Screen engineering system, method for setting the color of components displayed on a screen, and monitoring and control system

Abstract

Setting different colors for each component in advance, or selecting a color that wasn't already set to change the color of some components, was an extremely time-consuming task. [Solution] The present invention relates to a screen engineering system capable of automatically generating color sets to be displayed on a color palette for the purpose of supporting the color design of a monitoring and control system. Specifically, for the color display of components on the display screen of a monitoring and control system, the system can automatically list color sets based on similar setting purposes, narrowed down by constraints that change the color according to the signal value conditions indicating the status of the monitored equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a screen engineering system, a method for setting the color of components displayed on a screen, and a monitoring control system.

Background Art

[0002] For example, when changing the color of components in the monitoring control screen information in a conventional monitoring control system according to the process values from a plant, by providing a color change information database separately from the component information database, the display color in the screen can be changed according to the color information defined in the color change information database without changing the settings of the individual component information in the component information database. In particular, for a large number of components having the same color change pattern based on process values, it is possible to change the colors of the components in a batch according to the color changes in the color change information database, and it is known that the labor is reduced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the color change information for changing the display color according to the change of process values is stored in advance in the color change information database, and since the change of the stored color is set by the user, it is necessary for the user to record the color settings in the database, such as avoiding duplicate color selections for different process values. Therefore, it was a very laborious task to perform different color settings in advance for each of many components, or to select and set a color that was not preset in order to change the color of some components.

[0005] This disclosure was made to solve the problems described above, and aims to provide a screen engineering system that facilitates the setting of component colors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The screen engineering system described herein is A server having a color set management unit that stores shape information and state information of components placed on a monitoring screen, and manages the shape information and state information in correspondence with color information, The terminal includes a color palette display unit that communicates with a server and displays a color set corresponding to the basic shape and logic for setting the logic of the basic shape and logic of the component, for displaying the component on a monitoring screen based on shape information, and for setting the logic of the component's state information, The color set management unit is characterized by extracting logic information from the component when displaying the color palette, which defines constraints for changing the color based on the component's state information, and listing color sets that include colors similar to the current color from the color information based on the logic information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the screen engineering system of this disclosure, we can propose a color set that allows for easy configuration of the color settings of many components within a monitoring and control screen. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the configuration of the color palette display unit and the color set management unit in a schematic configuration diagram of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4]This diagram illustrates the data structure of the screen definition database of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the state change information within the data structure of the screen definition database of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the variable information of the logic information within the data structure of the screen definition database of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the data structure of the color setting knowledge database for the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates the data structure of the color set definition database for the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 9] This figure illustrates an example of a screen engineering tool shown on the display screen of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of a color tab and a color set tab in a screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of a color set editing palette for the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 12] This is a flowchart for setting the color of the color tab display section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1, and is based on a screen engineering tool. [Figure 13] This is a flowchart for setting the color of the color tab display section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1, and is based on the logic setting screen. [Figure 14] This is a flowchart of the color set tab display section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 15] This is a flowchart showing the process of changing the color set in the color set tab display section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 16]It is a flowchart of the color set editing palette display section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 17] It is a flowchart of the color set knowledge update section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 18] It is a flowchart of the color set creation section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 19] It is a diagram for explaining the data configuration of another color setting knowledge database of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 20] It is another flowchart of the color set creation section of the screen engineering system according to Embodiment 1.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the screen engineering system according to the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same contents and corresponding parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. Similarly, in the following embodiments, duplicate descriptions of the configurations with the same reference numerals are omitted.

[0010] Embodiment 1. For example, in a SCADA system (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system), functions such as graphically visualizing the status of each monitoring facility, graphically displaying in time series, and displaying the occurrence status and history of various events such as abnormalities, failures, and operator operations are provided. Users of the SCADA system remotely monitor and control target facilities through the system from a central monitoring room or any location using a tablet or the like. Examples include monitoring and controlling the opening and closing of gates for managing agricultural water and the opening and closing of valves for adjusting water flow.

