Object-oriented SECS programming system

An object-oriented programming (OOP) environment for developing SEMI Equipment Communication Standard (SECS) applications with the C++ and C programming languages in a Unix workstation environment is described. The system (referred to as OOSECS) defines a set of programming objects corresponding to the standard SECS-II item types, messages, and headers as well as a number of support classes and operations. Conversion between standard program datatypes and SECS-II items is transparent or explicitly managed by the developer. Within a standard framework using standard C++ input/output methods SECS-II messages may be created, analyzed, and transmitted and received between internal buffers, external files, and communication channels