Databases and cell-selection algorithms for VLSI cell libraries

The issues that must be addressed before commercial database management systems can be used to manage VLSI CAD data are defined. A survey is presented of approaches addressing four of the defined issues: design hierarchies and multilevel representations, design alternatives and version control, common interface between cell libraries and efficient cell selection based on given design constraints. A frame-based model is considered as a case study of the special-purpose design database management system approach. This framework for capturing design data is based on semantic networks. It is well suited for application-specific ICs, yet general enough for other CAD/CAM environments. Benchmark results for the selection algorithms that run on top of the frame-based database system are presented.<>