[0011] When using a monitoring and control system such as a SCADA system, it is necessary to indicate changes in the monitoring and control status by the color of the graphics and logic on the monitoring and control screen displayed on a display in the central monitoring room or on a tablet for remote operation. This disclosure relates to screen engineering that can automatically generate color sets to be displayed in a color palette for the purpose of supporting the color design of the monitoring and control screen of such a monitoring and control system. Specifically, it relates to a screen engineering system that automatically lists color sets based on similar setting purposes narrowed down by logic information that changes color according to the conditions of signal values ​​indicating the status of the monitored equipment, for the color display of components on the display screen of a monitoring and control system.

[0012] <Configuration of the screen engineering system> As shown in Figure 1, the screen engineering system of Embodiment 1 is installed within the monitoring and control system 50. By connecting to the Internet 30 according to the information defined in the backend screen engineering tool (hereinafter referred to as the first screen engineering tool) 10 on the cloud 1, the frontend screen engineering tool (hereinafter referred to as the second screen engineering tool) 20 on the browser 2 sets basic shapes (squares, lines, etc.) and characters for drawing objects on the monitoring and control screen, as well as setting colors. The first screen engineering tool 10 includes a screen definition database 101, a variable definition database 102, and a color set management unit 103. The second screen engineering tool 20 includes a component setting unit 201, a logic setting unit 202, and a color palette display unit 203.

[0013] <An example of a hardware configuration for a screen engineering system> Specifically, the first screen engineering tool 10 operates on the server, and the second screen engineering tool 20 operates on the terminal. Both Cloud 1 and Browser 2 are realized by the execution of the processing circuits 100 shown in Figure 2 within the server and terminal, respectively. The screen definition database 101, variable definition database 102, color set management unit 103, component setting unit 201, logic setting unit 202, and color palette display unit 203 are described in Figure 1 as existing components within the engineering tool, but are realized as functions by the processing circuits 100 and storage device 200 shown in Figure 2. In short, in terms of server-client relationships, the system is such that the first screen engineering tool 10 on Cloud 1, realized by the processing circuits 100 and storage device 200 within the server, and the second screen engineering tool 20 displayed on Browser 2, realized by the processing circuits 100 and storage device 200 within the terminal, are connected via the Internet 30.

[0014] The processing circuit 100 includes, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), various logic circuits, and various signal processing circuits, or one or more combinations thereof. Here, "processor" refers to a CPU (Central Processing Unit), arithmetic unit, or microprocessor, etc.

[0015] The functions of the color set management unit 103, component setting unit 201, logic setting unit 202, and color palette display unit 203 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is written as a program and stored in the storage device 200. The processing circuit 100 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing the program stored in the storage device 200. The storage device 200 stores a program that executes the steps shown in the flowchart described below. This program can also be said to cause the computer to execute the procedures or methods of the color set management unit 103, component setting unit 201, logic setting unit 202, and color palette display unit 203. The storage device 200 also stores data from databases described below, such as the screen definition database 101 and the variable definition database 102.

[0016] The storage device 200 may be a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as flash memory, SSD (Solid State Drive), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), or flash memory; it may be a magnetic disk such as a hard disk or flexible disk; or it may be an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disc), MiniDisc, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). Although not shown in the figures, the storage device 200 may also include an auxiliary storage device. The processing circuit 100 may output data such as calculation results to the storage device 200, or it may store the data in the auxiliary storage device.

[0017] The input circuit 300 is connected to a communication line for the Internet 30 and includes an A / D converter, a communication circuit, etc., which inputs the input signal and communication information to the processing circuit 100. The output circuit 400 includes a communication circuit, etc., which outputs the signal from the processing circuit 100. The interfaces of the input circuit 300 and the output circuit 400 may be based on specifications such as the Internet, Ethernet (registered trademark), USB (Universal Serial Bus) (registered trademark), DVI (Digital Visual Interface) (registered trademark), HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) (registered trademark), etc. In addition to the input circuit 300 and the output circuit 400, communication may also be performed by directly connecting to a communication device from the processing circuit 100.

