Method for fast identification of available reference designators in a design automation system
View Patent ↗A method, system, and computer program product for a faster identification of available reference designators (ARDs) in a design automation system. An ARD utility detects a selection of one or more selected component types for placement on a circuit schematic. A list containing one or more unavailable reference designators (URDs) is sorted through to identify one or more ARDs from the list of URDs. A list of ARDs is then generated, from which a pre-determined portion of ARDs are reserved. The reserved list of ARDs is then outputted for selection by a user.
1. A computer-implemented method for identifying available reference designators in a schematic entry tool comprising:
a processor executing code that performs the function of: detecting a selection of one or more component types for placement on a schematic;
sorting through a list of one or more Unavailable Reference Designators (URDs);
generating a list of Available Reference Designators (ARDs), wherein the list of ARDs identifies one or more ARDs from the list of URDs;
reserving a list containing a pre-determined portion of ARDs;
outputting the list containing the pre-determined portion of reserved ARDs;
detecting a selection from the outputted list of reserved ARDs;
attaching a selected reference designator to the one or more component types; and
updating at least one of the list of URDs and the list of ARDs.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the functions performed further comprises:
detecting a manual override condition using a candidate reference designator;
verifying availability of the candidate reference designator with the list of URDs; and
detecting whether the candidate reference designator is included with the list of URDs.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the functions performed further comprises:
detecting whether the selected reference designator is removed from the schematic; and
updating at least one of the list of URDs to remove at least one attached reference designator from the list of URDs.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of reserved ARDs includes ARDs that are alphanumerically below the highest URD of a selected component type.
5. A computer system comprising:
a processor unit;
a memory coupled to the processor unit; and
an Available Reference Designator (ARD) utility executing on the processor unit and having executable code for:
detecting a selection of one or more component types for placement on a schematic;
sorting through a list of one or more Unavailable Reference Designators (URDs);
generating a list of Available Reference Designators (ARDs), wherein the list of ARDs identifies one or more ARDs from the list of URDs;
reserving a list containing a pre-determined portion of ARDs;
outputting the list containing the pre-determined portion of reserved ARDs;
detecting a selection from the outputted list of reserved ARDs;
attaching a selected reference designator to the one or more component types; and
updating at least one of the list of URDs and the list of ARDs.
6. The computer system of claim 5 , the ARD utility further having executable code for:
detecting a manual override condition using a candidate reference designator;
verifying availability of the candidate reference designator with the list of URDs; and
detecting whether the candidate reference designator is included with the list of URDs.
7. The computer system of claim 5 , the ARD utility further having executable code for:
detecting whether the selected reference designator is removed from the schematic; and
updating at least one of the list of URDs to remove at least one attached reference designator from the list of URDs.
8. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the list of reserved ARDs includes ARDs that are alphanumerically below the highest URD of a selected component type.
9. A computer program product comprising:
a computer storage medium; and
program code on the computer storage medium that when executed by a computer, provides the functions of:
detecting a selection of one or more component types for placement on a schematic;
sorting through a list of one or more Unavailable Reference Designators (URDs);
generating a list of Available Reference Designators (ARDs), wherein the list of ARDs identifies one or more ARDs from the list of URDs;
reserving a list containing a pre-determined portion of ARDs;
outputting the list containing the pre-determined portion of reserved ARDs;
detecting a selection from the outputted list of reserved ARDs;
attaching a selected reference designator to the one or more component types; and
updating at least one of the list of URDs and the list of ARDs.
10. The computer program product of claim 9 , the program code further provides the functions of:
detecting a manual override condition using a candidate reference designator;
verifying availability of the candidate reference designator with the list of URDs; and
detecting whether the candidate reference designator is included with the list of URDs.
11. The computer program product of claim 9 , the program code further provides the functions of:
detecting whether the selected reference designator is removed from the schematic; and
updating at least one of the list of URDs to remove at least one attached reference designator from the list of URDs.
12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the list of reserved ARDs includes ARDs that are alphanumerically below the highest URD of a selected component type.