The invention relates generally to a comprehensive, integrated computer-based system and method for undertaking an engineering design and development effort in a virtual collaborative environment, identifying qualified fabricators for manufacturing a part design based on fabricator capability information stored in a global registry database substantially maintained by the fabricators themselves, and conducting a virtual bidding process whereby electronic representations of three dimensional model and specification data are provided by a central server. The central server further supports the bidding process by providing quasi-real time audio, video and graphics, and the contracts negotiation and formalization steps.

Network-based system for the manufacture of parts with a virtual collaborative environment for design, developement, and fabricator selection

An integrated design environment (IDE) is disclosed for forming virtual embedded systems The IDE includes a design language for forming finite state machine models of hardware components that are coupled to simulators of processor cores, preferably instruction set accurate simulators A software debugger interface permits a software application to be loaded and executed on the virtual embedded system A virtual test bench may be coupled to the simulation to serve as a human-machine interface In one embodiment, the IDE is provided as a web-based service for the evaluation, development and procurement phases of an embedded system project IP components, such as processor cores, may be evaluated using a virtual embedded system In one embodiment, a virtual embedded system is used as an executable specification for the procurement of a good or service related to an embedded system

Method and system for virtual prototyping

A multi-faceted design platform (104) acts as a tool for front-end hardware IC designers who design complex core base System on Chip. The design platform (104) uses a network such as the Internet (230) to search and gain access to previously designed virtual core blocks. The design platform (104) provides a means to select (306) and transfer (308) all relevant information regarding the selected virtual core blocks and allows the designer to immediately incorporate the virtual core block into the new SoC design. The design platform (104) further generates the appropriate source code files (320) for immediate use with a plurality of known verification tools to verify both the integration and connectivity of the virtual core blocks as well as the basic functionalities of the SoC design.

Method and system for chip design using remotely located resources

A multi-faceted portal site acts as a server in the context of an n-tier client/ server network, and connects electronic designers and design teams to design and verification tool and service providers on the other through a single portal site. Tools and services accessible to users through the portal site include electronic design automation (EDA) software tools, electronic component information, electronic component databases of parts (or dynamic parts), computing and processing resources, virtual circuit blocks, design expert assistance, and integrated circuit fabrication. Such tools and services may be provided in whole or part by suppliers connected to the portal site. Users accessing the portal site are presented with options in a menu or other convenient format identifying the tools and services available, and are able to more rapidly complete circuit designs by having access to a wide variety of tools and services in a single locale. The portal site may facilitate purchase, lease or other acquisition of the tools and services offered through it. The portal site tracks the movements of users through the portal site in order to learn about the design preferences and design approaches of users individually and in the aggregate. Previous actions taken by the user and by similarly-situated users may be considered in determining which information presented to the user, or in what order to present information to the user, thereby providing contextually-driven access.

Method and system for facilitating electronic circuit and chip design using remotely located resources

A computer-based design framework for collaborative design of a product by distributed design team members. The design framework comprises: a virtual database management system, which receives data from a plurality of distinct sources and creates a single relational database interface to each of the distinct sources; software code associated with the virtual database management system for mapping various informational structures utilized by the distinct sources to a common XML syntax; and additional logic associated with the virtual database management system that provides publishing rules for extracting information on demand and publishing the extracted information in a format recognized by a requestor of the information. When the product is a system on a chip (SOC) a special set of functions are generated that enable platform-independent application and services exchange utilizing XML wrapped data, service, and applications.

XML-based system and method for collaborative web-based design and verification of system-on-a-chip

A method and system for obtaining information about electronic components, managing that information, and/or purchasing and procuring electronic components comprises a remote parts database connected to a distributed electronic network, such as the Internet. The remote parts database stores a plurality of dynamic parts for use in a schematic program run on a user workstation. When the user connects to the remote parts database, a listing of available dynamic parts are displayed on the user's workstation. The user selects dynamic parts for inclusion into an application (such as a schematic program) running on the user's workstation. The dynamic parts are downloaded to the user workstation and a local database. The downloaded information includes data regarding the parts functionality plus component data items such as supplier or distributor information, timing information, application notes, and a link (e.g., URL) to either the remote parts database or a remote supplier or manufacturer database. As dynamic parts are selected for use in a design, their information may be forwarded to a parts approval process for qualification with the designer's organization. From a design in the schematic program having multiple dynamic parts, a bill of materials may be automatically generated based on the locally stored component data items, including the supplier/distributor information.

Automated method and system for selecting and procuring electronic components used in circuit and chip designs

L'invention concerne un site portail polyvalent qui joue le role d'un serveur dans le contexte d'un reseau client/serveur multiniveau, et qui connecte les ingenieurs electroniciens et les equipes de conception avec des outils et des fournisseurs de services de conception et de verification par l'intermediaire d'un site portail unique. Les outils et les services accessibles aux utilisateurs a partir de ce site portail, comprennent des outils logiciels de conception electronique automatisee (EDA), des informations relatives aux composants electroniques, des bases de donnees relatives a des elements (ou des elements dynamiques) de composants electroniques, des ressources de calcul et de traitement, des blocs-circuits virtuels, une assistance intelligente de conception et la fabrication de circuit integres. Ces outils et services peuvent etre fournis en totalite ou en partie par des fournisseurs connectes au site portail. Differentes options detaillant les outils et les services disponibles sont presentees dans un menu ou sous un autre format adequat aux utilisateurs accedant au site portail, et cet acces a un large eventail d'outil et de services a partir d'un point unique permet a ces utilisateur de terminer plus rapidement la conception des circuits. Le site portail peut en outre faciliter l'achat, la location ou d'autre formes d'acquisition d'outils et de services offerts via ce site. Ce site portail detecte les mouvements des utilisateurs dans le site, afin de connaitre les preferences et les approches en matiere de conception des utilisateurs, consideres individuellement et collectivement. Les actions anterieures des utilisateurs et d'utilisateurs presentant la meme situation, peuvent egalement etre prises en compte dans la determination de l'information devant etre presentee a un utilisateur, ou de l'ordre dans laquelle l'information doit etre presentee, de maniere a etablir un acces influence par le contexte.

William H. Robertson

Papers

Method and system for facilitating electronic circuit and chip design using remotely located resources

Automated method and system for selecting and procuring electronic components used in circuit and chip designs

Procede et systeme d'assistance a la conception de circuits electroniques et de puces faisant appel a de ressources eloignees