Generic interface builder

A generic interface adapter builder program on a computer-readable medium for generating a generic interface adapter to facilitate communication between a manufacturing execution system and a tool in a manufacturing facility, the program comprising:

• a module for reading a method type library from the tool, wherein said method type library contains one or more methods relating to the tool;
• a module for selection of a protocol to be associated with at least one of said one or more methods, wherein at least one protocol is a long-running service protocol for supporting long-running service protocol requests;
• and
• a module for generating code for an interface adapter for managing communication between the manufacturing execution system and the tool, including the managing of long-running service protocol requests,
• wherein said module for selection of a protocol further allows for association of one or more identifiers with at least one of said one or more methods, wherein said one or more identifiers is for use by the interface adapter in managing communication between the manufacturing execution system and the tool.

A manufacturing execution system for running a manufacturing facility, the manufacturing facility including one or more tools, comprising:

• a client component of the manufacturing execution system for managing the use of at least one of said one or more tools, the client component having communication with the tool, the communication including requesting services from the tool and receiving notifications regarding the tool, the communication including long-running service requests from the client component;
• a generic interface adapter builder for generating an adapter interface for managing communication between the client component and the tool, the generic interface adapter builder incorporating support for long-running service protocol requests into said interface adapter;
• and
• a module, in data communication with the generic interface adapter builder, for associating one or more identifiers with at least one method of at least one of said long-running service protocol requests, wherein said one or more identifiers are for use by said interface adapter in managing communication between the client component of the manufacturing execution system and the at least one of said one or more tools.

A computer-based method for generating an interface adapter to facilitate communication between a manufacturing execution system and a tool in a manufacturing facility, comprising the steps of:

• reading a method type library from the tool, wherein said method-type library contains one or more methods relating to the tool;
• selecting a protocol to be associated with at least one method of said one or more methods, wherein at lest one protocol is a long-running service protocol for supporting long-running service protocol requests;
• and
• associating one or more identifiers with said at least one method, said at least one method being associated with a long-running service protocol, wherein said one or more identifiers are for use by an interface adapter in managing communication between the manufacturing execution system and the tool.

A generic interface adapter builder program on a computer-readable medium for generating a generic adapter to facilitate communication between a manufacturing execution system and a tool in a manufacturing facility, the program comprising:

• a module for reading a method type library from the tool, wherein said method type library contains one or more methods relating to the tool;
• and
• a module for selection of a protocol to be associated with at least one of said one or more method, wherein at least one protocol is a long-running service protocol for supporting long-running service protocol requests,
• wherein said module for selection of a protocol further allows for association of one or more identifiers with at least one method of said one or more methods, and wherein said at least one method is associated with a long-running service protocol, wherein said one or more identifiers is for use by an interface adapter in managing communication between the manufacturing execution system and the tool.