Data preprocessing for diagramming

Abstract

A method (100) for preprocessing data records (1a-1h) for depiction in a diagram (2), wherein each data record (1a-1h) assigns a value of a third coordinate (23) to a value of a first coordinate (21) or a combination of a value of the first coordinate (21) and a value of a second coordinate (22), and wherein in the diagram (2), the value of the first coordinate (21) and / or the value of the second coordinate (22) are discretized into bins (21a-21c; 22a-22c), the method comprising the following steps: assigning the data record (1a-1h) to each bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) (110) of the first coordinate (21) and / or the second coordinate (22), the value of the first coordinate (21) or the value of the second coordinate (22) of the assigned data record being located in the corresponding bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c); and checking whether the value assigned to each bin is within the range of 100. (21a-21c; 22a-22c) for the drawing of the diagram; if a bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) is assigned only one data record (1a-1h) (120a), the value (23a-23c) of the third coordinate (23) of the data record is assigned (130) to the bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) for the drawing of the diagram; another On the other hand, if a bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) is assigned a plurality of data records (1a-1h) (120b), at least one value (24a-24c) (140) is selected and / or aggregated from the respective values ​​of the third coordinate (23) according to a predetermined criterion (145), and then the at least one value is assigned to the bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) for depiction (150) of the chart (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the preprocessing of data which are presented in diagram form by means of a display device or a printer, in particular in the monitoring of industrial plants. Background Art

[0002] Industrial processes are increasingly controlled and monitored by centralized electronic control systems. By using remotely controlled actuators such as valves or switches, interventions can be made at many points in the process. This can be done at the initiative of the operator or at the initiative of a control loop or control program.

[0003] In order to be able to intervene in a targeted manner, it is essential to monitor the actual state of the process. For this purpose, a large number of field devices are usually set up in the plant, each of which records specific measured values ​​at short intervals. These measured values ​​are archived in a database and / or on the field device itself.

[0004] In order to analyze problems in plants in particular, measured data are often plotted in the form of diagrams, for example in order to detect anomalies over time. Here, too, the time intervals of observation are often changed interactively, for example in order to first roughly locate anomalies and then investigate them in more detail. The larger the amount of data, the available network bandwidth for transmission and / or the available computing power can become a bottleneck that impedes interactive work. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method that can speed up chart creation given a given hardware and network bandwidth configuration.

[0006] Within the scope of the invention, a method for preprocessing data records for the drawing of a diagram is developed. In this case, each data record assigns the value of a third coordinate to the value of the first coordinate or to a combination of the value of the first coordinate and the value of the second coordinate. The third coordinate is the target variable, the dependence of which on one variable (the first coordinate) or two variables (the second coordinates) is to be plotted in the diagram. It is not excluded that the data record contains other variables on which the target variable depends. For example, one or two variables can be selected from a large number of variables on which the target variable depends for the drawing of the diagram.

[0007] For example, in a right-handed Cartesian coordinate system, the first coordinate can be the x-coordinate. The data record can then represent the dependency of any quantity on a variable. In the diagram, the quantity of the y-axis is then plotted on the variable of the x-axis, i.e. the y-coordinate is the third coordinate. However, the first coordinate can also represent time, for example, i.e. the diagram represents the time curve of the plotted quantity. In particular, when diagrams of time curves are used for fault finding, it is relatively often necessary to change the time period considered and, for example, to "zoom in" on an event. Each change of the window requires the diagram to be recreated.

[0008] If the first coordinate is the x-coordinate of a Cartesian coordinate system, the second coordinate may be, for example, the z-coordinate. The data record may represent the dependence of a quantity on two variables. The quantity may be plotted in a diagram as a "mountain range" with a "height" along the y-axis that varies with the "position" in the xz plane, i.e. the y-coordinate is also the third coordinate. On the x-axis and the z-axis the two variables on which the quantity depends should be plotted.

[0009] In the diagram, the values ​​of the first coordinate and / or the values ​​of the second coordinate are discretized into bins. The reason for this is, for example, that the length of the coordinate axis shown in the diagram corresponds to a finite number of pixels on a screen or printer. For example, if the time axis of the screen has a length of 4,000 pixels and the display shows the time curve of this quantity over a period of one week, each pixel on the time axis defines a bin of 2.52 minutes.

[0010] The inventors have realised that the above measures can be used to save computing power and bandwidth when creating a graph.

