Material movement server
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsLok L. Tau, Michael R. Conboy, Thomas P. Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for tracking products within a sequence of processes. The products are moved in carriers through the sequence and the products are initially arranged in groups. The products may be moved between different carriers during the sequence. The method includes the steps of: (a) assigning a first set of identification numbers to the products, a second set of identification numbers to the groups, and a third set of identification numbers to the carriers; and (b) tracking the movement of products through the sequence using the second set of identification numbers, tracking the movement of carriers using the third set of identification numbers, and synchronizing the movement of the products and the carriers.
Claims19
A method for tracking products within a sequence of processes, wherein the products are moved in carriers through the sequence, the products are initially arranged in groups, and the products are moved between different carriers and the carriers are moved between stockers during the sequence, comprising the steps of:
- assigning a first set of identification codes to the products, a second set of identification codes to the groups, a third set of identification codes to the carriers, a fourth set of identification codes to the processes, and a fifth set of identification codes to the stockers;
- associating in a first database codes of groups with codes of processes according to a status of a certain group relative to a certain process;
- associating in a second database the codes of the carriers with codes of the stockers according to placement of a certain carrier in a certain stocker;
- associating in a third database codes of the groups with codes of the carriers according to placement of a certain group in a certain carrier;
- disassociating a code of a carrier from a code of a stocker when the carrier is removed from the stocker;
- disassociating a code of a group from a code of a carrier when the group is removed from the carrier;
- tracking movement of products through the sequence using the database of associated codes of groups and codes of carriers, associated codes of groups and codes of processes, and associated codes of carriers and stockers.
An apparatus for tracking products within a sequence of processes, wherein the products are moved in carriers through the sequence, the products are initially arranged in groups, and the products are moved between different carriers and the carriers moved between different stockers during the sequence, comprising:
- means for assigning a first set of identification codes to the products, a second set of identification codes to the groups, a third set of identification codes to the carriers, a fourth set of identification codes to the processes, and a fifth set of identification codes to the stockers;
- means for associating in a first database codes of groups with codes of processes according to a status of a certain group relative to a certain process;
- means for associating in a second database the codes of the carriers with codes of the stockers according to placement of a certain carrier in a certain stocker;
- means for associating in a third database codes of the groups with codes of the carriers according to placement of a certain group in a certain carrier;
- means for disassociating a code of a carrier from a code of a stocker when the carrier is removed from the stocker;
- means for disassociating a code of a group from a code of a carrier when the group is removed from the carrier;
- means for tracking movement of products through the sequence using the database of associated codes of groups and codes of carriers, associated codes of groups and codes of processes, and associated codes of carriers and stockers.
An article of manufacture for tracking products within a sequence of processes, wherein the products are moved in carriers through the sequence, the products are initially arranged in groups, and the products are moved between different carriers and the carriers are moved between different stockers during the sequence, comprising:
- a computer readable medium having instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps of
- assigning a first set of identification codes to the products, a second set of identification codes to the groups, a third set of identification codes to the carriers, a fourth set of identification codes to the processes, and a fifth set of identification codes to the stockers;
- associating in a first database codes of groups with codes of processes according to a status of a certain group relative to a certain process;
- associating in a second database the codes of the carriers with codes of the stockers according to placement of a certain carrier in a certain stocker;
- associating in a third database codes of the groups with codes of the carriers according to placement of a certain group in a certain carrier;
- disassociating a code of a carrier from a code of a stocker when the carrier is removed from the stocker;
- disassociating a code of a group from a code of a carrier when the group is removed from the carrier;
- tracking movement of products through the sequence using the database of associated codes of groups and codes of carriers, associated codes of groups and codes of processes, and associated codes of carriers and stockers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.