Web service and method for customers to define their own alert for real-time production status

• US 7,187,988 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Ta, Hsu Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, THOMAS K
• Application Number:
  US10/661,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 700/21, 700/26, 700/27, 700/32, 700/80, 700/109, 700/115, 700/143, 700/174, 700/177, 700/204, 700/110, 700/108
• US Class Current: 700/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An automated method and system that uses a Web service to make real-time production status available to customers from a manufacturing environment. Each time Work in Process (WIP) data is updated from manufacturing execution systems to a central database, a database trigger checks the alert conditions. These conditions are automatically compared to the WIP data to see if the user-defined conditions have been met. If so, a function is called which automatically sends an alert to the customer via the internet and either e-mail, pager, or mobile phone.

Claims

1. A method of alerting users of real-time manufacturing production status using the World Wide Web and Internet, comprising:

a. allowing a customer to define an alert and conditions corresponding to the alert for said real-time manufacturing production status on a World Wide Web page;

b. setting of said alert and corresponding conditions by product, lot, stage, and production status remotely by said customer using said World Wide Web page;

c. checking the corresponding conditions when work in process data is updated; and

d. sending real-time said alert automatically to said customer when said corresponding conditions are met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said Web page uses a standard browser for input by said customer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said work in process data is updated to a central database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending real-time said alert comprises sending said alert via electronic communication means.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein remote access is provided over said Internet controlled by user ID and password established by a server.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the defining of said alerts and conditions is done on formatted said Web page that is provided by said server.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said Web page visually shows in real time said customer'"'"'s manufacturing production status.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said input by said customer has the capability of being created, changed, and deleted.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said server is connected to at least one database.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said alert and corresponding conditions are stored in an alert database that is created by said server.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein it is possible for a plurality of said manufacturing execution systems from a plurality of Fabs to be updating said database.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein each Fab has its own manufacturing execution system.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said formatted Web page is in table form capable of displaying a plurality of jobs.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said electronic communication means are Internet connected devices and telephone system connected devices.

15. A system of alerting customers of manufacturing production status using the World Wide Web (Web) and Internet, comprising:

a. means for allowing a customer to define an alert and conditions corresponding to the alert for said real-time manufacturing production status on a World Wide Web page;

b. means for setting said alert and corresponding conditions by product, lot, stage, and production status remotely by said customer using said World Wide Web page;

c. means for checking the corresponding conditions when work in process data is updated; and

d. means for sending real-time said alert automatically to said customer when said conditions are met.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said Web page uses a standard browser for input by said customer.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said work in process data is updated to a central database.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein function is called which sends said alert via electronic communication means to said customer when said conditions are met.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein remote access is provided over said Internet controlled by user ID and password established by a server.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the defining of said alerts and conditions is done on formatted said Web page that is provided by said server.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said Web page visually shows in real time said customer'"'"'s manufacturing production status.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said input by said customer has the capability of being created, changed, and deleted.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein said server is connected to a database or databases.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein said alerts and conditions are contained in an alert database that is created by said server.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein it is possible for a plurality of said manufacturing execution systems from a plurality of Fabs to be updating said database.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein each Fab has its own manufacturing execution system.