Rule based system and method for automatically generating photomask orders in a specified order format
First Claim
1. A rule-based system for generating photomask orders in a specified format comprising:
- at least one template for the entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein said template is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask format;
at least one first set of rules corresponding to said at least one template, wherein said first set of rules is stored separately from said at least one template and includes instructions which ensure that a user enters complete information into said template as required by the specified format;
at least one second set of rules which corresponds to said at least one template, wherein said second set of rules is stored separately from said at least one template and includes instructions which ensure that the user enters accurate information to said template as required by the specified format; and
a graphical user interface associated with at least one said template, wherein the user can access said at least one template to enter photomask order data and create an order in the specified format.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a rule based system and method for automatically generating photomask orders in a specified format, and more particularly, relates to software which includes templates in which photomask order data is entered and rules for guiding the user in entering such data and rules for ensuring that such data is entered accurately. The rules and templates implemented in the present invention are organized and stored in a manner which allows for the software to be easily adapted to meet the criteria of any existing standard (e.g., SEMI P10) or proprietary photomask order format now known or hereinafter developed. Additionally, the software of the present invention provides for the ability to generate new photomask orders using templates and/or existing photomask order data.
63 Citations
117 Claims
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1. A rule-based system for generating photomask orders in a specified format comprising:
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at least one template for the entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein said template is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask format;
at least one first set of rules corresponding to said at least one template, wherein said first set of rules is stored separately from said at least one template and includes instructions which ensure that a user enters complete information into said template as required by the specified format;
at least one second set of rules which corresponds to said at least one template, wherein said second set of rules is stored separately from said at least one template and includes instructions which ensure that the user enters accurate information to said template as required by the specified format; and
a graphical user interface associated with at least one said template, wherein the user can access said at least one template to enter photomask order data and create an order in the specified format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A rule-based system for generating photomask orders and/or templates in a specified format comprising:
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at least one template for the entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein said template is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask format;
at least one set of rules corresponding to said at least one template, wherein said rules govern the entry of photomask order data into said template as required by the specified format, a graphical user interface associated with said at least one template, wherein the user can access said at least one template to enter photomask order data and create an order in the specified format; and
a search engine for locating preexisting photomask order data and/or at least one preexisting template and merging at least a portion of said preexisting order data or said at least one preexisting template into a new order and/or new template in the specified format. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A rule-based system for generating photomask orders in a specified format comprising:
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at least one template for the entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein said template is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask format;
at least one set of rules corresponding to said at least one template, wherein said rules govern the entry of photomask order data into said template as required by the specified format;
a graphical user interface associated with said at least one template, wherein the user can access said at least one template to enter photomask order data and create an order in the specified format; and
said at least one template includes components and subcomponents, wherein one or more subcomponents may be copied to one or more other subcomponents within said order in the specified format. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A rule-based system for generating photomask orders in a specified format comprising:
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at least one template for the entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein said template is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask format;
at least one set of rules corresponding to said at least one template, wherein said rules govern the entry of photomask order data into said template as required by the specified format, wherein rules are stored independently of said at least one template; and
a graphical user interface associated with said at least one template, wherein the user can access said at least one template to enter photomask order data and create an order in the specified format. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A rule-based system for generating photomask orders in at least two different specified formats comprising:
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at least one template for the entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein said template is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask format;
at least one set of rules corresponding to said at least one template, wherein said at least one set of rules includes instructions which ensure that a user enters complete and/or accurate information into said template as required by said at least two different formats, a graphical user interface associated with said at least one template, wherein the user can access said at least one template to enter photomask order data and create an order in said at least two different specified formats. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. A rule-based system for generating photomask orders in a specified format comprising:
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at least one template for the entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein said template is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask format and wherein at least some of said photomask order data is imported from a preexisting order template;
at least one set of rules corresponding to said at least one template, wherein said rules govern the entry of photomask order data into said template as required by the specified format, a graphical user interface in with at least one said template, wherein the user can access said at least one template to enter photomask order data and create an order in the specified format. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117)
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Specification