In the WADE project, we have developed a novel framework of a web-based automated parallel CAD environment. The design files of a user working in a remote machine are transparently shipped to the WADE compute center, the relevant computations are performed in a parallel environment, and the results are returned back to the user. A job submission and scheduling tool ensures proper load balance and maximal usage of teh various parallel machines. At present three parallel CAD applications are supported: (1) a parallel placement tool for standard cell circuits (2) a parallel fault simulator for sequential circuits (3) a parallel VHDL logic simulator.
We have also identified several issues regarding security ramifications for Web-based CAD. We have developed techniques which limit the amount of information exposed to untrusted individuals including hiding information from the Web-based CAD compute center.
This research was supported by NSF and DARPA, and resulted in two conference papers, and one journal paper submission. Two faculty, one Ph.D, three M.S., one undergraduate student have worked on the project. One M. S. student (Maogang Wang) has graduated.