The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2003
Craig R. Heden, Pacifica, CA (US);
Albert R. Depetrillo, Folsom, CA (US);
Robert M. Mcguire, Aptos, CA (US);
Craig R. Heden, Pacifica, CA (US);
Albert R. DePetrillo, Folsom, CA (US);
Robert M. McGuire, Aptos, CA (US);
Ronal Systems Corporation, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Abstract
A host and ancillary tool interface methodology for distributed processing is described. The host tool manages a process, except for the generation of a product used in the process. To generate the product, the host tool provides an indication to an ancillary tool that the product is to be generated, and the ancillary tool generates the product after detection of the indication with no further intervention by the host tool. To provide the indication, the host tool preferably activates a control line whose voltage is monitored by the ancillary tool, or alternatively, sets one or more bits in a memory which is periodically checked by the ancillary tool.