Patent ID: 7665045

Claim:
A computer implemented method for extracting connectivity for a hierarchical configuration of shapes representing an integrated circuit design, comprising: (a) identifying a shape to process at a given hierarchical level of the integrated circuit design; (b) associating the shape to a net at the given hierarchical level; (c) identifying all other shapes that directly or indirectly connect to the shape by using a search window on the integrated circuit design, wherein the act of identifying all other shapes is performed by at least a processor; (d) associating the other shapes to the net at the given hierarchical level, wherein an instance of a referencing structure is used to associate the net at the given hierarchical level with a second net at a second hierarchical level, and the method for extracting connectivity is performed without flattening the integrated circuit design in its entirety; and storing the instance of the referencing structure in a computer readable storage medium or a storage device.