Patent ID: 6308299
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of determining whether first and second netlists stored in a memory of a computer system are equivalent, the method comprising the steps of:dividing cutpoint candidates in the first and second netlists stored in the memory into a plurality of classes;resolving cutpoint candidates within a class of the plurality of classes to determine whether the cutpoint candidates are equivalent, the resolving step comprising the steps of:if the cutpoint candidates are likely to be equivalent, performing a first type of cutpoint resolution on the class of cutpoint candidates;if the cutpoint candidates are not likely to be equivalent, performing a second type of cutpoint resolution on the class of cutpoint candidates;if the first type of cutpoint resolution does not resolve the cutpoint candidates, invoking the second type of cutpoint resolution with information learned by the first type of cutpoint resolution; andif the second type of cutpoint resolution does not resolve the cutpoint candidates, invoking the first type of cutpoint resolution with information learned by the second type of cutpoint resolution;if the cutpoint candidates are inequivalent, generating an input pattern demonstrating the inequivalency and refining the cutpoint candidate classes with the input pattern; andif the cutpoint candidates are equivalent, marking the first and second netlists to indicate the equivalency.