Placement optimization using behavior based software agents and the genetic algorithm

Agents are defined as software components that communicate with their peers by exchanging messages in a communication language. They are used in the placer server of the Agents system, a distributed, client-server system that generates mask level layout of full custom VLSI leaf cells. The system is formed from four server programs: the Placer, Router, Database and Broker. This paper describes the placer server which uses groups of these small software agents and the genetic algorithm to place optimally the components of a leaf cell.