Documenting system for entities, attributes and schema of a relational database

• US 6,049,803 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Szalwinski, Bruce P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetting, Anton W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Application Number:
  US08/920,364
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/2, 707/102, 707/3, 707/4, 707/104, 345/440, 345/113, 345/115, 345/118, 345/127, 345/336, 345/356
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method is disclosed for interactive documentation of a database framework and data continued in a relational database, such as for example, an engineering database having data related to the manufacturing and testing of semiconductor devices. A plurality of documentation levels is provided wherein each documentation level includes a view of the database framework and wherein at least one documentation level includes a high level view of the database framework. The documentation levels include descriptions and definitions of the views of the database framework, and the views of the database framework include descriptions and definitions of entities, attributes and schema of the data in the database. One documentation level, from the plurality of documentation levels, is displayed including the view of the database framework. One or more user selectable items is displayed on the display device with each documentation level. The user selectable items represent other documentation levels or other views of the database framework and the other documentation levels are accessed by actuating one of the user selectable items. The documentation levels and the views of the database framework are based on one or more driving tables included in the database. The driving tables can be modified or updated thereby modifying or updating the documentation levels and the views of the database framework.

Claims

1. A method for interactive documentation of a database framework and a data contained in a relational database, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of documentation levels, each documentation level including a view of the database framework and wherein atleast one documentation level includes a high level view of the database framework including atleast a process view, a structural view, an equipment and events view, an inline measurements view and an insertion views and wherein the documentation levels include descriptions and definitions of the views of the database framework and wherein the views of the database framework include descriptions and definitions of entities, attributes and schema of the data in the database;

displaying one of said documentation levels including the view of the database framework for said documentation level;

displaying, with each documentation level, one or more user selectable items wherein the user selectable items represent other documentation levels or other views of the database framework; and

accessing said other documentation levels by actuating one of the user selectable items.

2. A method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

arranging one or more driving tables in the database wherein the plurality of documentation levels and the views of the database framework are based on said driving tables.

3. A method, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

modifying the driving tables in the database thereby modifying the documentation levels and the views of the database framework.

4. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the user selectable items displayed with each documentation level are actuated in response to input from a user.

5. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the descriptions and the definitions, including parts of the descriptions and the definitions, of the views of the database framework included in the documentation levels are user selectable items.

6. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the descriptions and the definitions, including parts of the descriptions and the definitions, of the entities, the attributes and the schema of the data in the database included in the views of the database framework are user selectable items.

7. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein one user selectable item represents trigger procedures within the database wherein the trigger procedures are implicitly executed sets of code executed when a particular statement is input from a user.

8. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein one user selectable item represents a search function wherein particular key words or phrases occurring in the database framework are searched and displayed when the user selectable item representing the search function is actuated.

9. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein one user selectable item represents tables in the database including definitions and descriptions of all tables in the database.

10. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein one user selectable item represents columns including definitions and descriptions of all columns contained within all tables in the database.

11. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein one user selectable item represents definitions and descriptions of all of the views of the database framework including tailored presentations of descriptions of the data contained in one or more tables in the database.

12. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the user selectable items are displayed as icons.

13. A method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a first documentation level from any other documentation level by actuating a particular user selectable item representing the first documentation level, wherein said first documentation level includes a top level view of the database framework.

14. A method, as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising:

displaying a puzzle metaphor when a first documentation level is accessed, said first documentation level including a top level view of the database framework, and wherein each puzzle piece of the puzzle metaphor is a user selectable item representing a high level view of the database framework.

15. A method, as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

accessing a description of a particular high level view of the database framework by actuating the puzzle piece representing that particular high level view of the database framework.

16. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the database is an engineering database having data related to the manufacturing and testing of semiconductor devices.

17. A method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

printing a hard copy of one or more of the documentation levels including the views of the database framework wherein the documentation levels and the views of the database framework are viewed by a user on said hard copy.

18. A method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a previously displayed documentation level by stepping back from a currently displayed documentation level wherein the stepping back is provided by actuating a step back function.

19. A method for interactive documentation of a database framework and a data contained in a relational engineering database in a computer system, the computer system including a processing unit coupled to a display device and wherein the data relates to the manufacturing and testing of semiconductor devices, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of documentation levels, each documentation level including a view of the engineering database framework and wherein at least one documentation level includes a high level view of the engineering database framework including atleast a process view, a structural view, an equipment and events view, an inline measurements view and an insertion views and wherein the documentation levels include descriptions and definitions of the views of the engineering database framework and wherein the views of the engineering database framework include descriptions and definitions of entities, attributes and schema of the data in the engineering database;

displaying on said display device, one of said documentation levels including the view of the engineering database framework for said documentation level;

displaying on said display device, with each documentation level, one or more user selectable items wherein the user selectable items represent other documentation levels or other views of the engineering database framework; and

accessing said other documentation levels by actuating one of the user selectable items.