[0011] To this end, data records are assigned to each bin of the first and / or second coordinates, whose values ​​of the first or second coordinates are located in the corresponding bin, i.e., approximately [0, 2.52 minutes) or [2.52 minutes, 5.04 minutes). The number of data records assigned to each bin is checked.

[0012] If a bin is assigned only one data record, the value of the third coordinate of the data record is assigned to the bin for the drawing of the chart. For example, if the bin has a length of 2.52 minutes and the target quantity is measured only once in the first full minute and the third full minute, respectively, the first measurement value is assigned to the first bin and the second measurement value is assigned to the second bin for the drawing of the chart.

[0013] On the other hand, if a bin is assigned with a plurality of data records, at least one value is selected and / or aggregated from the respective values ​​of the third coordinate according to a predetermined criterion and then assigned to the bin for plotting of the chart.

[0014] This can occur, for example, when measurements are recorded at a much finer time scale than the time scale that divides the time axis into bins. For example, if measurements are recorded at one-second intervals, there are approximately 150 measurements in each 2.52-minute bin. In most cases, these measurements must be obtained from a data source over the network and then graphically processed to create a chart.

[0015] The inventors have realized that the potential for savings lies here. If, due to the resolution of the screen or printer, the bin is the smallest unit of the visualization time interval for the data record, it makes no sense to calculate the graphic depiction at the sub-bin resolution, which can only ultimately fall back to the best achievable resolution of the bin when the diagram is actually output. By selection and / or aggregation, the diagram can be produced from the outset in a fine manner at a resolution that can be actually output or at a coarser resolution that can be freely selected. No more effort is "wasted" on the production of a higher resolution that can ultimately not be output.

[0016] In this context, bins can exist in the same diagram that are initially assigned only one data record and bins that are initially assigned multiple data records. For example, the time resolution with which the measurements are performed can vary over time. For each bin, it is decided separately whether to use the value of the third coordinate provided by the single data record assigned to the bin or whether to select or aggregate multiple values ​​from multiple data records.

[0017] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the criterion comprises the selection of maximum, minimum and / or middle values ​​and / or aggregation with averaging. Thus, the middle value and the average value represent the maximum compression of the data records originally assigned to the bins, wherein the middle value is more resistant to outliers. It is particularly advantageous for industrial process monitoring in conjunction with the simultaneous plotting of maximum and minimum values ​​in a diagram to select not only the maximum value but also the minimum value. In this way, for example, it is possible to very clearly visualize the intensity of the fluctuation range of the monitored variable over time. For example, the time curve of the fluctuation range can lead to conclusions about specific technical defects of the measurement (e.g. temperature-related drift of the sensor, etc.).

[0018] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the data record is stored on the supply device and the diagram is created by the rendering device. The selection and / or aggregation is performed on the supply device. Thereafter, a large amount of bandwidth for the data record of the unneeded third coordinate values ​​is saved in the transmission from the supply device to the rendering device. Conversely, this means that it is feasible, given the available bandwidth, to separate the data storage from the rendering device and to transmit the data via the network if necessary.

[0019] Advantageously, a database is selected as the supply device. The database can be queried from the outset, for example in SQL, so that the database only delivers a corresponding selection or aggregation of data records assigned to a specific bin, rather than all individual values.

[0020] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, data records are selected whose values ​​of the third coordinate are measured values ​​determined by field devices directly related to the industrial production process. Here, the field device can be implemented in particular as a fill level measuring device, a limit level measuring device, a density measuring device, a flow measuring device or a pressure measuring device. With this type of measuring device, the measured values ​​are usually recorded continuously with a time resolution that is sufficient for a detailed diagnosis in the event of a problem in the production process. However, the production process runs without interruption for the vast majority of the time, so that only measured values ​​with a significantly lower time resolution are required for ongoing detection. However, it is usually unavoidable to also obtain measured values ​​with a higher time resolution, so that in the event of a problem, the final cause ("root cause") that precedes the problem in time can be determined.

[0021] Based on this consideration, in another particularly advantageous embodiment, the field device is selected as the supply device. This means that the field device does not have to always deliver the measured values ​​to the database with maximum resolution, but can save the measured values ​​locally and output them in a highly compressed form for diagramming when necessary. In this way, both storage space in the database and the connection bandwidth between the field device and the database can be saved. For example, in many industrial control systems, the field devices are connected to a bus-shaped network, which is not only low in installation cost, but also provides only a relatively small bandwidth for each field device.

