Patent ID: 7890916

Claim:
A processor-implemented method for controlling a circuit implemented in an integrated circuit having programmable logic, the method comprising: maintaining a hierarchy of directories and files in a virtual file system that is registered with an operating system, wherein the directories and files are associated with resources of the programmable logic, wherein the programmable logic includes a plurality of configurable clock management circuits of the programmable logic, each clock management circuit configurable to de-skew an input clock signal and provide an output clock signal from the de-skewed input clock signal, and configurable to change the frequency of an input clock signal and provide the output clock signal at the change frequency, and each file represents a respective data set of configuration data for an associated one of the resources, a plurality of clock control files respectively associated with clock control circuits of the programmable logic and each clock control circuit coupled to a respective one of the configurable clock management circuits; wherein the operating system executes on a processor, and the processor is coupled to the resources of the programmable logic; storing a first value in each of the associated clock control circuits in response to a plurality of corresponding invocations of one or more operating system file access commands, each invocation referencing one of the clock control files and specifying the first value; and controlling advancement of each output clock signal from each clock management circuit of the programmable logic in response to the first value stored in the clock control circuits.