Method for deriving a hierarchical functional description of a circuit

摘要

A method for deriving a hierarchical functional description of a circuit by creating a hierarchical model of the circuit from the initial hardware description (100), the hierarchical model having at least one boundary connection coupling hierarchical levels of the model. Signal flow conflicts at each boundary connection are then analyszd (101) which includes flattening (205) instances of the hierarchical model where signal flow conflicts are identified thereby transforming the hierarchical model into a signal flow conflict free hierarchical model. A hierarchical functional description of the circuit is then derived (102) from the signal flow conflict free hierarchical model.