An XML-based collaborative framework for ASIC eDesign

Efficient management of the large number of expertise and services required for design and verification of complex integrated circuits demands a collaborative design environment. Such an environment should be able to accommodate distributed design teams and design services, as well as heterogeneous design tools and data models. This paper describes a web-based framework for collaborative design of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and System-on-a-Chip (SoC). The XML-based framework provides a collaborative design environment for On-Demand conversion and secure exchange of heterogeneous design data and services. It enables sharing of data among EDA tools and applications by providing a common design schema. The framework provides integrated design data, design services and EDA tools across a unified XML standard. The central database provides access, control, collaboration, and sharing of expertise and design services across LAN, Intranet, or Internet. Secure design data is delivered across distributed design centers and out-sourced expertise and resources via IBM Customer Connect or standard HTTP/HTTPS tunneling protocols. A prototype of this framework called BlueIP is developed for on-Demand IP design specification, qualification and data exchange.