Decentralized HMI Screen Visualization for Dynamic Device Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial automation, existing data visualization systems require manual creation and central engineering for HMI terminals, leading to production disruptions and inefficiencies due to frequent changes and a large number of networked devices, as changes necessitate complete software restarts and reliance on central engineering tools.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized method for visualizing screen content on data visualization systems, allowing automatic and dynamic linking of visualization aspects to device-specific operating data during online operation, using a plug-and-play protocol and preplanning/preconfiguration programs, eliminating the need for central engineering tools and enabling continuous updates without restarts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual creation and central engineering are used for HMI terminals, then visualization accuracy and data binding are ensured, but system complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-configuration where the data visualization system autonomously discovers devices, retrieves operating data, and generates visualization aspects without manual intervention. The decentralized approach allows each device to publish its own data structure, eliminating the need for centralized engineering tools to manually bind data sources.
Solution Approach 2:
Device information and operating data structures are pre-defined and published by devices themselves before the visualization system needs them. This preliminary action by the devices enables the visualization system to automatically configure displays without requiring manual pre-engineering for each visualization element.
2Manufacturing precision
If changes are made to screen content in centralized systems, then data accuracy is maintained, but production disruptions occur due to required software restarts
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static centralized configuration to dynamic decentralized configuration. Visualization aspects are generated dynamically at runtime based on current device states and operating data, allowing continuous updates without system restarts. The decentralized architecture enables hot-swapping of configuration data while maintaining production continuity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of networked devices are supported, then system versatility increases, but central engineering becomes ineffective and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the centralized engineering task into decentralized segments where each device independently publishes its own operating data and information structure. This segmentation allows the system to scale to numerous devices without requiring centralized management of each device's configuration, as each device self-describes its data requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The data visualization system implements a universal decentralized configuration mechanism that works across all device types. The plug-and-play protocol and automatic discovery process provide a single universal approach for managing any number of diverse devices, eliminating the need for device-specific engineering procedures.
4Manufacturing precision
If domain expertise is required at customer end for configuration, then visualization quality is ensured, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-configuration by discovering devices on the network, retrieving their operating data structures, and generating appropriate visualization aspects without requiring user expertise. Domain knowledge is embedded in the device manufacturers' published data schemas rather than requiring end-users to possess such knowledge.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to visualize screen content on a data visualization system in the context of monitoring and controlling the functionality of at least one device, which is networked in an installation-related and operational manner to form a device network, in a technical installation, in which each visualization aspect from a set of visualization aspects which is available for the device can be linked to device-specific operating data of device operating data provided by the installation, which device-specific operating data are respectively tied to this visualization aspect.