Automated job management

• US 20060235554A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PEER Intellectual Property Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PEER Intellectual Property Incorporated
• Inventors: Wagner, Evzen, Ellis, Ray
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/96
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving the implementation of automated job management for equipment in a factory. A software library is provided that allows a job management client, such as a thin station controller client, to communicate with an equipment server, such as an equipment interface bridge (EIB). The job management client can create, control and monitor jobs conveniently and efficiently utilizing industry standard protocols. The equipment server communicates directly in real-time with factory equipment. By providing an interface between a job management client and an equipment server, data consumer clients are effectively decoupled from job management clients, allowing next generation station controllers for monitoring and controlling equipment processing to be easily implemented. Layers of expensive and complex code currently in use for job management can be replaced with a superior and cost-effective thin-client, distributed architecture. Such a system may operate in conjunction with legacy station controllers, or the station controller can be eliminated and replaced by multiple modules that distribute the many types of functions typically incorporated into conventional station controllers.

Claims

1. A thin station controller client for automated job management comprising:

a software library including an application programming interface (API) supporting job management functions and including an interface to an equipment server supporting equipment communication functions;

wherein said thin station controller client communicates with said equipment server and wherein said equipment server communicates with one or more tools.

2. The thin station controller client of claim 1 wherein said job management functions includes support for the SEMI E40 and SEMI E94 standards.

3. The thin station controller client of claim 1 wherein said thin station controller client communicates with said equipment server utilizing the .NET communication framework.

4. The thin station controller client of claim 1 wherein said thin station controller client includes a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) handler.

5. The thin station controller client of claim 4 wherein said thin station controller client communicates with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES).

6. The thin station controller client of claim 1 wherein said thin station controller client includes a Recipe Management System (RMS) handler.

7. The thin station controller client of claim 6 wherein said thin station controller client communicates with a Recipe Management System (RMS).

8. A method for automated job management utilizing a thin station controller client and an equipment server comprising the steps of:

receiving at said thin station controller client job configuration information;

communicating job instructions based on said job configuration information from said thin station controller client to said equipment server;

instantiating at least one job based on said job instructions;

communicating job status information relating to said at least one job from said equipment server to said thin station controller client.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said job configuration information comprises XML formatted information.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said equipment server further comprises a job factory and said job factory receives said job instructions from said thin station controller client.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said job instructions and said job status comprise support for SEMI E40 and SEMI E94 standards.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said thin station controller client and said equipment server communicate utilizing the .NET communication framework.