Alarm Categorizer Filters Process Control Alarms by Source Type
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current process control systems fail to effectively filter and categorize alarms based on user roles, leading secondary alarm users to sift through irrelevant information, wasting time and resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an alarm categorization system that assigns alarms to source types and purposes, allowing users to access relevant information by filtering based on their specific roles and responsibilities, using an alarm categorizer and filter to display only pertinent data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all process control alarms are displayed to all users, then complete information is provided, but secondary alarm users waste time sifting through irrelevant information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the alarm information into different categories based on user roles. Primary alarm users receive all alarms for comprehensive monitoring, while secondary alarm users receive only the specific alarm categories relevant to their responsibilities. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing complete information to those who need it while filtering out irrelevant information for those who don't.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the alarm information presented to each user based on their specific role and responsibilities. Different users receive different subsets of alarm information tailored to their needs, rather than a uniform presentation to all users. This allows the system to maintain information completeness for primary users while reducing information overload for secondary users.
2Loss of information
If all alarm data is processed and stored, then complete alarm history is available, but memory and processing power usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the alarm data that is relevant to each specific user role. Rather than processing and making all alarm data available to all users, the system extracts the necessary subset of alarm information for each user type. This reduces the computational burden while maintaining data completeness for those who require it.
3Productivity
If alarm information is filtered by user role, then relevant information is provided efficiently, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining alarm categories and user role profiles during system setup. The alarm categorization framework and user role assignments are established in advance, allowing the system to efficiently filter and present relevant alarm information without complex real-time decision-making. This reduces operational complexity while maintaining high productivity in alarm information delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to filter process control system alarms based on alarm source type and/or alarm purpose are disclosed. An example method includes assigning a first subset of the process control alarms in a process control system to a first source type of the process control alarms. The first source type is associated with a first subset of user roles. The example method also includes assigning a second subset of the process control alarms to a second source type of the process control alarms. The second source type is associated with a second subset of the user roles. The example method further includes displaying alarm information associated with the process control alarms. The alarm information identifies the first source type of the first subset of the process control alarms and the second source type of the second subset of the process control alarms.