Patent ID: 7941770

Claim:
A method of designing an integrated circuit (“IC”) using an online design platform system comprising a design platform provider including at least one electronic design automation (“EDA”) tool and at least one intellectual property (“IP”) library, the method comprising: accessing the design platform provider using a computer remote from the design platform provider, wherein the remote computer is connected to the design platform provider and the accessing occurs via an Internet connection; providing access via the remote computer to the at least one EDA tool and the at least one IP library for enabling a user at the remote computer to design an IC; and providing at least one file comprising a final design of the IC directly from the online design platform system to a designated foundry; and preventing the at least one file from being downloaded to the remote computer; wherein the at least one EDA tool comprises a tool selected from a group consisting of an IC schematic design tool, a simulation tool, a synthesis tool, a P&R tool, and a DRC/LVS tool.