[0018] Furthermore, the output circuit 400 of the second screen engineering tool 20 is connected to a display device such as a liquid crystal display, plasma display, electroluminescent display, or CRT (cathode-ray tube) that has a display screen that shows the output from the color palette display unit.

[0019] <Detailed explanation of the first screen engineering tool> Next, we will describe the configurations (functions) of the first screen engineering tool 10 that operates on Cloud 1. The first screen engineering tool 10 shown in Figure 3 has the functions of a screen definition database 101, a variable definition database 102, and a color set management unit 103. The color set management unit includes a color setting knowledge database 104, a color set definition database 105, a color set creation unit 106, and a color setting knowledge update unit 107.

[0020] <Screen Definition Database 101> The screen definition database 101 stores data created according to the data structure shown in table 101a of Figure 4 for each monitoring and control screen that is displayed. In Table 101a, "Part ID" is an identification number assigned to each part. "Part Name" is the name of the part. "Part Type" indicates the shape of the figure representing the part on the screen. "Location Information" indicates the coordinates on the screen where the figure set in "Part Type" is placed. "Style Information" consists of two pieces of information: figure attributes and logic information. Figure attributes include line type, line width, frame color, body color, etc., and the type of figure attributes differs depending on the shape of the figure indicated in "Part Type". Logic information is a constraint that allows the attributes of the figure defined in "Part Type" to be changed by changes in signal values ​​(values ​​indicating the status of the monitored equipment). For example, if the figure attribute is logic information for the color of the figure body, the signal value is linked to the figure's attributes, such as setting the figure's color to red when the signal value is true (1) and blue otherwise. This can be expressed as a conditional expression as "if(variable ID == true (1) red else blue)". Other examples of logic information include "if(variable ID > 5) yellow else green" or "unconditionally cyan". The variable referred to here is synonymous with the signal value and is defined in the variable definition database described later. In table 101a, "label" is a string displayed within the component and is linked to the signal value by information similar to "style information". For example, the style of the string (font size, font weight, italics, font color, etc.) changes depending on the change in the signal value.

[0021] "State change information" consists of a component state list and logic information, as shown in Figure 5, for example. The component state list is the name of the information that summarizes the component state ID, state name, and style information difference. The component state ID is an identification number that classifies the state of the component, and the state name is a description that concisely represents the state. The style information difference shows the difference from the setting of "Style Information" in Table 101a. As shown in Figure 5, when the setting of component state ID 0 for component ID 1 is shown by figure Q in (a), the color and outline of figure Q are drawn with the information set in "Style Information". (b) shows the case of component ID 1 and component state ID 1, and (c) shows the case of component ID 1 and component state ID 2, both of which are set in the component state list of "State change information". The style information difference shows the difference in information between (a) and (c). That is, (b) sets the attribute of color and the RGB value indicating the type of color (green, etc.) as the style information difference, as the difference from (a). (c) sets the difference between (a) and (a) as style information differences, including the attribute of color and the type of color (pink), and the attribute of line and the type of line width (thick line). In addition, the logic information in this case is set as, for example, the conditional expression "if (variable ID1 == true) state ID1 else state ID2".

[0022] Table 101a is organized so that each "part ID" is associated with the following information: "part name," "part type," "location information," "style information," "label," and "state change information." In Figure 4, the table is shown in tabular format with the associated information for each row, but this is not the only data structure within the screen definition database 101.

[0023] <Variable Definition Database 102> Figure 6 shows table 102a, which illustrates the data structure of the variable definition database 102, which defines variable information within the logic information defined in the screen definition database 101. The variable information includes "Variable ID," "Variable Name," "Type," and "Initial Value." "Type" indicates the data type or variable type. As mentioned above, a variable is synonymous with a signal value. In Figure 6, the table is presented in a tabular format with variable information associated with "Variable ID" in each row, but the data structure within the variable definition database 102 is not limited to this.

