METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMER SPECIFIC TEST SYSTEM ALLOCATION IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
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1. A production environment, comprising:
- a test system configured to automatically obtain test data from products produced in said production environment;
a first communication network configured to enable communication of entities within said production environment;
a controllable network switch system operatively connected to said first communication network and said test system and connectable to a second communication network configured to enable communication of a remote customer computer system with said test system, said controllable network switch system configured to enable individual isolation of said first and second communication networks from said test system; and
an allocation unit operatively connected to said controllable network switch system and configured to cause said controllable network switch system to prevent concurrent communication of said first and second networks with said test system.
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Abstract
In complex production environments, such as a semiconductor production facility, allocation of test systems for external control is handled on the basis of an allocation system and technique in which enhanced data integrity is ensured. To this end, direct access to facility internal communication resources is prevented, while nevertheless providing external access to the test systems.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A production environment, comprising:
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a test system configured to automatically obtain test data from products produced in said production environment; a first communication network configured to enable communication of entities within said production environment; a controllable network switch system operatively connected to said first communication network and said test system and connectable to a second communication network configured to enable communication of a remote customer computer system with said test system, said controllable network switch system configured to enable individual isolation of said first and second communication networks from said test system; and an allocation unit operatively connected to said controllable network switch system and configured to cause said controllable network switch system to prevent concurrent communication of said first and second networks with said test system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a production environment, the method comprising:
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allocating a test system of said production environment to a remote customer; re-configuring said test system into a desired state by using an internal communication network of said production environment; and connecting said test system to an external communication network so as to provide remote control functionality with respect to said test system for said remote customer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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providing a plurality of test systems implemented in a production environment, each of said plurality of test systems being connectable to an internal communication network and an external communication network, said external communication network providing remote control functionality with respect to said plurality of test systems for a plurality of remote customers, said internal communication network providing in situ control functionality with respect to said plurality of test systems; allocating a respective one of said plurality of test systems to a respective one of said plurality of remote customers; and controlling said remote control functionality and said in situ control functionality by preventing concurrent connection of said allocated test system to said internal and external communication networks. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification