Patent ID: 7111269

Claim:
A method for optimizing a netlist change order flow, wherein a design layout created by a layout tool from a reference netlist is to be changed by a modified version of the netlist, wherein both netlists are hierarchical, the method comprising: (a) comparing the modified netlist with the reference netlist outside of the layout tool, wherein the comparing comprises generating a first instance map data structure and a first net map data structure corresponding to a flat view of the reference netlist, and generating a second instance map data structure and a second net map data structure corresponding to a flat view of the modified netlist, wherein each of the first and second instance map data structures maintain a mapping of leaf-level instance names, and wherein each of the first and second net map data structures maintain a list of nets; (b) automatically generating at least one change order based on differences found between the first and second instance map data structures and between the first and second net map data structures; and (c) applying the change order to the design layout to generate a modified design layout.