[0024] <Color Settings Knowledge Database 104> Table 104a of the color setting knowledge database 104 shown in Figure 7 is a table with a data structure obtained by sorting the information from the screen definition database 101 by color. In Table 104a, "Color" is indicated by an RGB code. "Setting Target" indicates the target to which the color indicated by the RGB code is set. "Variable Name" is the same as the "Variable Name" defined in Table 102a (see Figure 6) of the variable definition database 102. In the table in Figure 7, "Alarm" and "Error" are listed as variable names, but the "Variable ID" explained in the logic information above is converted to "Variable Name" in Table 102a of the variable definition database 102. "State Name" is extracted from the difference between the state name and style information in the component state list in the "State Change Information" defined in Table 101a of the screen definition database 101. "Logic" means the logic (logic) when a color is set, and is set for each component. That is, it functions in the same way as the logic information of the screen definition database 101 based on the components described above. For example, if each component has information set such that it is a "circle ●" if the logic content is true, and a "triangle △" if it is false, and the fill color is set to red for "●" and blue for "△", then the variables alarm or error are used in conjunction with the signal value. In other words, it is only possible to realize that the component's color changes automatically based on the signal value when there is logic and the variables (alarm, error) that make up the logic are linked to the signal value. This logic can be set in the logic setting screen described later. In Figure 7, the table is arranged in a tabular format with the information associated with each row, but the data structure within the database is not limited to this.

[0025] <Color Set Definition Database 105> Figure 8 shows table 105a of the data structure of the color set definition database 105. This data was created and edited by the color set editing palette display unit 206, and specifically consists of a "color set ID" for identification, a "color set name," and a "color list." The "color list" is the data displayed by the color set tab display 205a shown in Figure 10, which will be described later, and consists of the color name, RGB code, and a description of the text data added by the user.

[0026] <Detailed explanation of the second screen engineering tool> Returning to Figure 1, let's explain the second screen engineering tool 20. The component setting unit 201 sets the basic shapes and characters for drawing components and their placement on the display screen. The logic setting unit 202 edits the drawn component state. The color palette display unit 203 sets the colors that represent the state of components and characters drawn by the component setting unit 201 and components edited by the logic setting unit 202. As shown in Figure 3, the color palette display unit 203 consists of three display units: the color tab display unit 204, the color set tab display unit 205, and the color set editing palette display unit 206. Data management and data processing for these display units are performed by the color set management unit 103 of the first screen engineering tool 10.

[0027] The second screen engineering tool 20 is displayed as a screen engineering tool on the terminal display screen A shown in Figure 9, for example, and the color palette display unit 203 displays a color palette as part of the screen engineering tool. In Figure 9, the color tab display 204a, which will be described later, is displayed from the color palette. The color tab display 204a is used to set the color of a component shown as a figure P on the display screen, for example.

[0028] Furthermore, the color of the displayed shapes can also be changed according to the signal value (a value indicating the status of the monitored equipment), so the color palette is also used in the logic setting screen for allowing the logic setting unit 202 to edit the status of the components (illustration omitted). The logic setting screen is a display screen that has a setting function that can display the signal value of the plant site equipment on the shape, and a change function that can automatically change the status of the shape (color, line color, etc.) based on the signal value from the plant.

[0029] The color palette consists of two displays: the color tab display 204a, a general color setting interface (UI) shown in Figure 10(a), and the color set tab display 205a, shown in Figure 10(b). These displays are switched by selecting "Color" or "Color Set" displayed at the top. In the color tab display 204a, color information is displayed in the selected color display area 204a1, the RGB setting area 204a2, and the RGB mixing ratio display Hex 204a3 by selecting a shape representing a component on the display screen. The color tab display 204a is created in the color tab display unit 204 shown in Figure 3.

