Patent ID: 7472366

Claim:
A method comprising: performing a path search that identifies a plurality of path expansions, said path search comprising: i. performing a viability check on a particular path expansion to ensure that a particular segment of a particular route that would result from the particular path expansion in a design layout satisfies a minimum length criteria by comparing a length of the particular path expansion with a minimum length requirement between at least one pair of circuit geometries, said minimum length requirement being stored in a pre-tabulated table, wherein performing the viability check on the particular path expansion further comprises determining whether a path expansion direction for the particular path expansion is allowable; and ii. specifying the particular path expansion for storage in a storage medium as a viable path expansion when the particular path expansion satisfies the viability check, wherein the path search that identifies the plurality of path expansions is successfully completed before the particular route for a net in the design layout is specified.