Patent ID: 7607117
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for representing a layout of a programmable device as a tree structure to be searched by a computer program for determining a configuration of functional components within a selected portion of an area occupied by the layout, the method comprising: dividing the area occupied by the device layout into one or more main area portions; representing each main area portion as a corresponding root node on the tree structure; dividing each main area portion into equally sized sub-areas; representing each sub-area as a branch node that is a child of the root node corresponding to the main portion comprising the sub-area; continuing to divide each sub-area further into equally sized sub-areas and representing each sub-area as a branch node, until the sub-areas correspond to a base layout unit of the device layout, the base layout unit being a base unit in the tree structure that cannot be further subdivided; representing each of the sub-areas corresponding to the layout unit of the device layout as a leaf node on the tree structure; and for a straddling layout unit that is larger than one of the equally-sized sub-areas, associating the straddling layout unit with multiple of the equally sized sub-areas and assigning multiple leaf nodes to the equally sized sub-areas of the straddling layout unit so that a search that encompasses any of the multiple leaf nodes associated with the straddling layout unit returns the straddling layout unit in associated search results, and wherein the straddling layout unit includes no sub-parts that are individually searchable.