Patent ID: 6424878
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps for controlling a manufacturing process performed by a plurality of system elements, wherein at least one of the system elements includes a system controller containing business logic which determines a sequence of operations of the at least one system element which are performed according to a defined recipe for performing the sequence of operations determined by the business-logic, and wherein an operator control device communicates with the system controller of the at least one system element, said method steps comprising:coupling a custom business logic controller with the system controller, wherein the custom business logic controller contains custom business logic which determines a custom sequence of operations which differs from the sequence of operations determined by the business logic which is contained in the system controller and wherein the sequence of operations of the at least one system element determined by the custom business logic differs from the sequence of operations of the at least one system element determined by the business logic contained in the system controller; communicating the custom business logic from the custom business logic controller to the system controller; and changing operations of the at least one system element responsive to the custom business logic communicated from the custom business logic controller.