Rule based system and method for automatically generating photomask orders in a specified order format

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a rule based system and method for automatically generating photomask orders in a specified format, and more particularly, relates to software which includes templates in which photomask order data is entered and rules for guiding the user in entering such data and rules for ensuring that such data is entered accurately. The rules and templates implemented in the present invention are organized and stored in a manner which allows for the software to be easily adapted to meet the criteria of any existing standard (e.g., SEMI P10) or proprietary photomask order format now known or hereinafter developed. Additionally, the software of the present invention provides for the ability to generate new photomask orders using templates and/or existing photomask order data.

1 . An automated system used to generate an order for manufacturing a photomask comprising a computer readable medium capable of performing the following steps: 
 storing at least one updateable template for entry and storage of photomask order data based on requirements of a specified photomask order format;    separately storing at least one set of updateable rules associated with user entry of information into the at least one updateable template; and    applying the at least one set of updateable rules to the at least one updateable template so that a user enters information through a graphical user interface into the at least one updateable template as required by the specified format based on the at least one set of updateable rules.    
   
   
       2 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one updateable template and the at least one set of updateable rules are independently updateable.  
   
   
       3 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one updateable template and/or the at least one updateable set of rules are updated in accordance with the requirements of a particular standard and/or proprietary photomask format.  
   
   
       4 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one updateable template includes components, wherein data which can be entered into the components are set in accordance with the requirements of a particular standard and/or proprietary photomask order format.  
   
   
       5 . The automated system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one updateable template includes subcomponents, wherein data which can be entered into the subcomponents are set in accordance with the requirements of a particular standard and/or proprietary photomask order format.  
   
   
       6 . The automated system of  claim 5 , wherein the type of data that can be entered into the components and the subcomponents is limited to specific attributes set in accordance with the requirements of a particular standard and/or proprietary photomask order format.  
   
   
       7 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one set of updateable rules comprises a first set of updateable rules that specify the type of photomask data which must, can and/or must not be entered into the at least one updateable template to complete a photomask order in a specified format and a second set of updateable rules that specify the data format in which the photomask data required to be entered by the first set of rules must, can and/or must not be input.  
   
   
       8 . The automated system of  claim 7 , wherein the data format is a binary, string, integer, real number, date, Boolean and/or a list.  
   
   
       9 . An automated system used to generate an order for manufacturing a photomask comprising a computer readable medium capable of performing the following steps: 
 storing at least one updateable template for entry and storage of photomask order data based on requirements of a specified photomask format;    separately storing at least one set of updateable rules associated with user entry of information into the at least one updateable template; and searching for specific templates and/or order data previously generated on the system using a search engine and merging the previously generated templates and/or order data into at least one new order.    
   
   
       11 . The automated system of claim  10 , further comprising replacing non-null data in the at least one new order with new data.  
   
   
       12 . The automated system of  claim 11 , further comprising entering new data into null data of the new order.  
   
   
       13 . An automated system used to generate an order for manufacturing a photomask comprising a computer readable medium capable of performing the following steps: 
 storing at least one updateable template for the entry and storage of photomask order data based on requirements of a specified photomask format; and    separately storing at least one set of updateable rules associated with user entry of information into the at least one updateable template,    wherein the at least one updateable template is organized as an hierarchy of components and subcomponents, and each component and subcomponent is defined by the requirements of a particular standard and/or proprietary photomask order format.    
   
   
       14 . An automated system used to generate an order for manufacturing a photomask comprising a computer readable medium capable of performing the following steps: 
 storing at least one updateable template for the entry and storage of photomask order data based on requirements of a specified photomask order format; and    separately storing at least one set of updateable rules associated with user entry of information into the at least one updateable template,    wherein the at least one updateable template and/or the at least one set of updateable rules is updated to allow the system to generate at least two different photomask order formats.    
   
   
       15 . An automated system used to generate an order for manufacturing a photomask comprising a computer readable medium capable of performing the following steps: 
 storing at least one updateable template for the entry and storage of photomask order data based on requirements of a specified photomask format;    separately storing at least one set of updateable rules associated with user entry of information into the at least one updateable template; and searching for preexisting templates and/or order data previously generated on the system using a search engine and creating a new order using the preexisting templates and/or order data.    
   
   
       16 . An automated system used to generate an order for manufacturing a photomask comprising a computer readable medium capable of performing the following steps: 
 storing at least one updateable template for the entry and storage of photomask order data based on requirements of a specified photomask format; and    separately storing at least one set of updateable rules associated with user entry of information into the at least one updateable template, wherein the at least one template includes components and subcomponents, and one or more subcomponents may be copied to one or more other subcomponents within the order in the specified format