SEMI International Standards
Standards New Activity Report Form (SNARF)
Date Prepared: 10/18/2017Revised (if Applicable):

Document Number: 6338
SNARF for: [To be abolished after new SNARF authorization] Revision to SEMI E132: Specification for Equipment Client Authentication and Authorization

Originating Global Technical Committee: Information & Control
Originating TC Chapter: North America
Task Force (TF) in which work is to be carried out: Diagnostic Data Acquisition Task Force NA
Note: If a new task force is needed, also submit a task force organization form (TFOF)

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1. Rationale:
a. Describe the need or problem addressed by this activity.
(Indicate the customer, what benefits they will receive, and if possible, quantify the impact on the return on investment [ROI] if the Document is implemented.)

There are flaws in the SEMI E132 Document that requires Major Revision of the Standard, such as:

1. In section 2 Scope, it states “It is assumed that the interface specified by this Standard will be operating in an environment where there are no malicious attacks such as inside a closed factory network.” It may be all right if the safe environment can be really assured. However, we need to consider risks of any security problems that may exist in real environment. By that consideration, we need to add caution in the Limitation section that the system might require authentication and/or encryption depending on the environment.

2. In section 3 Limitation, we need to add a limitation “This Standard refers only to the authentication of application processes, and does not support or address authentication of human users.”, that is currently defined in 5.1.5 where is wrong place to state the limitation of the Standard.

3. In section 5 Terminology, it might be hard for the readers to get reasonable meaning form the definitions. For example, “5.1.5 authentication ― the process of determining whether a user or process is, in fact, who or what it is declared to be.” may be (or may not be) all right from the language aspect, but not enough to get the idea for the readers. Revision of the definitions is required.

4. Descriptions of the authentication in the SEMI E132 are required be improved.
Something what seems like the details of the authentication method are defined ambiguously in the E132; in Section 8.3.1 and Section 9. Basically, the main standard of E132 is intended to defined the concept, and the details of the implementation should be defined in the subordinate standard as stated in the Limitation. Definition of authentication in E132 should be limited to describe the purpose and the concept of the authentication.

Without the revision of the Document, the readers of E132 might get confused and the readers lose the credibility to the standard.

We need to revise the Standard to make it more reasonable for the readers.



b. Estimate effect on industry.
2: Major effect on an industry sector - identify the relevant sector
Sector or Company Information: Automation Software

c. Estimate technical difficulty of the activity.
II: Some Difficulty - Disagreements on known requirements exist but developing consensus is possible

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2. Scope:
a: Describe the technical areas to be covered or addressed by this Document development activity. For Subordinate Standards, list common concepts or criteria that the Subordinate Standard inherits from the Primary Standard, as well as differences from the Primary Standard:

Major Revision of SEMI E132.
1. Purpose with better descriptions
2. Scope with better description
3. Limitation to add the caution for the security and to clarify the entities to be authenticated.
4. Referenced Standards and Documents to add related RFCs
5. Terminology to improve definitions to provide reasonable meanings to readers.
6. Convention
7. Background
8. Overview with better descriptions
9. Authentication with removing current content to add requirement of authentication to be defined in the Subordinate Standard.
10. Authorization with better descriptions
11. Administration with better descriptions
12. Session Communications with better descriptions
13. State Model with better description
14. Client Interface with better descriptions
15. Interface Discovery with better descriptions
16. Compliance with better descriptions

This major revision is intended to improve the readability of the Standard, and basically not to propose any technical change. Meanwhile, if any requirement for technical change is found in the course of the major revision, this ballot may propose correction of that technical problem, on the consensus in the Global Technical Committee.


b: Expected result of activity
Major revision to an existing Standard or Safety Guideline

For a new Subordinate Standard, identify the Primary Standard here:


Modification of an existing part of Standard(s) or Safety Guideline(s) including Appendices, Complementary Files, and Supplementary Materials

For Standards, identify the Standard Subtype below:
Specification

Miscellaneous (describe below):

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3. Projected Timetable for Completion:

a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 11/08/2017b. 1st Draft by:
c. (Optional) Informational Ballot by: d. Letter Ballot by: 11/15/2018
e. TC Chapter Approval By:04/05/2019

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4. Liaisons with other Global Technical Committees/TC Chapters/Subcommittees/TFs:
a. List SEMI global technical committees, TC Chapters, subcommittees, or task forces in your or other Regions/Locales that should be kept informed regarding the progress of this activity. (Refer to SEMI Standards organization charts and global technical committee charters and scopes as needed.)


b. List any planned Type I Liaisons with external nonprofit organizations (e.g., SDO) that should receive Draft Documents from Standards staff for feedback during this activity and be notified when the Letter Ballot is issued (refer to Procedure Manual § 7):


c. Intercommittee Ballots:
will not be issued

Identify the recipient global technical committee(s):

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5. Safety Considerations:
The resulting document is expected:
NOT to be a Safety Guideline

NOTE FOR "to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is NOT technically sound and complete - Refer to Section 15.1 of the Regulations for special procedures to be followed.

NOTE FOR "NOT to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is still technically sound and complete.

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6. Intellectual Property Considerations:
Note: Both a: and b: below should be checked for Revision of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s).

a. For a new Standard or Safety Guideline and for any part to be modified or added in a Revision of published Standards and Safety Guidelines:
patented technology is intended to be included in the proposed Standard(s) or Safety Guideline(s).

If "patented technology is intended to be included in the proposed Standard(s) or Safety Guideline(s) " is selected above, then also check one:
Letter of Intent not received

b. For Revision, Reapproval, Reinstatement, or Withdrawal of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s):
there is previously known material patented technology necessary to use or implement the Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s)

c. The body of the Document and any Appendices, Complementary Files, Related Information sections, or Various Materials that may or may not be a part of the Document by reference:



NOTE FOR ‘the use of patented technology or the incorporation of Copyrighted Item(s) is NOT required’: If in the course of developing the Document, it is determined that the use of patented technology or Copyrighted Item(s) is necessary for the Document, the provisions of Regulations § 16 must be followed.

NOTE FOR ’will incorporate Copyrighted Item’: A copyright release letter must be obtained from the copyright owner prior to publication.

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7. Comments, Special Circumstances:

This letter ballot will be submitted only after the Doc #6009 for Line-item revision to SEMI E132 is completed, balloted, and document is published.


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8. TC Member Review:
took place between (put dates below ) before approval at the TC Chapter Meeting, or

Member Review Start Date; 10/19/2017.
Member Review End Date: 11/02/2017.

NOTE FOR ‘TC Member Review’ is required by the Regulations for a period of at least two weeks
before approval of a new, or a major revision of an existing, Standard or Safety Guideline. (Refer to Regulations ¶ 8.2.1)
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9. SNARF Approval Dates:
TC Chapter or GCS11/08/2017
Recorded in TC Minutes11/08/2017

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10. SNARF Extension Dates:
TC Chapter Extension Granted on
Extension Expires on
New SNARF for major revision to E132 is pending GCS approval. Current SNARF 6338 to be abolished at Fall 2019 I&C TC meeting.