Patent ID: 6954908
Filing Date: 2005-10-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting one of a plurality of circuit design points to utilize for implementing a circuit, the method comprising: (a) providing a database having a plurality of design points for a circuit, with each design point determined as a function of a set of goals for the circuit and a set of variables for the circuit, with each design point having a value of at least one goal or one variable different from each other design point; (b) determining a cost for each design point as a function of the set of goals for the circuit; (c) displaying a cost versus design point chart having an indicia at the intersection of each cost-design point pair; (d) selecting a plurality of indicia in the cost versus design point chart; (e) displaying at least one of the following: (1) at least one goal-variable chart that includes an indicia for the value of the goal and the value of the variable of each design point associated with the selected indicia in the cost versus design point chart; (2) a parallel goal coordinates chart having a plurality of spaced parallel axes each associated with one of the set of goals, with the range of values of each axis related to the range of values of the corresponding goal of the design points associated with the selected indicia in the cost versus design point chart, the parallel goal coordinates chart including for each design point associated with the selected indicia in the cost versus design point chart a line extending through the parallel goal coordinates chart and intersecting each axis at the value of the corresponding goal for the design point; and (3) a radar chart having at least three radially extending axes, with each axis representing one of the set of goals, the radar chart including for each design point associated with the selected indicia in the cost versus design point chart a line intersecting each axis at the value of the corresponding goal for the design point; and (f) determining from the at least one chart displayed in step (e), which design point to utilize to implement the circuit.