[0030] The color set tab display 205a is a function that allows the user to select the color to be set for the displayed shape from a color list that the user has set themselves, and it is created in the color set tab display unit 205. Furthermore, the following processes become possible by activating the color set editing palette 206a, which will be described later. (1) Compared to the previous version where only one color list could be set, users can now create multiple new color lists. (2) Users can edit the color list, including adding, deleting, and changing information about existing color lists. (3) The colors in the displayed color list can be set to the colors of shapes and other elements that represent parts.

[0031] In the color set tab display 205a, the color set selection display 205a1 shows one of the color sets created by the user or automatically generated. In Figure 10(b), the "Water Treatment" color set is selected, and the colors set in the selected color list are displayed in the color details display unit 205a2. The color details display unit 205a2 includes an ID, color name, color samples such as red, blue, and green, and a description field where the user can freely enter text data. Note that the ID displayed in the color details display unit 205a2 is a number that is automatically assigned sequentially when displayed in the color details display unit 205a2, and is different from the aforementioned part ID, variable ID, etc.

[0032] Clicking "Edit Color Set" at the bottom of the color set tab display 205a in Figure 10(b) activates the browser's color set editing palette display 206, which displays the color set editing palette 206a shown in Figure 11. The display unit 206a1 shows the same color set name selection as the color set selection display 205a1, and in addition to the list of colors set in the color editing area 206a2, a list of unregistered setting color candidates 206a3 is displayed. The setting color candidate list 206a3 is automatically generated, which consists of colors that the user is likely to set, i.e., colors that can be inferred to be set based on the target part type, the variable name set in the target part, and the logic.

[0033] <Explanation of the operation of the screen engineering system> Next, we will explain the flowcharts for operating each function of the screen engineering tool mentioned above. <Flowchart for color settings of the color tab display unit 204 using the second screen engineering tool 20> The color settings for shape P shown in Figure 9 will be explained according to Figure 12. The color tab display 204a (see Figure 10(a)) is displayed on the screen (step S11). A shape P is selected on the screen and its part ID is obtained (step S12). Style information is obtained from table 101a of the screen definition database 101 using the obtained part ID as the key (step S13). Color information (line color, shape color) of the attributes of shape P is obtained from the obtained style information (step S14). The color of the selected color display area 204a1 and the value of the RGB setting area 204a2 are set and displayed on the color tab display 204a from the obtained color information (step S15). As a result, the color to be set for shape P, which represents the part to be set, is displayed in the selected color display area.

[0034] <Color setting flowchart for the color tab display section 204 in the logic settings screen> In Figure 13, the color tab display 204a is displayed on the display screen (see Figure 9, step S21). The component ID referenced by the logic setting screen is obtained from table 101a of the screen definition database 101 (step S22). The component state list in the state change information corresponding to the obtained component ID is referenced and the style information difference is obtained (step S23). If there is no style information difference, the style information corresponding to the component ID is obtained. If the style information difference is obtained, the current component attributes (line color, fill color) are obtained (step S24), and the values ​​of the selected color display area 204a1 and the RGB setting area 204a2 are set and displayed based on the line type, line width, color information, etc. of the style information difference attributes (see Figure 10(a), step S25). If the style information is obtained, the values ​​of the selected color display area 204a1 and the RGB setting area 204a2 are set and displayed based on the line type, line width, color information of the style information attributes.

[0035] <Flowchart for the color set tab display section 205 (initial display)> In Figure 14, the color set tab display 205a is displayed (see Figure 10(b), step S31). A list of stored color set names is obtained from the color set definition database 105 (step S32). The list of color set names is sorted by color set ID (step S33). The color list for color set ID 1 (e.g., water treatment) is obtained from the color set definition database 105 (step S34). The information of the obtained color list for color set ID 1 is displayed in the color detail display unit 205a2 (see Figure 10(b)) (step S35).

