Cadence Offers Physical Library Interface to Si2 ASIC Council to Extend OLA Standard; Industry Leader Announces LEF/DEF API Open Licensing Program

Business Wire, March 10, 1999

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1999--Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN) today announced the submission of its Library Exchange Format (LEF) Application Program Interface (API) to Silicon Integration Initiative, Inc. (Si2) as a proposed extension to the Open Library Architecture (OLA) standard.

The goal is to accelerate the availability of a single library standard across the entire silicon design flow.

Further underscoring its commitment to interoperability, the Company also introduced the Cadence Connections(R) open licensing program providing full and equal access to APIs for its LEF and Design Exchange Format (DEF) -- Cadence's most popular formats used in virtually all integrated circuit design flows.

"Offering proven technology as the basis for a standard is the fastest route for acceptance," stated Andrew Graham, president and CEO of Si2. "We're pleased that Cadence recognizes the value of working with the ASIC Council and look forward to making a quick decision with regards to the Cadence LEF offering."

API-enabled Interoperability

Cadence's interoperability roadmap is based upon the proven, customer-preferred method of API-based interfaces. Standard APIs ensure a consistent implementation and are not subject to differences of interpretation that can arise with paper specifications. APIs also facilitate the implementation of standard encryption and decryption methodologies, which will become a critical factor as the design community moves towards true system-on-a-chip.

"When the semiconductor industry speaks about interoperability, they want it via APIs," said Bruce Beers, director of IBM Corporation's ASIC Division and chairman of Si2's ASIC Council. "Cadence's offering of APIs is in alignment with the vision of leading system-level chip suppliers on the Council."

In addition, the API approach enables development of design flows using established, well-defined interface points, and provides the first step in realizing plug-and-play of electronic design automation tools within multi-vendor, multi-tool environments.

"Cadence's API efforts are analogous to the bus efforts that occurred in the computer hardware industry," stated Shane Robison, executive vice president of research and development at Cadence. "Once the bus was defined, a computer manufacturer was able to plug in solutions from various suppliers with minimal effort. Competition increased significantly for all players in the market."

Open Licensing Program

The Cadence Connections licensing program includes the LEF and DEF APIs and Developer's Toolkit containing a complete "how to" design guide as well as utilities for reading and writing the existing LEF/DEF formats. The API products are based on enhanced versions of the LEF and DEF formats extended to support the chip assembly requirements of system-on-a-chip design. They have been run through more than 200 regression tests and are compatible with the latest release of Cadence's integrated circuit design tools. The APIs offered through the licensing program are identical to those adopted throughout Cadence's own product lines.

According to Michael Buehler-Garcia, group director of strategic relationships for Cadence, the EDA industry's interoperability challenge is no longer just the definition of standards. It is about the ability to quickly adopt standards to help meet the ever-reducing time-to-market cycle facing end users and EDA vendors.

"Unlike our competitors, Cadence believes the fastest path to interoperability is by providing unrestricted access to well-documented, industry-standard APIs. The market has spoken; they want interoperability via APIs. I challenge our competitors to join Cadence and provide unrestricted access to their formats in the same manner."

Pricing & Availability

The Cadence LEF/DEF API offering can be licensed for an annual fee of $15,000 (U.S. list price) beginning in April. Consulting services are additionally available to assist licensees with the integration of LEF and DEF APIs into their multi-tool, multi-vendor design flows.

About Cadence

The Cadence Connections third party software program is chartered with making Cadence's "Always Open" policy a reality. There are now more than 100 tool-oriented alliances formed with Cadence Connection partners supporting several hundred interface products.

Cadence is the largest supplier of software products, consulting services, and design services used to accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other electronics-based products. With more than 4,000 employees and 1998 annual sales of $1.2 billion, Cadence has sales offices, design centers, and research facilities around the world. The Company is headquartered in San Jose and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN. More information about the company, its products and services may be obtained from the World Wide Web at http://www.cadence.com.