Patent ID: 6349341
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A multi-tier computing arrangement, comprising:a first tier computer system arranged to host a first tier application program; a plurality of third tier control elements for controlling manufacturing tools; and a second tier computer system coupled to the first tier computer system and to the third tier control elements and arranged to host a second tier application program, wherein the second tier application program includes a first connection layer arranged to receive messages from the first tier application program; a first mapping layer arranged to associate tool identifiers that respectively identify the manufacturing tools with connections between the first tier application program and the second tier application program and store the tool identifiers in portions of the messages unused by the second tier application; a core logic layer arranged to process the messages; a second mapping layer arranged to select connections for transmitting the messages to the third tier control elements based on the tool identifiers in the messages and associated connections with the third tier control elements; and a second connection layer arranged to transmit the messages to the third tier control elements via the selected connections.