Performing scenario reduction

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for reducing the number of scenarios over which a circuit design is optimized, the method comprising:

• receiving a set of scenarios over which the circuit design is to be optimized;
• computing values of constrained objects in the circuit design over the set of scenarios;
• formulating an instance of a combinatorial problem based at least on the constrained objects, wherein the combinatorial problem is equivalent to a set covering problem;
• solving the combinatorial problem to obtain a solution;
• and
• determining a subset of scenarios based at least on the solution, wherein the subset of scenarios is such that if the circuit design meets design constraints in each scenario in the subset of scenarios, the circuit design is expected to meet the design constraints in each scenario in the set of scenarios.

An apparatus for reducing the number of scenarios over which a circuit design is optimized, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiving mechanism configured to receive a set of scenarios over which the circuit design is to be optimized;
• a computing mechanism configured to compute values of constrained objects in the circuit design over the set of scenarios;
• and
• a determining mechanism configured to determine a subset of scenarios, wherein the subset of scenarios is such that if the circuit design meets design constraints in each scenario in the subset of scenarios, the circuit design is expected to meet the design constraints in each scenario in the set of scenarios, wherein the determining mechanism is configured to determine the subset of scenarios by:
• formulating an instance of a combinatorial problem based at least on the constrained objects, wherein the combinatorial problem is equivalent to a set covering problem;
• solving the combinatorial problem to obtain a solution;
• and
• determining the subset of scenarios based at least on the solution.