[0022] For example, a field device can have a rolling memory for high-time-resolution measured values. In a similar manner to a flight data recorder, in such a rolling memory, the latest recorded value always replaces the oldest value. If a problem that requires diagnosis arises during the production process, the field device can be instructed to "freeze" the state of the rolling memory. In this way, in particular, the data required to clarify the cause of the problem in a timely manner are saved in the memory.

[0023] In normal operation, a field device may, for example, only send its measurements to a database with a moderate temporal resolution. For example, the resolution may be large enough to check whether the operation as a whole is normal. If there is a problem, the field device may be queried directly to access more detailed data.

[0024] At the same time, the selection or aggregation of measured values ​​can ensure that excessively long waiting times when constructing diagrams are avoided, even if the network connection of the field device is narrowband. Therefore, the field device is advantageously selected so that its interface for outputting data records or values ​​is implemented as a two-wire interface or as a radio interface with a transmission time duty cycle of at most 10%.

[0025] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment, using a similar method in which the number of transmitted and graphically executed data records is adapted to the discretization of the bins as described above, notifications of events or state changes which are dependent on the value of the third coordinate can also be transmitted to the diagram.

[0026] The event or state change is the assigned value of the first coordinate and / or the second coordinate. In particular, they can be assigned to a time point.

[0027] Now check the number of notifications assigned to each bin of the first coordinate or the second coordinate. If a bin has only one notification assigned to it, assign that notification to that bin for plotting the chart.

[0028] On the other hand, if a bin is assigned with multiple notifications, one or more notifications are selected and / or aggregated therefrom according to a predetermined criterion, and then the notifications are assigned to the bin for depiction of the chart.

[0029] In this way, it is possible to avoid overloading the chart with notifications. In many cases, it is sufficient to receive only information about the existence of relevant notifications for at least one specific bin. For example, the depiction of notifications in the chart can be designed as clickable hyperlinks, and clicking on the hyperlinks can lead not only to detailed information about the notification, but also to other waiting notifications.

[0030] The selection criteria for notifications may include, for example, a priority and / or category of the notifications.

[0031] A first important category includes, for example, notifications of events directly related to the acquisition of measured values ​​and / or directly related to the individual measured values. Such events can indicate, in particular, that there is a problem with the recorded measured values. An example of such an event is a complete stop of data acquisition.

[0032] The second most important category is, for example, "error occurred", ie in events which indicate the occurrence of a new general error situation. These events are not directly related to the measured value acquisition, but can still influence the measured value acquisition.

[0033] The third most important category is, for example, "Error Gone". These events indicate that a previously identified error condition has been eliminated. Since this made the situation better, the likelihood of such an event being the cause of a larger problem is relatively low.

[0034] The fourth important category is, for example, a configuration change. This is not an error situation per se, but a normal process. However, changing the settings of a field device can also affect the acquisition of measured values. For example, if the spatial difference that combines multiple echoes into one echo is changed, or if the amplitude threshold used to detect echoes is changed, it may cause the smoothness of the measured values ​​to change, specific events to appear again in the measured values ​​or other events to no longer appear. Therefore, notifications about configuration changes help to interpret the measured values ​​as follows, that is, a specific sudden change is not caused by a system error, but is caused by itself. But it is also conceivable that configuration changes may cause greater problems. For example, setting an insufficient measurement range on a field device may cause future measured values ​​to be cut off at the limit of the measurement range, and when these values ​​are used for further calculations, invalid results will be generated, which will eventually cause a malfunction when the actuator is turned on.

[0035] The criteria for selecting or aggregating notifications can also be freely combined, for example, from categories and priorities. For example, if at least one event has previously been assigned to a respective bin, at least one event can be displayed in the diagram for each of the four categories (optionally omitting "error elimination"). Thus, the viewer of the diagram always receives at least the information that one or more events from the respective category have occurred in the respective bin.

[0036] As described above, the method can be implemented in whole or in part as software for creating diagrams and / or software for field devices or controllers that can be connected to field devices. For example, the software can be sold as an update or upgrade to corresponding existing software and is therefore a stand-alone product. Therefore, the present invention also relates to a computer program with machine-readable instructions, which, when executed on a computer or embedded system, causes the computer or embedded system to perform the method according to the present invention. The present invention also relates to a computer-readable medium or a download product with the computer program.

