Patent ID: 7783669

Claim:
A method of managing data flow in generating profile models for use in optical metrology system, the method comprising: creating, using a processor, a project data object , the processor coupled to a computer-readable storage medium; creating, using the processor, a first profile model data object corresponding to a first profile model defined using profile parameters; associating a version number with the first profile model data object; linking the first profile model data object with the project data object; creating, using the processor, at least a second profile model data object corresponding to a second profile model defined using profile parameters, wherein the first and second profile models are different; associating another version number with the second profile model data object; linking the second profile model data object with the project data object; storing the project data object, the first profile model data object, and the second profile model data object; storing the version numbers associated with the first profile model data object and the second profile model data object; storing the link between the first profile model data object and the project data object; and storing the link between the second profile model data object and the project data object; wherein the project data object, the version numbers, the link between the first profile model data object and the project data object, and the link between the second profile model data object and the project data object are stored on the computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor, wherein the first profile model and the second profile model are profile models of a structure on a wafer.