Automated design tool execution in the Ulysses design environment

Ulysses is a VLSI computer-aided-design (CAD) environment that effectively addresses the problems associated with CAD tool integration. Specifically, Ulysses allows for the integration of a collection of individual CAD tools into a design automation (DA) system that will execute a codified design methodology. Ulysses can track the multiple partial designs that result during a complete design cycle. Furthermore, Ulysses allows the designer to interrupt the design process at any time and take control. An example involving a silicon compilation task is presented to illustrate the ability of Ulysses to execute a sequence of CAD tools automatically to generate a viable layout for an IC. This example also illustrates Ulysses' ability to recover from CAD tool failures that may result if a layout cannot be completed due to routing channel congestion or overconstrained leaf-cell boundary conditions