[0037] As described above, the field device or a controller for the field device can be implemented in terms of software and hardware for carrying out the method. For example, the field device can be equipped with a rolling memory for acquiring detailed measured values ​​so that these measured values ​​can be used to identify faults when necessary without having to continuously transmit large amounts of data via a narrowband network connection of the field device during normal operation. Therefore, the present invention also relates to a field device or a controller for a field device for carrying out the method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The subject matter of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings, but the subject matter of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0039] Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing the pre-processing principle of Figure 2.

[0040] Figure 2 An embodiment of a method 100 is shown.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a change in the depiction of the diagram 2 in response to enlarging the area 25 a or 25 b of the first coordinate 21 .

[0042] FIG. 4 shows that the diagram 2 is enriched with notifications 5 a - 5 h to facilitate the explanation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Figure 1 It is schematically shown how data records 1a-1h are preprocessed for the depiction of diagram 2. In diagram 2, the values ​​of the first coordinate 21 are discretized into three bins 21a-21c, which are shown here by way of example. In the same way, the second coordinate 22 can also be discretized into bins 22a-22c if the quantity plotted in the third coordinate 23 depends on a plurality of variables.

[0044] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, four data records 1a-1d are assigned to a first bin 21a of the first coordinate 21. Two data records 1e and 1f are assigned to a second bin 21b. Two further data records 1g and 1h are assigned to a third bin 21c.

[0045] In this example, according to criterion 145, for each bin 21a-21c, the respective maximum and minimum values ​​among the values ​​of the third coordinate 23 in the data records 1a-1d; 1e, 1f; 1g, 1h assigned to the respective bin are selected as values ​​24a, 24b, 24c to be plotted in diagram 2. Figure 1 In the very simple example shown, in the first bin 21a, this measure makes it possible to save data records 1c and 1d which no longer need to be processed graphically when drawing the diagram 2. In practical applications, the amount of data to be processed can be reduced by more than a factor of 150.

[0046] Figure 2 An exemplary embodiment of a method 100 is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, a diagram 2 is created by a drawing device 4 and data records 1a-1h are saved on a supply device 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the supply device 3 is a field device 32. The interface 32a for connecting the field device 32 to the drawing device 4 is a two-wire interface or a radio interface with a limited transmission time. Therefore, unlike the situation when a database 31 with a broadband connection is used as a supply device 3, in this exemplary embodiment, the data transmission to the drawing device 4 is an additional bottleneck.

[0047] The depiction device 4 supplies information about the precision with which the first coordinates 21 and optionally the second coordinates 22 are discretized into bins 21a-21c or 22a-22c in the diagram 2 to be created to the field device 32. In step 110, the field device 32 allocates all available data records 1a-1h to these bins 21a-21c or 22a-22c. In step 120, the number of data records 1a-1h allocated to each bin 21a-21c, 22a-22c is checked.

[0048] If a bin 21a-21c; 22a-22c is assigned only one data record 1a-1h (result 120a), then in step 130, the value 23a-23c of the third coordinate 23 of the one data record is assigned to the bin 21a-21c; 22a-22c for drawing the diagram 2 and is transmitted to the drawing device 4.

[0049] On the other hand, if a bin 21a-21c; 22a-22c is assigned a plurality of data records 1a-1h (result 120b), then in step 140, values ​​24a-24c are selected or aggregated from them according to criterion 145. In step 150, these values ​​24a-24c are assigned to the corresponding bins 21a-21c; 22a-22c for the drawing of the diagram 2 and are supplied to the drawing device 4.

[0050] According to a similar scheme, the notifications 5a-5h present in the field device 32 are also reduced before being delivered to the depiction device 4. In step 160, the number of notifications 5a-5h assigned to each sub-box 21a-21c; 22a-22c is checked. If a sub-box is only assigned one notification 5a-5h (result 160a), the notification is assigned to the sub-box 21a-21c; 22a-22c and delivered to the depiction device 4. On the other hand, if a sub-box 21a-21c; 22a-22c is assigned multiple notifications (result 160b), in step 180, one or more notifications 5a-5h are selected and / or aggregated according to the criterion 185. Then in step 190, the notification 5a-5h is assigned to the sub-box 21a-21c; 22a-22c for the depiction of the chart 2 and delivered to the depiction device 4.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows by way of example how the depiction of the diagram 2 changes depending on the window viewed along the first coordinate 21. In this case, the first coordinate 21 is time. Figure 3aIn , a window spanning one week is observed, in which data records 1a-1h are recorded at one-second intervals. In the course of one week, 604,800 measuring points are recorded, which corresponds to a resolution that is technically fully capable of being displayed when printing diagram 2: If the diagram is printed on A4 paper in landscape format and full use is made of the paper (29.7 cm wide), the amount of data available corresponds to a print resolution of more than 50,000 dpi. The maximum resolution of commercially available printers is very low. The width of the high-resolution screens that are usually used to display diagram 2 is only of the order of 4,000 pixels, which discretizes the 604,800 measuring points into only 4,000 bins.

