Method and apparatus for parameterizing hardware description language code in a system level design environment

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including sequence of instructions, the sequence of instructions including instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

importing a component external from a system level EDA tool having a library into the system level EDA tool;

translating code for the component into a text description;

parsing the text description for name and data type to identify parameters;

identifying selected parameters from the identified parameters in response to input from a designer of the component; and

generating a graphical user interface from code of the component imported that allows a user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the code for the component is written in a hardware description language.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein identifying the selected parameters comprises comparing the identified parameters with a list of pre-defined parameters.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein generating the graphical user interface comprises creating a script based description.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the identified parameters of the component specify a number of bits for data processed by the component.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the parameters of the component specify one of a number of inputs and outputs of the component.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the GUI includes a text field to allow the user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the GUI includes a check box to allow the user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the GUI includes pop-ups to allow the user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

10. A method for managing a system level electronic design automation (EDA) tool, comprising:

importing a component external from the system level EDA tool into the system level EDA tool;

translating code for the component into a text description;

parsing the text description for name and data type to identify parameters;

identifying selected parameters from the identified parameters in response to input from a designer of the component; and

generating a graphical user interface from code of the component that allows a user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component, wherein at least one of the importing, translating, parsing, identifying, and generating is performed by a processor.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the code for the component is written in a hardware description language.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising comparing the identified parameters with a list of pre-defined parameters to further identify selected parameters.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein generating the graphical user interface comprises creating a script based description.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the parameters of the component specify a number of bits for data processed by the component.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the parameters of the component specify one of a number of inputs and outputs of the component.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the GUI includes a text field to allow the user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the GUI includes a check box to allow the user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the GUI includes pop-ups to allow the user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

19. A component building unit in a system level electronic design automation (EDA) tool, comprising:

a component import unit that imports a component external from the system level EDA tool into the system level EDA tool; and

a parameterization unit that includes a text unit that translates code for the component into a text description, a parsing unit that identifies selected parameters in response to input from a designer of the component, and a graphical user interface (GUI) generation unit that generates a graphical user interface from code of the component that allows a user to enter values for the selected parameters of the component.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the system level EDA tool further comprises:

a library unit to store the component with a plurality of other components; and

a graphical editor unit to allow a user to select components from the library to implement in a system level design.