Inventors:
William T. O'Grady - Austin TX, US
Joel Taylor - San Jose CA, US
Ryo Takeda - Hachioji, JP
Nobuhiko Yoshimura - Kawasaki, JP
John D. McNeill - Austin TX, US
Donald F. Shafer - Austin TX, US
Janet Gilmore - Spicewood TX, US
Patrick Doane - Austin TX, US
Assignee:
Agilent Technologies, Inc. - Palo Alto CA
International Classification:
G06F 19/00
US Classification:
700 96, 700108, 700121, 709223, 709238
Abstract:
An interface between an automation host and a plurality of tools is used to perform a processing step. The interface includes a single communications and process behavioral connection interface to the automation host. The interface also includes a plurality of virtual host interfaces. Each virtual host interface from the plurality of virtual host interfaces provides a communications and process behavioral interface to one of the tools in the plurality of tools. The automation host can control and coordinate operation of all tools in the plurality of tools via the single communications and process behavioral connection interface.