Patent ID: 8769467

Claim:
A computer implemented method for considering both hard design rule and soft design rules during C-routing, comprising: using at least one processor for performing a process, the process comprising: concurrently considering a hard design rule in a rule deck for the electronic design and a soft design rule in the rule deck for physically implementing an electronic design, wherein the soft design rule specifies a different threshold for a feature in the electronic design than the hard design rule but does not need to be satisfied; determining multiple design configurations for performing C-routing for a net to be physically implemented in the electronic design, wherein the multiple design configurations comprises at least a first configuration generated for the net in the electronic design by complying with the hard design rule and a second configuration generated for the net in the electronic design by complying with the soft design rule; and performing the C-routing that physically routes at least a part of the net by determining a physical location of the at least a part of the net that interconnects two blocks prior to performing detail routing for a remaining portion of the net within the two blocks by concurrently considering both the hard rule and the soft rule for the C-routing based at least in part upon a lower cost among costs of the multiple design configurations to generate a C-route, wherein the C-route comprises an interconnect segment generated to cross at least boundaries of the two blocks in a physical design of the electronic circuit design with the soft design rule but without regard to the hard design rule; and performing the detail routing to complete the remaining portion of the net after performing the C-routing to generate one or more C-routes that include the C-route.