Patent ID: 6865726

Claim:
Computer readable media containing program instructions for a computer which when executed by the computer causes the computer to carry out a method for generating a layout for an integrated circuit (IC) described by a netlist as being formed by a hierarchy of cells grouped into modules, wherein each type of cell and module is described by a separate entry of a cell library, the method comprising the steps of: a. compiling the netlist into a database having a separate record corresponding to each cell and each module, wherein each record indicates a hierarchical relationship between its corresponding cell or module and other cells or modules of the hierarchy, and wherein each record references a cell library entry describing its corresponding cell or module type; b. processing the database to select groups of the cells according to their hierarchical relationships; and c. creating a separate new cell library entry corresponding to each selected group of cells, wherein each new cell library entry describes a cluster cell incorporating all cells of its corresponding group of cells.