a plurality of computer readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to perform a computer-implemented method of estimating signal congestion in routing resources of a programmable logic device (PLD), wherein the routing resources comprise a plurality of nodes and a plurality of wires which may be selectively interconnected to provide a plurality of signal paths through the routing resources of the PLD, the method comprising:
• determining a plurality of wire congestion values, wherein each of the wire congestion values identifies a relative likelihood of a corresponding one of the wires being used to provide the signal paths in comparison with the other wires;
• detecting a selection of a first region of the routing resources;
• determining a first congestion density estimate for the first region using the wire congestion values associated with the wires of the first region;
• detecting a selection of a second region of the routing resources;
• determining in the computing device a second congestion density estimate for the second region using the wire congestion values associated with the wires of the second region;
• and
• comparing the first and second congestion density estimates to determine the relative congestion density of the first and second regions.

A non-transitory computer readable medium on which are stored computer readable instructions for performing in a computing device a method of estimating signal congestion in routing resources of a programmable logic device (PLD), wherein the routing resources comprise a plurality of nodes and a plurality of wires which may be selectively interconnected to provide a plurality of signal paths through the PLD, the method comprising

• determining a plurality of wire congestion values, wherein each of the wire congestion values identifies a relative likelihood of a corresponding one of the wires being used to provide the signal paths in comparison with the other wires;
• detecting a selection of a first region of the routing resources;
• determining a first congestion density estimate for the first region using the wire congestion values associated with the wires of the first region;
• detecting a selection of a second region of the routing resources;
• determining a second congestion density estimate for the second region using the wire congestion values associated with the wires of the second region;
• and
• comparing the first and second congestion density estimates.