Patent ID: 7543261

Claim:
A method of operation for an input/output assignment tool, comprising the steps of: (A) generating a graphic presentation to a user 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, said graphic presentation comprising a floor planning representation; (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; and (C) indicating in said graphic representation an acceptance of a first association between said first unassigned signal icon and said first pin icon in response to said association passing a rule, said first unassigned signal icon becoming a first additional one of said assigned signal icons upon said acceptance.