[0036] <Flowchart for the Color Set Tab display section 205 (when changing the color set)> In Figure 15, the color set name in the color set tab display 205a (see Figure 10(b)) is changed (step S41). For example, if the color set name is changed from color set ID1 (e.g., water treatment) to color set ID2 (e.g., similar setting purpose), the color list for color set ID2 is obtained from the color set definition database 105 (step S42). The information of the color list for color set ID2 is displayed in the color detail display unit 205a2 (see Figure 10(b)) (step S43).

[0037] <Flowchart of the Color Set Editing Palette Display Unit 206> In Figure 16, you choose whether to create a new color set that does not exist in the color set name list (New) or edit an existing color set (Edit) (Step S51). If you choose to create a new color set, when you select the color set selection display 205a1 in the color set tab display 205a, a menu called "Add New" is created below the list of existing color sets in the selection display items, so you drop down the display items and select this menu. When you select "Add New", you obtain the color detail display information from the color set creation unit 106 (Step S52). The color detail display information is information about all the colors that can be displayed, and it is a color list created by the color set creation unit 106 as information consisting of "color name", "color (RGB)", and "description" based on the "color (RGB)", "variable name", and "state name" stored in the color setting knowledge database 104. From the obtained color detail display information (color list), you exclude the colors that are already used in the color set name list and displayed in the color editing area 206a2 (see Figure 11) (Step S53). The remaining color detail information is displayed in the list of setting color candidates 206a3 (see Figure 11) (step S54).

[0038] If editing is selected, the color set editing palette 206a of the color set displayed on the display unit 206a is displayed in editing mode. The name of the color set to be edited is selected from the display unit 206a, and the color list of the selected color set name is displayed in the color editing area from the color set definition database 105. Then, steps S52 to S54 described above are performed.

[0039] <Flowchart for Color Settings Knowledge Update Section 107> The processing of the color setting knowledge update unit 107 is started when the screen definition database 101 is updated. When the screen definition database 101 is updated, for example, for a screen engineering system displayed on one display screen in Figure 17, color information is obtained from the "style information" of the screen definition database 101 for one component within the display screen (step S61), and it is determined whether or not there are color-related attributes (step S62). If there are color-related attributes, the color information and variable ID are obtained from the "logic information" (step S63). The number of colors obtained from the logic information are set in "Color" in table 104a (see Figure 7), which is the data structure of the color setting knowledge database 104 (step S64). At the same time, the attributes for all the set colors (line color, body color, frame color, label color, etc.) are set in "Setting Target" in table 104a (step S65). The variable definition database 102 and its table 102a (see Figure 6) are referenced, the obtained variable ID is replaced with a variable name, and set in "Variable Name" in table 104a. The conditional expression related to the variable ID is set in "Logic" (step S66). Then, set the "Status Name" in the data structure to "Standard" (Step S67).

[0040] Next, the acquisition of state change information begins (step S68). From the list of component states stored in the "State Change Information" of table 101a of the updated screen definition database 101, the difference in color related to the style information difference is acquired (step S69). The acquired color is added to the "Color" column of table 104a (step S70). The state name of the acquired color difference is set to the "State Name" column in table 104a (step S71). The "Logic Information" in the "State Change Information" of table 101a is set to the "Logic" column in table 104a, and the variable name of the variable ID used in the "Logic Information" is set to the "Variable Name" column in table 104a (step S70). The "Setting Target" of the newly registered "Color" is acquired from the conditional expression consisting of the variable ID set in "Logic". The routine from step S68 to step S72 is performed until there is no more state change information to acquire. If a color attribute does not exist, the color is acquired from the style information of other components to determine whether or not there is a color attribute.

[0041] The routine from step S61 to step S72 is performed until there are no more colors to obtain from the style information. Furthermore, the routine from step S61 to step S72 is performed for all components in the screen definition database. Furthermore, the routine from step S73 to step S72 is performed for all display screens in the system.

[0042] <Flowchart for the Color Set Creation Section (Generating Similar Setting Purpose Color Sets 1)> Next, the generation of color sets for similar settings, which can be automatically created using the color setting knowledge database 104 updated by the color setting knowledge update unit 107, will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 18.

