Contextual Process Graphics Rendering for Mobile Screen Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in providing an optimal viewing experience on mobile devices with limited screen real estate, as conventional methods require extensive zooming, panning, and scrolling to navigate process graphics effectively.
Innovation Solution
A contextual rendering system that analyzes graphics files to prioritize and display relevant graphics objects based on dynamic behavior attributes, position, and screen size, minimizing the need for zooming and panning by computing scores for each graphics object-tag name combination and sorting them for efficient visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional process graphics are displayed on mobile devices, then the complete process information is available, but the screen real estate is insufficient requiring extensive zooming, panning, and scrolling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and prioritizes only the most relevant graphics objects from the complete process graphics based on their dynamic behavior attributes, alarm status, and operational importance. This extraction allows the mobile display to show critical information without requiring the operator to navigate through the entire graphics set, thus maintaining information availability while improving navigation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display treatment of different graphics objects based on their individual attributes. High-priority objects with alarming or dynamic behavior are displayed with enhanced visibility and detail, while less critical objects are either omitted or shown in simplified form. This selective quality distribution optimizes the limited screen real estate for most important information.
2Loss of information
If all graphics objects are displayed on mobile devices, then complete process visibility is achieved, but the display becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complete set of graphics objects into priority groups based on their dynamic behavior attributes, alarm status, and operational significance. This segmentation creates a hierarchical display structure where critical objects are presented first, followed by less important objects. The segmentation reduces interface complexity by organizing information in manageable groups rather than presenting all objects simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis and scoring of graphics objects before display, evaluating their dynamic behavior attributes, alarm conditions, and operational importance. This preliminary action ranks objects in advance, allowing the mobile interface to automatically prioritize and arrange them without requiring complex real-time user interactions. The pre-computed scores guide the display organization, reducing interface complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If zooming and panning are enabled for detailed viewing, then graphic detail is accessible, but navigation time and user interactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic display adaptation where the level of detail and zoom level automatically adjusts based on the priority and type of graphics object being viewed. High-priority objects with alarming behavior are automatically displayed at optimal detail levels without requiring user zooming. The display dynamically reconfigures to maintain precision for critical objects while minimizing navigation requirements.
4Loss of information
If conventional display methods are used, then all process elements are visible, but operator response time to critical events increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes color changes and visual differentiation to highlight graphics objects with dynamic behavior, alarm conditions, or high operational importance. Critical objects are displayed with distinctive colors or visual indicators that make them immediately recognizable on the mobile interface. This visual prioritization allows operators to quickly identify and respond to critical events without scanning through all process elements, improving response efficiency while maintaining visibility of all elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
Contextual rendering systems, methods, and computer-readable media include circuitry configured to parse a graphics file into a plurality of graphics objects, determine whether one or more dynamic behavior attributes are present for each graphics object, extract at least one tag name for each graphics object having the one or more dynamic behavior attributes, assign an attribute weight to each dynamic behavior attribute, compute a sum of the attribute weights for each tag name - graphics object combination, rank each of the tag name - graphics object combinations according to the respective computed sum, and display a portion of a graphics view of one or more graphics objects for a first-ranked tag name - graphics object combination in context with other graphics objects.