VLSI CAD Tool Integration Using the Ulysses Environment

Ulysses is a VLSI CAD environment which effectively addresses the problems associated with CAD tool integration. Specifically, Ulysses allows the integration of CAD tools into a design automation system, the codification of a design methodology, and the representation of a design space. Ulysses keeps track of the progress of a design and allows exploration of the design space. The environment employs artificial intelligence techniques, functions as an interactive expert system, and interprets descriptions of design tasks encoded in the scripts language. An example of an integrated circuit layout design task is provided. The use of Ulysses in performing this task is discussed in detail.