A system for supporting multi-rate simulation of a circuit having a hierarchical data structure includes a simulator module having one or more computer programs for 1) partitioning the circuit into a plurality of group circuits, each group circuit includes one or more leaf circuits, where each leaf circuit produces a predictable set of output signals with a given set of input signals, 2) storing the group circuits in a scheduled event queue in accordance with priority in time which the group circuits need to be simulated, 3) retrieving from the scheduled event queue a set of group circuits for simulation within a predetermined time period, 4) distributing the set of group circuits into a set of predefined event lists, where each of the predefined event list stores one or more group circuits of a corresponding event type, and 5) simulating the one or more group circuits in each of the predefined event list in accordance with a rate of change of signal conditions of each individual group circuit. Hence, the system provides an efficient way to support multi-rate simulation by dynamically scheduling and synchronizing multiple group simulation event types and by communicating corresponding isomorphic activities through an efficient port connectivity interface.
A method is provided for power delivery analysis and design for a hierarchical system. The method includes building a model corresponding to each element of the hierarchical system, compiling a repository that contains the models corresponding to each element of the hierarchical system, where the repository includes a net list, a domain list, a component list, a pin list, and a layer list. The method further includes performing optimized gridding for each element of the hierarchial system, the net list, the domain list, the component list, the pin list, and the layer list and assembling a system model from the models contained in the repository. Also, the method includes flattening the system model by converting the system model to a flattened system model that consists entirely of resistors, and running a simulation on the flattened system model.
