User's Manual

RS232-Transponder Reader
(SECS1-Protocol), Release 0.3 Draft Page 34 of 91
2000-09-29
ID: ID000093
8 Introduction
The SECS-1 standard defines a communication interface suitable for the exchange
of messages between semiconductor processing equipment and a host. A host is a
computer or network of computers which exchanges information with the
equipment to accomplish manufacturing.
The standard does not define the data contained within a message. The meaning
of messages must be determined through some message contents standard such
as SEMI Equipment Communications Standard E5 (SECS-2).
This standard provides the means for independent manufacturers to produce
equipment and hosts which can be connected without requiring specific knowledge
of each other.
The SECS-1 protocol can be thought of as a layered protocol used for point to point
communication. The levels within SECS-1 are the physical link, block transfer
protocol and message protocol.
It is not intent of the standard to meet the communication needs of all possible
applications. For example, the speed of RS232 may be insufficient to meet the
needs of transferring mass amounts of data or programs in a short period of time,
such as might be required by high speed functional test applications.
In a network, the roles of host and equipment might be assumed by any party in the
network. In this situation, one end of the communications link must assume the role
of the equipment and the other the role of the host.
Electronic Industries Association Standards:
E|A RS-232-C Interface between Data Terminal Equipment and Data
Communication Equipment Employing Serial Binary Data
Interchange.