20. A method, as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

arranging one or more driving tables in the engineering database wherein the plurality of documentation levels and the views of the engineering database framework are based on said driving tables.

21. A method, as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

modifying the driving tables in the engineering database thereby modifying the documentation levels and the views of the engineering database framework.

22. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein the user selectable items displayed with each documentation level are actuated in response to input from a user.

23. A method, as recited in claim 20, wherein the descriptions and the definitions, including parts of the descriptions and the definitions, of the views of the engineering database framework included in the documentation levels are user selectable items.

24. A method, as recited in claim 20, wherein the descriptions and the definitions, including parts of the descriptions and the definitions, of the entities, the attributes and the schema of the data in the engineering database included in the views of the engineering database framework are user selectable items.

25. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein the computer system includes a graphical user interface, the method further comprising:

displaying a puzzle metaphor on said display device when a first documentation level is accessed, said first documentation level including a top level view of the engineering database framework, and wherein each puzzle piece of the puzzle metaphor is a user selectable item representing a high level view of the engineering database framework.

26. A method, as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

accessing a description of a particular high level view of the engineering database framework by actuating the puzzle piece representing that particular high level view of the engineering database framework.

27. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein one high level view of the engineering database framework is a Process View and includes definitions and descriptions of processing or movement of data through a particular manufacturing facility from one or more shop floor execution systems and includes movement, loss comment, attribute and genealogy data descriptions.

28. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein one high level view of the engineering database framework is a Structural View and includes definitions and descriptions of one or more manufactured products and the manufacturing steps and routes for each manufactured product.

29. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein one high level view of the engineering database framework is an Equipment and Events View and includes definitions and descriptions of equipment, equipment configurations, equipment components, and equipment events.

30. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein one high level view of the engineering database framework is an Inline Measurements View and includes definitions and descriptions of inline measurements and supporting data including limits, parameters and groupings of parameters for analysis.

31. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein one high level view of the engineering database framework is an Insertion View and includes sub-level views of the database framework having definitions and descriptions of tester data, limit data and data related to binning and test programs, said sub-level views of the engineering database framework including a Lot Level sub-level view, a Run Level sub-level view, a Wafer Level sub-level view, and a Unit Level sub-level view.

32. A method, as recited in claim 31, wherein the Lot Level sub-level view includes definitions and descriptions of tables representing data contained in the unit level and summarized by test and bin.

33. A method, as recited in claim 31, wherein the Wafer Level sub-level view includes definitions and descriptions of tables related to wafer electrical testing and sorting data collection processes wherein said tables represent data from the unit level summarized by test and bin for each wafer.

34. A method, as recited in claim 31, wherein the Run Level sub-level view includes definitions and descriptions of tables related to backend data collection processes wherein said tables represent data from the unit level and bin summarized by test and bin for each run.

35. A method, as recited in claim 31, wherein the Unit Level sub-level view includes definitions and descriptions of tables representing detailed parametric data, including individual results of a single test on a single unit, and wherein the definitions and descriptions of the parametric data includes sub-sub-level views of the engineering database framework, said sub-sub-level views including a Unit Level Fab sub-sub-level view, a Unit Level Sort sub-sub-level view and a Unit Level Class sub-sub-level view.

36. A method, as recited in claim 35, wherein the Unit Level Fab sub-sub-level view includes definitions and descriptions of unit level data collected at a wafer electrical test step.

37. A method, as recited in claim 35, wherein the Unit Level Sort sub-sub-level view includes definitions and descriptions of unit level data collected during a sorting of wafers.

38. A method, as recited in claim 35, wherein the Unit Level Class sub-sub-level view includes definitions and descriptions of unit level data collected on assembled semiconductor parts.

39. A method, as recited in claim 19, wherein the computer system includes a graphical user interface and wherein the user selectable items are displayed as icons.

40. A method, as recited in claim 39, wherein one user selectable item is a horse metaphor representing trigger procedures within the engineering database wherein the trigger procedures are implicitly executed sets of code executed by the processing unit when a particular statement is input from a user.

41. A method, as recited in claim 39, wherein one user selectable item is a magnifying glass metaphor representing a search function wherein particular key words or phrases occurring in the database framework are searched and displayed when the user selectable item representing the search function is actuated.

