Patent ID: 8713498

Claim:
A method for determining whether a current at a network segment exceeds a threshold comprising: determining at a data processing system, current information corresponding to a node included at a device design, the node being a signal interconnect between two or more circuit components, wherein the current information includes an amount of a direct current; receiving physical layout information corresponding to the node, the physical layout information including one or more layout geometries, the one or more layout geometries providing a first circuit network; partitioning the first circuit network into two or more network segments, including a first network segment and a second network segment, wherein the first network segment and the second network segment are coupled by at least one interconnect via, and wherein partitioning comprises identifying a defined layout geometry and isolating that geometry at a corresponding network segment; identifying a first current conducted at the first network segment based on the current information; receiving information identifying dimensions and metal layer of a first layout geometry included at the first network segment; and determining that the first current exceeds a first predetermined maximum threshold, the first predetermined maximum threshold determined based on the dimensions and metal layer.