[0043] The original information for the color palette display is obtained (step S81). That is, when a color palette is displayed, information is obtained as to whether the color palette was displayed by the component logic setting panel on the logic setting screen or by the screen engineering tool, and the component for which the color is to be set is obtained from the screen definition database 101. If the color palette is displayed by the component logic setting panel on the logic setting screen, the name of the state currently being edited is obtained (step S82). Related information such as the logic in the color setting knowledge database 104 that has the same state name as the obtained state name is extracted by extracting the row-direction information of table 104a shown in Figure 7 (step S83).

[0044] Furthermore, variable names are obtained from the component logic setting panel on the logic setting screen (step S84), and related information such as logic from the color setting knowledge database 104 that has the same variable name as the obtained variable name is extracted from the row-direction information of table 104a (step S85). At this time, if there are multiple variable names, all rows containing them are extracted.

[0045] From the extracted table 104a, the "color," "variable name," and "status name" are extracted from the row-direction information that has the same "setting target" (step S86). The extracted "color" is set in the color detail display section 205a2 of the color set tab display section with the color name and RGB code, and the "variable name" and "status name" are set as text data in the color detail display section 205a2. The color set name displayed in the color set selection display 205a1 is set to "Similar Setting Purpose" (step S87). This allows the logic defining constraints for changing the color based on the part's state information to be extracted from the part when the color palette is displayed, and a list of color sets containing similar colors is generated from the color information based on the logic.

[0046] Furthermore, when setting the color of a shape representing a component using the screen engineering tool shown in Figure 9, step S86 extracts the "setting target" to be set, and extracts the "color," "variable name," and "state name" from the row-oriented information of that "setting target." The extracted "color" is set in the color detail display section 205a2 of the color set tab display section with the color name and RGB code, and the "variable name" and "state name" are set as text data in the color detail display section 205a2 (step S87).

[0047] <Flowchart for Color Set Creation (Generating Similar Setting Purpose Color Sets 2)> As shown in Figure 19, a "part type" item may be added to table 104b, which is the data structure of the color setting knowledge database 104. Then, in the flowchart for generating similar shape color sets shown in Figure 20, the related information having the same part type may be extracted from the color setting knowledge database 104 by first extracting the row-direction information of the data structure of table 104b shown in Figure 19 (step S88). The steps for generating other similar color sets are the same as in Figure 18 and are therefore omitted.

[0048] As described above, for the color display of components on the display screen of a monitoring and control system, a logic that changes the color based on the signal value conditions indicating the status of the monitored equipment can be used to automatically list color sets based on similar setting purposes, narrowing down the setting purpose. This eliminates the need to pre-set different colors for each component or to select an unset color to change the color of some components. In addition, it makes it easy to set the color of each component, and it can also recognize similar purposes and suggest colors to set.

[0049] Furthermore, since the color set is updated every time the screen definition database 101 is updated, such as when new components are added to the monitoring information system or when a new monitoring information system is added, it is possible to suggest a color set with similar colors selected for similar components in different monitoring information systems, thereby enabling color standardization across different monitoring information systems.

[0050] While this disclosure describes exemplary embodiments, the various features, aspects, and functions described in the embodiments are not limited to the application of any particular embodiment, but can be applied individually or in various combinations to the embodiments. Accordingly, countless variations not illustrated are conceivable within the scope of the art disclosed in this specification. These include, for example, modifications, additions, or omissions of at least one component.

[0051] The various aspects of this disclosure are summarized below as an appendix.