[0052] Therefore, if Figure 3a As shown, only the minimum and maximum values ​​of the values ​​of the third coordinate 23 contained in the data records 1a-1h assigned to each bin 21a-21c are selected as the values ​​24a-24c to be plotted. Accordingly, significantly less data is fed to the plotting device 4 and processed there.

[0053] To observe in more detail the phenomena evident in the curve shapes 24a-24c, Figure 3a The window 25a is shown enlarged. Figure 3b This window is shown in detail. This window corresponds to a time period of only one day, ie, at the same technically available depiction resolution of diagram 2, 7 times more detail can now be highlighted.

[0054] To investigate the specific increase in the measured values ​​in more detail, Figure 3b The window 25b shown is enlarged. Figure 3c . The window corresponds to a time period of one hour. At this zoom level, each bin 21a-21c into which the first coordinate 21 (here time) is discretized is only assigned one value 23a-23c of the third coordinate 23 and is therefore directly depicted in the diagram 2.

[0055] In particular when monitoring industrial processes, it often happens that a diagram representing a longer period of time is first viewed and details are only zoomed in when necessary. In this case, the effect of the method 100 is that, in particular in the case of frequent changes in zoom level, unnecessary data transmissions to the drawing device 4 and waiting times for the graphics processing are avoided. If all data records 1a-1h were simply processed without taking into account the available resolution, printing the diagram 2 would take much longer: then, a plurality of points would be printed completely on top of each other, and if the printer uses a description language such as PostScript, the amount of data would again explode.

[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates, using two examples, how the diagram 2 may be enriched with notifications 5 a - 5 h to facilitate explanation.

[0057] Figure 4a A first example is shown. Here there are four notifications 5a, 5c, 5e and 5g, indicated by crosses, about events of the type "error occurs", followed by notifications 5b, 5d, 5f and 5h, respectively, about events of the type "error disappears". Figure 4a In this example, in order to interpret graph 2, it is first important to know that a certain type of event has occurred in the corresponding bin. For example, notification 5a prompts the observer of graph 2 to use a message about an event of the type "error occurred" when looking for an explanation for the sudden rise in the curve. Figure 4a When the diagram 2 is shown, it is similar to the enlargement shown in FIG. 3 , and more notifications 5 a - 5 h are displayed accordingly.

[0058] Figure 4b A second example is shown. Here, notifications 5a-5h about changes in the state of the field device 32 have been transmitted to the diagram 2. In this way, analysis of the diagram 2 helps to analyze whether changes in the plotted values ​​24a-24c are caused by actual changes in the production process itself or whether changes in the construction of the field device 32 (e.g., a change to a more sensitive measuring range) are at least partially responsible for this. Figure 4b As shown in Figure 2, more notifications 5a-5h appear accordingly.

[0059] Reference numerals list

[0060] 1a-1h Data Recording

[0061] 2. Diagram

[0062] 21 First coordinate

[0063] 21a-21c The bins to which the first coordinate 21 is discretized

[0064] 22 Second coordinate

[0065] 22a-22c The bins into which the second coordinate 22 is discretized

[0066] 23 The third coordinate

[0067] 23a-23c Values ​​of the third coordinate 23 assigned to bins 21a-21c; 22a-22c

[0068] 24a-24c Selection and / or aggregation value of the third coordinate 23

[0069] 25a-25b Window for zooming in on chart 2

[0070] 3 Supply equipment

[0071] 31 As a database for supplying device 3

[0072] 32 Field device as supply device 3

[0073] 32a Interface 32 for field devices

[0074] 4. Drawing equipment

[0075] 5a-5h Notifications about events and status changes

[0076] 100 Methods

[0077] 110 Allocate data records 1a-1h to bins 21a-21c; 22a-22c

[0078] 120 Check the number of data records 1a-1h in each bin 21a-21c; 22a-22c

[0079] 120a Each bin 21a-21c; 22a-22c has only one value 23a-23c

[0080] 120b Each bin 21a-21c; 22a-22c has multiple values

[0081] 130 Assign values ​​23a-23c to bins 21a-21c; 22a-22c

[0082] 140 Select and aggregate values ​​24a-24c using criteria 145

[0083] 145 Criteria for selecting and aggregating 140

[0084] 150 Assign values ​​24a-24c to bins 21a-21c; 22a-22c

[0085] 160 Check the number of notifications 5a-5h for each sub-box 21a-21c; 22a-22c

