Patent ID: 7571086
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for predicting behavior of a circuit for receiving and processing primary input signals, the circuit comprising at least one data storage device and modules communicating through sequential elements, wherein at least one of the modules comprises logic gates, the method comprising the steps of: a. processing a circuit description to classify some signals of the circuit as essential signals and to classify all other signals of the circuit as nonessential signals, wherein essential signals comprise the primary input signals, output signals of the sequential elements, and output signals of the at least one data storage device, wherein nonessential signals comprise output signals of the logic gates, b. based on information included in the circuit description and a specification of behavior during a time interval of all primary input signals to the circuit performing a full-circuit simulation of circuit behavior during the time interval, including generating and saving first simulation data representing behavior of the essential signals during the time interval, c. selecting a subinterval of the time interval, d. selecting a subcircuit of the circuit comprising at least one of the modules, and e. based on information included in the first simulation data and the circuit description, re-simulating behavior only of the selected subcircuit during the selected subinterval, including generating and saving second simulation data representing behavior of at least one of the essential and non-essential signals of the selected subcircuit during the selected subinterval.