WIP Message
Encyclopedia
WIP Message is a Work In Progress message sent from a computer client
to a computer server. It is used to update a server with the progress of an item during a manufacturing process. The only known use is in the automotive wiring manufacturing process, but the message structure is generic enough to be used in any manufacturing process.
s running disparate operating system
to communicate with one another. The first implementation was on the Acorn computer
running the RISC OS
swiftly followed by a PC
implementation.
is opened on a specific port (default port is 99) and the server waits for connection attempts from its clients. The client connects by opening a socket and sending data to the server in the format [Header][Data]. The header contains information about the message such as the message length, message number which can be anything from 1 to 4,294,967,295 and the part unique identifier or serial number
which is limited to 10 digits (9,999,999,999 max). The serial number consists of the year 4 digits, the day of the year (0-366) 3 digits and a 3 digit sequential number.
The server will action the message (each message number has a specific meaning to the particular process) and respond with a return code. The return code is commonly used to designate whether the process is allowed to proceed or not. The server will usually be written in such way that the manufacturing process flow is mapped and the Server will therefore not allow manufacturing to progress to the next stage if the previous stage is incomplete or failed for some reason.
s that can be used for custom information, whereas a long message can contain anything that is required and the two applications sending and receiving the data must know what format is being used. The message terminator must always be the carriage return
character (0x0D).
Example of an a short message data portion
199809241342052 1998272093[NULL] [Carriage Return]
An example of this would be on a 4 March 2008; Location A produces parts with serial number 2008064001 - 2008064999, Location B uses a 500 day offset to produce parts 2008564001 to 2008564999.
Client (computing)
A client is an application or system that accesses a service made available by a server. The server is often on another computer system, in which case the client accesses the service by way of a network....
to a computer server. It is used to update a server with the progress of an item during a manufacturing process. The only known use is in the automotive wiring manufacturing process, but the message structure is generic enough to be used in any manufacturing process.
History
The WIP Message Protocol was originally developed to overcome the need to allow computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s running disparate operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
to communicate with one another. The first implementation was on the Acorn computer
Acorn Computers
Acorn Computers Ltd. was a British computer company established in Cambridge, England, in 1978. The company produced a number of computers which were especially popular in the UK. These included the Acorn Electron, the BBC Micro, and the Acorn Archimedes...
running the RISC OS
RISC OS
RISC OS is a computer operating system originally developed by Acorn Computers Ltd in Cambridge, England for their range of desktop computers, based on their own ARM architecture. First released in 1987, under the name Arthur, the subsequent iteration was renamed as in 1988...
swiftly followed by a PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
implementation.
Communication Methodology
Each computer may act as a server, a client, or both. In the server configuration a listening socketInternet socket
In computer networking, an Internet socket or network socket is an endpoint of a bidirectional inter-process communication flow across an Internet Protocol-based computer network, such as the Internet....
is opened on a specific port (default port is 99) and the server waits for connection attempts from its clients. The client connects by opening a socket and sending data to the server in the format [Header][Data]. The header contains information about the message such as the message length, message number which can be anything from 1 to 4,294,967,295 and the part unique identifier or serial number
Serial number
A serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixed discrete integer value...
which is limited to 10 digits (9,999,999,999 max). The serial number consists of the year 4 digits, the day of the year (0-366) 3 digits and a 3 digit sequential number.
The server will action the message (each message number has a specific meaning to the particular process) and respond with a return code. The return code is commonly used to designate whether the process is allowed to proceed or not. The server will usually be written in such way that the manufacturing process flow is mapped and the Server will therefore not allow manufacturing to progress to the next stage if the previous stage is incomplete or failed for some reason.
Message Format
Two formats of message are used. Loosely termed a 'short' and a 'long' message format, a short message contains specific information along with 18 byteByte
The byte is a unit of digital information in computing and telecommunications that most commonly consists of eight bits. Historically, a byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer and for this reason it is the basic addressable element in many computer...
s that can be used for custom information, whereas a long message can contain anything that is required and the two applications sending and receiving the data must know what format is being used. The message terminator must always be the carriage return
Carriage return
Carriage return, often shortened to return, refers to a control character or mechanism used to start a new line of text.Originally, the term "carriage return" referred to a mechanism or lever on a typewriter...
character (0x0D).
Short Message Structure
[Date & Time (14 bytes)][Location Number (2 bytes)][Part Serial Number (10 bytes)][NULL][Data (18 bytes)][Carriage Return]Example of an a short message data portion
199809241342052 1998272093[NULL] [Carriage Return]
Common Message Numbers
| Message Number | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Delete Job |
| 2 | Birth Certificate Barcode Validated |
| 3 | Airbag barcode validated |
| 4 | Robust label barcode validated |
| 5 | Part has reached testing stage |
| 6 | Part has finished testing stage |
| 8 | Arrival at box packing |
| 9 | Arrival at pallet load |
| 12 | Arrival at vision test |
| 14 | Vision test result |
| 17 | Query where a specific part is within the process |
| 18 | Response to query request |
| 21 | Request version number (returns the version number of the software on the client) |
| 50 | Sequential number request |
Common Return Codes
| Code Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Unrecognised WIP message |
| 1 | Message processed correctly |
| 2 | Out of build sequence |
| 3 | Record not found |
| 4 | Stage repeated |
| 6 | Product already in progress |
| 7 | Operator not found |
| 8 | Operator insufficient level |
| 9 | Product in Quarantine |
Limitations
Because the serial number can only contain 10 digits and must be unique across the same part for trace-ability, there is a limit to the number of items that can be manufactured on one day. This figure is nominally 999, but to overcome this it has been known that a day number offset of 500 be used such that the number produced can be doubled, whilst still maintaining a unique number.An example of this would be on a 4 March 2008; Location A produces parts with serial number 2008064001 - 2008064999, Location B uses a 500 day offset to produce parts 2008564001 to 2008564999.