Appeal No. 2002-1395 Page 2
Application No. 08/789,702
techniques describe the IC's functionality at various levels of abstraction, ranging from
the most general function performed by the IC to the specific function performed by
each logic and memory component thereof. (Id. at 1-2.)
The appellants assert that a hierarchical design can be stored efficiently by
providing "modularity" to a circuit design database. Modularity refers to representing
identical functions in a design with multiple instances of a common component. For
example, a common adder bit slice may be described using a behavioral language, and
the resulting behavioral description may be stored as an adder bit slice module in a
design library. When a N-bit adder is desired, a circuit designer instantiates "N" adder
bit slice modules. Each adder bit slice instance within the design may reference the
behavioral description for the common adder bit slice module. Although modularity may
be provided without providing hierarchy, and vice versa, modularity and hierarchy are
typically provided together. (Id. at 3.)
The appellants' invention provides hierarchy or modularity to a behavioral
description of an IC by using a template for a selected portion of the IC's design. The
template comprises a template call and a corresponding template behavioral
description; the template is instantiated in the behavioral description of the circuit
design by including the template call therein. The behavioral description may then be
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