Patent ID: 7904853

Claim:
A computer implemented method of generating a pattern signature to represent a pattern of an integrated circuit design, comprising: using a computer system which comprises at least one processor and is programmed for performing: transforming data of the pattern into a set of one dimensional mathematical functions, wherein the data of the pattern is two dimensional data for the pattern, and the act of transforming the data of the pattern comprises projecting one or more two-dimensional objects in the pattern for a plurality of axes in a number of directions and determining which geometric attribute is to be used to represent one or more objects in the pattern; compressing the set of one dimensional mathematical functions into a single variable function to reduce a number of functions to represent the pattern; compressing the single variable function by calculating a set of values for the single variable function; and generating a pattern signature for the pattern from the set of values, wherein the pattern signature is used to identify a similar pattern of an integrated circuit design by comparing the pattern signature to at least one other pattern signature.