Patent ID: 8099708

Claim:
A method of an input/output assignment planning, comprising the steps of: (A) generating a graphic presentation to a user using a computer, said graphic presentation displaying (i) a circuit icon having a plurality of pin icons, (ii) a plurality of assigned signal icons each associated with a respective one of said pin icons and (iii) a list having a plurality of unassigned signal icons not presently associated with any of said pin icons; (B) drag-and-dropping a first of said unassigned signal icons within said graphic presentation from said list to a first of said pin icons in response to a first move command received from said user, said first unassigned signal icon becoming a first additional one of said assigned signals icons in response to being dropped on said first pin icon; and (C) indicating in said graphic presentation a first lock of a first association between said first additional assigned signal icon and said first pin icon in response to a first lock command received from said user.