Transforming design objects in a computer by converting data sets between data set types

1. A computer implemented method of converting a data set of a first type to a data set type of a second type, the computer having a processor and a computer readable media storing code that, when executed, performs the method, the method comprising:

casting up a first data set of a first type to a prescribed data set type that is large enough to encompass a data set of a second type, wherein the first data set is stored on the computer readable media; and

casting down the casted up first data set from the prescribed data set type to the second data set of the second data set type, wherein the second data set is stored on the computer readable media.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein casting up includes increasing a number of bits in the first data set such that an increased number of bits in the first data set matches a number of bits in the prescribed data set type, and wherein casting down includes reducing a number of bits in the casted up first data set such that a reduced number of bits in the first set matches a number of bits in the second data set type.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein casting up includes adding a number of bits in the first data set such that a number of bits in the added to first data set matches a number of bits in the prescribed data set type, and further including the step of,

assigning each of the added bits a prescribed value, and

wherein casting down includes eliminating a number of the added bits from the casted up first data set such that a number of bits in the eliminated from first data set matches a number of bits in the second data set type.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a cast behavior object into a design to cast an abstract transport behavior object to the prescribed data set type.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the prescribed data set type is cast to a word data set.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 4 , wherein a transport object that is cast to the prescribed data set type is cast to a word data set type.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 4 , wherein transports on both inputs of an add object are cast to be matching word type data sets.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first and second type based on a fixed value.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first and second type based upon a data set type propagated within a design during a synthesis process.