Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-01
2004-04-20
Rones, Charles (Department: 2175)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C709S203000, C713S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06725237
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a networked, technical data gathering and storing system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated circuit technical data gathering system which provides a client with methods of gathering, editing and analyzing the technical data to produce a tapeout file for a mask.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional semiconductor mask manufacturing requires efficient design and testing of integrated circuits (IC) that is often an extremely complex and time-consuming task due to the large number of electrical components and separate electrical circuits contained in the integrated circuit chip. The complexity of the IC design procedure presents a substantial number of obstacles to successfully produce a final product that performs with minimal errors which is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,726. Final steps of the IC design process prior to mask fabrication include creating and sending a packaged and complete IC chip design file. This is commonly referred to as “tapeout” file process, or “release information file” (RIF) process. The tapeout file is typically referenced and cataloged in an archival data base at the semiconductor manufacturer. The RIF is a text document that contains information pertaining to the technical data of an IC design being sent from a client to the mask manufacturer.
FIG. 1
shows one known “tapeout” process, which does not necessarily constitute prior art and may not be generally known to those ordinarily skilled in the art at the time of filing this application. This process includes a client
10
who sends a final tapeout file to the semiconductor mask manufacturer (MM)
20
. During this process, a client packages “technical data” files that can exceed several gigabytes in size, which are manually sent via an electronic file transfer protocol (FTP). This process often has errors in the final tapeout file sent to the MM since data is frequently entered manually or electronically, and sent
15
without being checked or verified as a final “tapeout” file. Such events often result in the MM
20
having to check and reverify
17
data once received
18
by the MM. Normally, this requires that the MM check the data as to being complete and accurate. If not, the data is sent back to the client
16
. When and if the tapeout is finalized, it is then FTP'd to the MM archival database
19
and normally an electronic-mail acknowledgment
21
is sent to the client.
There are many problems with this process. First, because there is no single and consistent method for sending the tapeout file to MM
18
, a manual process has to be in place to review and verify
17
that the tapeout file is accurate. Second, this review process necessitates the need for a rework process
16
whereby the tapeout file can be sent back to the client to be corrected and then resent to MM where it will be reviewed again. Third, this process requires that the tapeout file be sent via FTP, a minimum of two times: first to MM
15
and second to the archival database
19
. This increases each time the tapeout file is sent back through the rework process. These problems add labor, expense, cycle time and additional computer network traffic.
Thus, there is need for a system and method that minimizes manual intervention, and standardizes the gathering, editing, and analyzing of technical data related to producing a tapeout file that is complete, accurate and valid prior to archival storage by an MM.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing and other problems, disadvantages, and drawbacks of the conventional tapeout process, the present invention has been devised, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method which allow clients of a semiconductor mask manufacture (MM) to submit standardized technical data (e.g., design data, test data, design preparation instructions, etc.) from their workstation directly to the MM's archival data base, in a network process that gathers, edits and analyzes technical data of a particular IC design.
To attain these objectives according to one aspect of the invention, a networked system and method for clients is provided to communicate authenticated, validated and standardized technical data at a reduced expense. The invention automatically checks for accuracy and verifies a tapeout file at the client's workstation prior to sending to the MM server to be archived. The invention facilitates the sending of very large electronic files automatically using FTP format from a client's workstation to the MM, thus reducing by over half the volume of data transfers on the MM's network. Additionally, the invention reduces cycle time required to produce the tapeout file, which in turn also reduces expense in receiving, validating, and archiving a client's tapeout file. Thus, the method and system of the invention in a computing network generates an integrated circuit (IC) tapeout file at a remote client workstation and transmits prompted IC technical data to the MM. The process validates that the tapeout file is complete and accurate prior to generating the IC tapeout file and archiving in the MM's database.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5764899 (1998-06-01), Eggleston et al.
patent: 5910986 (1999-06-01), Dove
patent: 5937160 (1999-08-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5987611 (1999-11-01), Freund
patent: 6161107 (2000-12-01), Stern
patent: 6185726 (2001-02-01), Chou
patent: 6336056 (2002-01-01), Fujimoto et al.
patent: 2002/0144153 (2002-10-01), LeVine et al.
patent: 2003/0126153 (2003-07-01), Clairmont et al.
Clairmont James B.
Edwards Karen S.
Ross Darlene M.
Sears Florence M.
Yager Christopher S.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Kotulak, Esq. Richard M.
McGinn & Gibb PLLC
Rones Charles
LandOfFree
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