Automated HMI Configuration via Navigation Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual customization and scripting are required for configuring human-machine interface (HMI) applications, making it complex and difficult to manage navigation, layout, and display screens in industrial processes with large volumes of data from sensors and control elements.
Innovation Solution
An automated graphical user interface system using navigation models with a hierarchy of navigation items, allowing for automatic navigation, placement of graphical components, and management of screens across multiple display devices, leveraging processor-executable instructions to generate and populate screens with visual content based on metadata.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual customization and scripting are used to configure HMI applications, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic configuration of HMI applications by having the configuration processor autonomously generate navigation models, traverse data sources, and create graphical display screens without requiring manual scripting or customization by users. The processor-executable instructions automatically populate screens with visual content based on metadata from selected navigation items, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual customization and scripting are used to configure HMI applications, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration processor automatically performs all configuration tasks including navigating the navigation model, selecting navigation items, traversing data sources, and generating graphical displays. Users simply interact with the graphical interface to select options, and the system handles all complex configuration operations automatically, greatly improving ease of operation while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual scripting and customization operations with automated processor-executable instructions. The configuration processor automatically generates and executes the configuration logic that previously required manual programming, substituting mechanical/manual operations with automated computational processes.
3Device complexity
If automated configuration is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but extent of automation must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration processor autonomously performs all configuration operations including navigating the navigation model, selecting navigation items, traversing data sources to locate metadata, generating graphical display screens, and populating screens with visual content. This self-service automation reduces complexity by eliminating manual intervention while implementing comprehensive automation throughout the configuration process.
Data Source
AI summary
Automated configuration of graphical user interface screens of industrial software applications. An application executing on a computing device utilizes a navigation model representing hierarchies of navigation items to automate placement of graphical components in appropriate locations on the graphical user interface.