Revisit Choice Network for Synthesis and Technology Mapping

Chen, Chen, Yin, Jiaqi, Yu, Cunxi

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence 

--Choice network construction is a critical technique for alleviating structural bias issues in Boolean optimization, equivalence checking, and technology mapping. Previous works on lossless synthesis utilize independent optimization to generate multiple snapshots, and use simulation and SA T solvers to identify functionally equivalent nodes. These nodes are then merged into a subject graph with choice nodes. However, such methods often neglect the quality of these choices--raising the question of whether they truly contribute to effective technology mapping. This paper introduces CRISTAL, a novel methodology and framework to constructing Boolean choice networks. Specifically, CRISTAL introduces a novel flow of choice network-based synthesis and mapping, includes representative logic cone search, structural mutation for generating diverse choice structures via equality saturation, and priority-ranking choice selection along with choice network construction and validation. Our experimental results demonstrate that CRISTAL outperforms the state-of-the-art Boolean choice network construction implemented in ABC in the post-mapping stage, achieving average reductions of 3.85%/8.35% The concept of choice network was pioneered to address optimization limitations in Electronic Design Automation (EDA).