[0086] 160a Each sub-box 21a-21c; 22a-22c has only one notification 5a-5h

[0087] 160b Each sub-box 21a-21c; 22a-22c has multiple notifications 5a-5h

[0088] 170 Assign individual notifications to sub-boxes 21a-21c; 22a-22c

[0089] 180 Selecting and Aggregating Notifications 5a-5h

[0090] 185 Criteria for selecting and aggregating 180

[0091] 190 After selection and aggregation 180, it is assigned to bins 21a-21c; 22a-22c

Claims

1. A method (100) for preprocessing data records (1a-1h) for the drawing of a diagram (2), wherein: Each data record (1a-1h) assigns a value of a third coordinate (23) to a value of a first coordinate (21) or to a combination of a value of the first coordinate (21) and a value of a second coordinate (22), and wherein, in the diagram (2), the value of the first coordinate (21) and / or the value of the second coordinate (22) are discretized into bins (21a-21c; 22a-22c), the method comprising the following steps: - assigning the data record (1a-1h) to each bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) of the first coordinate (21) and / or the second coordinate (22), the value of the first coordinate (21) or the value of the second coordinate (22) of the assigned data record being located in the corresponding bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c); - checking the number of data records (1a-1h) assigned to each bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c); - if a bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) is assigned only one data record (1a-1h), assigning the value (23a-23c) of the third coordinate (23) of the one data record to the bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) for the depiction of the diagram (2); - on the other hand, if a bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) is assigned a plurality of data records (1a-1h), at least one value (24a-24c) is selected and / or aggregated from the corresponding values ​​of the third coordinate (23) according to a first predetermined criterion (145), and then the at least one value is assigned to the bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) for the depiction of the diagram (2), The data records (1a-1h) are stored on a supply device (3) and the diagram (2) is created by a rendering device (4), wherein the selection and / or the aggregation is performed on the supply device (3).

2. The method (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The first predetermined criterion (145) comprises selection of a maximum value, a minimum value and / or a median value and / or aggregation using averaging.

3. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: A database (31) is selected as the supply device (3).

4. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: A data record (1a-1h) is selected, the value of the third coordinate (23) of which is a measured value determined by a field device (32) directly related to the industrial process.

5. The method (100) according to claim 4, wherein: The field device (32) is designed as a fill level measuring device, a limit level measuring device, a density measuring device, a flow measuring device or a pressure measuring device.

6. The method (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The field device (32) is selected as the supply device (3).

7. The method (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that: selecting the field device (32) as the supply device (3), and The field device (32) is designed as a fill level measuring device, a limit level measuring device, a density measuring device, a flow measuring device or a pressure measuring device.

8. The method (100) of claim 4, wherein: A field device (32) is selected whose interface (32a) for outputting data records (1a-1h) or values ​​(23a-23c; 24a-24c) is designed as a two-wire interface or as a radio interface with a transmission time duty cycle of at most 10%.

9. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: Notifications (5a-5h) of events or state changes potentially associated with the value of the third coordinate (23) assigned to the value of the first coordinate (21) and / or the value of the second coordinate (22) are transmitted to the chart (2) by: - checking the number of notifications (5a-5h) assigned to each bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) of said first coordinate (21) or said second coordinate (22); - if a sub-bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) is assigned only one notification, assigning said one notification to said sub-bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) for the drawing of said diagram; - On the other hand, if a sub-bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) is assigned to multiple notifications, one or more notifications are selected and / or aggregated from the multiple notifications according to a second predetermined criterion (185), and then the one or more notifications are assigned to the sub-bin (21a-21c; 22a-22c) for depiction of the chart (2).

10. The method (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that: The second predetermined criteria (185) comprises a priority and / or a category of the notification (5a-5h).

11. A computer readable medium having a computer program, the computer program comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed on a computer or an embedded system, cause the computer or the embedded system to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A download product having a computer program comprising machine-readable instructions which, when executed on a computer or an embedded system, cause the computer or the embedded system to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. A field device (32) configured to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

14. A controller for a field device (32), configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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