Connection navigation in electronic design automation
Some embodiments provide a system that facilitates the creation of a design in an electronic design automation (EDA) application. During operation, the system obtains a set of parameters associated with parameterized connections in a hierarchy of the design and a set of net assignments to the parameters. Next, the system displays the parameters and the net assignments to a user of the EDA application through a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the EDA application. Finally, the system enables modifications to the net assignments by the user through the GUI.
1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating creation of a design in an electronic design automation (EDA) application, comprising:
obtaining a set of parameters associated with parameterized connections in a hierarchy of the design and a set of net assignments to the parameters;
displaying the parameters and the net assignments to a user of the EDA application through a table in a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the EDA application, wherein an element in the table indicates an assignment state of a parameter in the hierarchy of the design, wherein the assignment state is one of:
empty, partially assigned, and fully assigned; and
enabling the user to modify connectivity of the design by modifying the net assignments in the table.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the parameters and the assignments involves:
retrieving connection definition information for the design based at least on the hierarchy, wherein the connection definition information comprises the parameters and the net assignments.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 ,
wherein each of the parameters is associated with one or more cell instances, and
wherein a cell instance from the cell instances is electrically connected to a net if the cell instance contains a net assignment of one of the parameters to the net.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein displaying the parameters and the net assignments through the GUI involves:
displaying a first list of the parameters in the hierarchy; and
displaying a second list of the net assignments based at least on a selection of a parameter from the parameters through the GUI.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
displaying a subset of the cell instances and a subset of the net assignments associated with the parameter if the parameter is selected; and
displaying all of the cell instances and all of the net assignments if none of the parameters is selected.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
setting a background color or a font style of each net assignment from the net assignments based at least on the assignment state of the parameter.
7. A system for facilitating creation of a design in an electronic design automation (EDA) application, comprising:
a connection-analysis apparatus configured to obtain a set of parameters associated with parameterized connections in a hierarchy of the design and a set of net assignments to the parameters; and
a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to:
display the parameters and the net assignments to a user of the EDA application through a table, wherein an element in the table indicates an assignment state of a parameter in the hierarchy of the design, wherein the assignment state is one of: empty, partially assigned, and fully assigned; and
enable the user to modify connectivity of the design by modifying the net assignments in the table.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein obtaining the parameters and the net assignments involves:
retrieving connection definition information for the design based at least on the hierarchy, wherein the connection definition information comprises the parameters and the net assignments.
9. The system of claim 7 ,
wherein each of the parameters is associated with one or more cell instances, and
wherein a cell instance from the cell instances is electrically connected to a net if the cell instance contains a net assignment of one of the parameters to the net.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein displaying the parameters and the net assignments through the GUI involves:
displaying a first list of the parameters in the hierarchy; and
displaying a second list of the net assignments based at least on a selection of a parameter from the parameters through the GUI.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
displaying a subset of the cell instances and a subset of the net assignments associated with the parameter if the parameter is selected; and
displaying all of the cell instances and all of the net assignments if none of the parameters is selected.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
setting a background color or a font style of each net assignment from the net assignments based at least on the assignment state of the parameter.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating creation of a design in an electronic design automation (EDA) application, the method comprising:
obtaining a set of parameters associated with parameterized connections in a hierarchy of the design and a set of net assignments to the parameters;
displaying the parameters and the net assignments to a user of the EDA application through a table in a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the EDA application, wherein an element in the table indicates an assignment state of a parameter in the hierarchy of the design, wherein the assignment state is one of:
empty, partially assigned, and fully assigned; and
enabling the user to modify connectivity of the design by modifying the net assignments in the table.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein obtaining the parameters and the net assignments involves:
retrieving connection definition information for the design based at least on the hierarchy, wherein the connection definition information comprises the parameters and the net assignments.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 ,
wherein each of the parameters is associated with one or more cell instances, and
wherein a cell instance from the cell instances is electrically connected to a net if the cell instance contains a net assignment of one of the parameters to the net.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein displaying the parameters and the net assignments through the GUI involves:
displaying a first list of the parameters in the hierarchy; and
displaying a second list of the net assignments based at least on a selection of a parameter from the parameters through the GUI.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
displaying a subset of the cell instances and a subset of the net assignments associated with the parameter if the parameter is selected; and
displaying all of the cell instances and all of the net assignments if none of the parameters is selected.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
setting a background color or a font style of each net assignment from the net assignments based at least on the assignment state of the parameter.
19. A graphical user interface (GUI) for facilitating creation of a design in an electronic design automation (EDA) application, comprising:
a parameter-display mechanism that displays a first list of parameters in a hierarchy of the design; and
an assignment-management mechanism that displays a second list of net assignments to the parameters through a table based at least on a selection of a parameter from the parameters through the parameter-display mechanism, wherein an element in the table indicates an assignment state of the parameter in the hierarchy of the design, the assignment state comprising one of: empty, partially assigned, and fully assigned.
20. The GUI of claim 19 , wherein the net assignment-management mechanism enables modifications to the net assignments by a user of the EDA application.
21. The GUI of claim 19 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
displaying a subset of the cell instances and a subset of the net assignments associated with the parameter if the parameter is selected; and
displaying all of the cell instances and all of the net assignments if none of the parameters is selected.
22. The GUI of claim 19 , wherein displaying the second list of the net assignments based at least on the selection of the parameter involves:
setting a background color or a font style of each net assignment from the net assignments based at least on the assignment state of the net assignment.