Patent ID: 7082586

Claim:
Method for a comparison of circuit specifications to check equal functionality, whereby a first circuit specification having input/output interfaces is compared with a replacement circuit specification having input/output interfaces and whereby the following process steps are carried out to establish an equivalent technical functionality of the first circuit specification and the replacement circuit specification: a) automatic monitoring as to whether the first circuit specification can be replaced by the replacement specification under a replacement condition, according to which it is not possible for an environment comprising input values to be fed to said input interfaces of the first circuit specification and the replacement specification to find a functional difference between the first circuit specification and the replacement specification, b) if the replacement condition is not demonstrated, constraining possible input values of the environment and renewed monitoring of the replacement condition with the constrained environment, whereby a constraint of the environment of the two circuit specifications being compared takes place by forming classes of inputs and by restricting the environment so that inputs of different classes will not change at the same time, c) repetition of process step b) until the replacement condition is demonstrated or no further constraint of the environment is possible, and d) if the replacement condition could be demonstrated, replacement of the first circuit specification by the replacement specification and comparison of the replacement specification with the second circuit specification to check functional equivalence.