Patent ID: 7684888

Claim:
A factory automation system for wafer transportation across separate automatic material handling systems (“AMHSs”) of a semiconductor foundry, the factory automation system comprising: a master material control system in communication with a first material control system (“MCS”) that is in communication with a first AMHS from a first vendor in accordance with a first communication protocol of the first vendor and a second AMHS from a second vendor in accordance with a second communication protocol of the second vendor, wherein the first vendor and the second vendor are different, and wherein the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol are different; and a first bridge connecting the first AMHS and the second AMHS, the first bridge configured to allow wafer transfers between the first AMHS and the second AMHS; wherein the master material control system is configured to communicate with the first MCS and asecond MCS to control wafer transportation across the first and second AMHSs and the bridge.