Patent ID: 8332793

Claim:
A method, comprising: evolving over time, by a computing apparatus, a system of equations representative of motion of a first state of first locations of a plurality of nodes and a plurality of nets and approximating a continuous evolution of state variables over time, resulting, at least in part, from a plurality of forces on the nodes and the nets, to determine a second state of second locations of the nodes and the nets, wherein the nodes and the nets are representative of a circuit netlist of elements of an integrated circuit, wherein the plurality of forces include viscous damping, attractive, and spreading forces, and wherein the state variables describe at least a mass of each node; modifying, by the computing apparatus after said evolving, magnitudes of one or more of the plurality of forces of at least one of the nodes, and the mass of at least one of the nodes based, at least in part, on a resource usage of the nodes and the nets, to adjust the second state to a third state of third locations; and modifying, by the computing apparatus, the third state to a fourth state of fourth locations based, at least in part, on a timing of the third state by: replacing a first driver of at least one of the nets with a second driver, wherein the first driver and the second driver have different drive strengths; or inserting a buffer driving the at least one of the nets; or both.