[0052] (Note 1) A server having a color set management unit that holds shape information and state information of components placed on a monitoring screen, and manages the shape information and state information in correspondence with color information, The terminal includes a color palette display unit that communicates with the server and displays a color set for setting a basic shape that represents the shape of the part and the logic for setting the state information of the part, in order to display the part on the monitoring screen based on the shape information, and the colors corresponding to the basic shape and the logic, The screen engineering system is characterized in that the color set management unit extracts logic information from the component when the color palette is displayed, defining constraints for changing the color based on the state information of the component, and lists color sets that include colors similar to the color from the color information based on the logic information. (Note 2) The screen engineering system according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the color set management unit has a screen definition database that stores shape information and state information of the components that constitute the displayed monitoring screen, and a color setting knowledge database that manages the shape information and state information of the components for each color information. (Note 3) The screen engineering system according to Appendix 2, characterized in that the color setting knowledge database has the setting target for setting the color information, the logic, the variable names within the constraints, and the state name indicated by the color information, with the color information as the axis. (Note 4) The screen engineering system according to Appendix 2 or 3, characterized in that the screen definition database has a table for each of the monitoring screens, and the table contains the part name, part type, position information on the screen, line type or line width attributes for drawing, information on changes in the state of the part, and logic information. (Note 5) The screen engineering system according to any one of the appendices 2 to 4, characterized in that the data in the color setting knowledge database is updated in accordance with the update of the data in the screen definition database. (Note 6) The screen engineering system according to any one of the appendices 1 to 5, characterized in that the color palette display unit has a color set editing palette that can register new colors to the color set. (Note 7) The monitoring screen displays a basic shape representing the component's form and a color set corresponding to the component's status information. A method for setting the color of a component displayed on a screen, characterized by extracting logic information from the component during the display of the color set, which defines constraints for changing the color based on the state information of the component, and listing color sets that include colors similar to the color from the color information based on the logic information. (Note 8) A monitoring and control system equipped with a screen engineering system as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 6. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 1: Cloud, 2: Browser, 10: First screen engineering tool, 20: Second screen engineering tool, 30: Internet, 50: Monitoring and control system, 100: Processing circuit, 101: Screen definition database, 102: Variable definition database, 103: Color set management unit, 104: Color setting knowledge database, 105: Color set definition database, 106: Color set creation unit, 107: Color setting knowledge update unit, 200: Storage device, 201: Component setting unit, 202: Logic setting unit, 203: Color palette display unit, 204: Color tab display unit, 205: Color set tab display unit, 206: Color set editing palette display unit, 300: Input circuit, 400: Output circuit.

Claims

1. A server having a color set management unit that holds shape information and state information of components placed on a monitoring screen, and manages the shape information and state information in correspondence with color information, The terminal includes a color palette display unit that communicates with the server and displays a color set for setting a basic shape that represents the shape of the part and the logic for setting the state information of the part, in order to display the part on the monitoring screen based on the shape information, and the colors corresponding to the basic shape and the logic, The screen engineering system is characterized in that the color set management unit extracts logic information from the component when the color palette is displayed, defining constraints for changing the color based on the state information of the component, and lists color sets that include colors similar to the color from the color information based on the logic information.

2. The screen engineering system according to claim 1, characterized in that the color set management unit has a screen definition database that stores shape information and state information of the components that constitute the displayed monitoring screen, and a color setting knowledge database that manages the shape information and state information of the components for each color information.

3. The screen engineering system according to claim 2, characterized in that the color setting knowledge database has the setting target for setting the color information, the logic, the variable names within the constraints, and the state name indicated by the color information, with the color information as the axis.

4. The screen engineering system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the screen definition database has a table for each of the monitoring screens, and the table contains the part name, part type, position information on the screen, line type or line width attributes for drawing, information on changes in the state of the part, and logic information.

5. The screen engineering system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the data in the color setting knowledge database is updated in accordance with the update of the data in the screen definition database.

6. The screen engineering system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the color palette display unit has a color set editing palette that can register new colors to the color set.

7. The monitoring screen displays a basic shape representing the component's form and a color set that sets color information corresponding to the component's state information. A method for setting the color of a component displayed on a screen, characterized by extracting logic information from the component during the display of the color set, which defines constraints for changing the color based on the state information, and listing color sets that include colors similar to the color from the color information based on the logic information.

8. A monitoring and control system comprising a screen engineering system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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