Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2002-05-28
Picard, Leo (Department: 2125)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C700S096000, C700S095000, C709S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06397116
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and a method for production control, such as retrieval of production information of products, instruction to processing apparatuses and registration of production plans. More particularly, it relates to production control system and method for controlling information on production of semiconductors by utilizing various information changing with time.
A conventional production control system will now be described with reference to FIGS.
21
(
a
) through
21
(
c
).
The conventional production control system includes plural execution systems for controlling apparatuses installed in a manufacturing plant in accordance with their use purposes. Execution systems generally used are, for example, an information retrieval system
10
(for retrieving production information of products) shown in a block diagram of FIG.
21
(
a
), an apparatus instruction system
20
(for instructing processing apparatuses) shown in a block diagram of FIG.
21
(
b
), a production plan registration system
30
(for registering production plans) shown in a block diagram of FIG.
21
(
c
) and the like.
As is shown in FIGS.
21
(
a
) through
21
(
c
), the information retrieval system
10
, the apparatus instruction system
20
and the production plan registration system
30
respectively include function setting means
11
,
21
and
31
, function executing means
12
,
22
and
32
, and result informing means
13
,
23
and
33
.
Now, a method of retrieving production information by using the information retrieval system
10
will be described with reference to FIG.
21
(
a
).
First, the information retrieval system
10
is activated.
Next, a retrieval method is selected by using the function setting means
11
from a table or the like of retrieval methods previously registered in the information retrieval system
10
, and execution of the retrieval is instructed by pushing a retrieval start button or the like.
Then, the retrieval is executed by the function executing means
12
by using, for example, an SQL statement or the like in accordance with the retrieval method selected by the function setting means
11
.
Subsequently, when the retrieval using an SQL statement or the like is completed and a retrieval result is obtained, the result is output to a printer or the like by the result informing means
13
.
Now, a method of instructing a processing apparatus for processing products to suspend the processing by using the apparatus instruction system
20
will be described with reference to FIG.
21
(
b
).
First, the apparatus instruction system
20
is activated.
Next, a processing apparatus to be suspended is selected by the function setting means
21
from a table or the like of processing apparatuses previously registered in the apparatus instruction system
20
, and a command for suspending the processing is set by inputting a reason for the suspension from a keyboard. Thereafter, a process suspension menu is selected on a menu panel or the like so as to instruct the suspension of the processing.
Then, the command for suspending the processing set by the function setting means
21
is executed on the processing apparatus by the function executing means
22
.
Subsequently, when the execution of the command is completed and an execution result of the command is returned from the processing apparatus, the execution result of the command is output by the result informing means
23
to a dedicated screen, such as a CRT, of the apparatus instruction system
20
.
Now, a method of registering a production plan for products by using the production plan registration system
30
will be described with reference to FIG.
21
(
c
).
First, the production plan registration system
30
is activated.
Next, a production plan is set by the function setting means
31
by inputting a process start schedule, a process complete schedule and the like by using a mouse or the like and inputting a recipient and the like of the products by using a bar code or the like.
Then, the production plan set by the function setting means
31
is transmitted by the function executing means
32
to a processing apparatus.
Subsequently, when the transmission of the production plan is completed and a transmission result is returned from the processing apparatus, the transmission result is registered by the result informing means
33
in a table or the like controlled by the production plan registration system
30
.
In the retrieval of production information, the instruction to processing apparatuses and the registration of production plans by using the conventional production control system, however, it is necessary to activate an individual execution system in accordance with the use purpose and to input or set information by using user interfaces different between execution systems. Therefore, it is difficult for a user to operate the respective execution systems because the operating methods are respectively different and it is also difficult to understand functions peculiar to the respective execution systems.
Furthermore, the results of the retrieval of production information, the instruction to processing apparatuses and the registration of production plans obtained by the conventional production control system are output to output devices in formats both different between the respective execution systems. Therefore, a user can make a mistake in understanding an output result and in finding an output device for outputting the result.
Accordingly, in use of the conventional production control system, a user is required to be skillful in the complicated operating methods and functions of the respective execution systems.
Moreover, in retrieving the same production information from apparatuses installed in different manufacturing plants by using the conventional production control system, the retrieval should be conducted separately in the execution systems of the respective manufacturing plants. Therefore, it takes a disadvantageously long time for a user to make retrieval, namely, to get desired information.
The conventional production control system further has various problems that information cannot be timely retrieved, that the yield of products is lowered because instruction to a processing apparatus is delayed, and that registration of a production plan is delayed when the operation condition of a processing apparatus is changed (because of settlement of a trouble or the like).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of the aforementioned conventional problems, an object of the invention is controlling an apparatus installed in a manufacturing plant without being skillful in the operating method or function of an execution system for controlling the apparatus.
In order to achieve the object, according to the invention, the apparatus installed in the manufacturing plant is controlled by using a request system for setting an executive function to be executed for controlling the apparatus installed in the manufacturing plant through an agent system for instructing the execution system to execute the executive function.
Specifically, the first production control system of this invention for controlling apparatuses installed in manufacturing plants by using execution systems, comprises a request system for setting an executive function to be executed for controlling any of the apparatuses; and an agent system connected with the execution systems and the request system through a computer network, and the request system includes function setting means for setting, in a function setting part, a function name indicating a kind of an executive function to be executed and a manufacturing plant where the executive function is to be executed; execution condition setting means for setting an execution start condition or an execution end condition for the executive function in a start condition setting part or an end condition setting part; and execution information transmitting means for transmitting, to the agent system, the function name and the manufacturing plant set in
Garland Steven R.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Picard Leo
Robinson Eric J.
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