42. A method, as recited in claim 39, wherein one user selectable item is a table metaphor representing definitions and descriptions of all tables in the engineering database.

43. A method, as recited in claim 39, wherein one user selectable item is a column metaphor representing definitions and descriptions of all columns continued within all tables in the engineering database.

44. A method, as recited in claim 39, wherein one user selectable item is an eye metaphor representing definitions and descriptions of all of the views of the engineering database framework including tailored presentations of descriptions of the data contained in one or more tables in the engineering database.

45. A method, as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

accessing a first documentation level from any other documentation level by actuating a particular user selectable item representing the first documentation level, wherein said first documentation level includes a top level view of the engineering database framework.

46. A method, as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

accessing a previously displayed documentation level by stepping back from a currently displayed documentation level wherein the stepping back is provided by actuating a step back function.

47. A method, as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

printing a hard copy of one or more of the documentation levels including the views of the engineering database framework wherein the documentation levels and the views of the engineering database framework are viewed by a user on said hard copy.

48. A program product stored on a computer readable medium, executable by a processor for interactive documentation of a database framework and data contained in a relational database, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of documentation levels, each documentation level including a view of the database framework and wherein atleast one documentation level includes a high level view of the database framework including atleast a process view, a structural view, an equipment and events view, an inline measurements view and an insertion views and wherein the documentation levels include descriptions and definitions of the views of the database framework and wherein the views of the database framework include descriptions and definitions of entities, attributes and schema of the data in the database;

means for displaying one of said documentation levels including the view of the database framework for said documentation level;

means for displaying, with each documentation level, one or more user selectable items wherein the user selectable items represent other documentation levels or other views of the database framework; and

means for accessing said other documentation levels by actuating one of the user selectable items.

49. A program product, as recited in claim 48, further comprising:

means for arranging one or more driving tables in the database wherein the plurality of documentation levels and the views of the database framework are based on said driving tables.

50. A program product, as recited in claim 49, further comprising:

means for modifying the driving tables in the database thereby modifying the documentation levels and the views of the database framework.

51. A program product, as recited in claim 48, wherein the user selectable items displayed with each documentation level are actuated in response to input from a user.

52. A program product, as recited in claim 50, wherein the descriptions and definitions, including parts of the descriptions and the definitions, of the views of the database framework included in the documentation levels are user selectable items.

53. A program product, as recited in claim 50, wherein the descriptions and the definitions, including parts of the descriptions and the definitions, of the entities, the attributes and the schema of the data in the database included in the views of the database framework are user selectable items.

54. A program product, as recited in claim 48, wherein one user selectable item represents trigger procedures within the database wherein the trigger procedures are implicitly executed sets of code executed by the processor when a particular statement is input from a user.

55. A program product, as recited in claim 48, wherein one user selectable item represents a search function wherein particular key words or phrases occurring in the database framework are searched and displayed when the user selectable item representing the search function is actuated.

56. A program product, as recited in claim 48, wherein one user selectable item represents tables in the database including definitions and descriptions of all tables in the database.

57. A program product, as recited in claim 48, wherein one user selectable item represents columns in the database including definitions and descriptions of all columns contained within all tables in the database.

58. A program product, as recited in claim 48, one user selectable item represents definitions and descriptions of all of the views of the database framework including tailored presentations of descriptions of the data contained in one or more tables in the database.

59. A program product, as recited in claim 48, wherein the user selectable items are displayed as icons.

60. A program product, as recited in claim 48, further comprising:

means for accessing a first documentation level from any other documentation level by actuating a particular user selectable item representing the first documentation level, wherein said first documentation level includes a top level view of the database framework.

61. A program product, as recited in claim 48, further comprising:

means for displaying a puzzle metaphor when a first documentation level is accessed, said first documentation level including a top level view of the database framework, and wherein each puzzle piece of the puzzle metaphor is a user selectable item representing a high level view of the database framework.

62. A program product, as recited in claim 61, further comprising:

means for accessing a description of a particular high level view of the database framework by actuating one of said puzzle pieces representing that particular high level view of the database framework.

63. A program product, as recited in claim 48, further comprising:

means for accessing a previously displayed documentation level by stepping back from a currently displayed documentation level wherein the stepping back is provided by actuating a step back function.

64. A program product, as recited in claim 48, further comprising:

means for printing a hard copy of one or more of the documentation levels including the views of the database framework wherein the documentation levels and the views of the database framework are viewed by a user on said hard copy.

65. A program product, as recited in claim 48, wherein the database is an engineering database having data related to the manufacturing and testing of semiconductor devices.