Producing a net topology pattern as a constraint upon routing of signal paths in an integrated circuit design

A method to produce in a computer readable storage device constraint information for use by a computer configured to implement a routing process used to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design comprising:

• receiving by a computer, instructions to assemble multiple constituent graphical display objects on a display screen to produce a graphical net topology pattern display that represents a logical net that is associated within the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern display shows connections between one or more of its constituent graphical display objects and at least two instance item display objects shown on a display screen that represent the at least two instance item structures stored in the storage device;
• in response to the assembling of the topology pattern display on the display screen, producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and that includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;
• wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure
• wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed;
• and
• wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

An article of manufacture that includes a computer readable storage device that includes computer readable code to configure a computer to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising:

• producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that corresponds to a logical net that is associated in the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;
• wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure
• wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed;
• and
• wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

An article of manufacture that includes a computer readable storage device that includes computer readable an information structure that represents constraint information, the information structure comprising:

• a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that corresponds to a logical net that is associated in the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;
• wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure
• wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed;
• and
• wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

An article of manufacture that includes a computer readable storage device that includes computer readable code to configure a computer to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising:

• receiving by a computer, instructions to assemble multiple constituent graphical display objects on a display screen to produce a graphical net topology pattern display that represents a logical net that is associated within the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern display shows connections between one or more of its constituent graphical display objects and at least two instance item display objects shown on a display screen that represent the at least two instance item structures stored in the storage device;
• in response to the assembling of the topology pattern display on the display screen, producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the device that is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and that includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;
• wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure
• wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed;
• and
• wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

A system, comprising:

• a storage device encoded with information representative of a device design;
• and
• a computing device in communication with the storage device, the computing device configured to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising,
• producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that corresponds to a logical net that is associated in the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;
• wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure
• wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed;
• and
• wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

A system, comprising:

• a storage device encoded with information representative of a device design;
• and
• a computing device in communication with the storage device, the computing device configured to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising,
• receiving by a computer, instructions to assemble multiple constituent graphical display objects on a display screen to produce a graphical net topology pattern display that represents a logical net that is associated within the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern display shows connections between one or more of its constituent graphical display objects and at least two instance item display objects shown on a display screen that represent the at least two instance item structures stored in the storage device;
• in response to the assembling of the topology pattern display on the display screen, producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the device that is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and that includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;
• wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure
• wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed;
• and
• wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.