Embedded Web Frame Restrictions for Process Plant HMI Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current operator Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) in industrial process control systems are challenging to design and maintain due to increased complexity and customization needs, particularly with expanding operator responsibilities and varying plant-specific requirements, leading to difficulties in configuring and updating graphics in real-time without disrupting ongoing processes.
Innovation Solution
A graphical display configuration system that includes a centralized database for storing and managing display view configurations, allowing for real-time updates and customization of operator HMIs without halting the execution of the display view, enabling operators to change the appearance and behavior of graphics independently on their workstations without communicating with the configuration environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If operator HMI graphics are highly customized to meet plant-specific requirements and expanded operator responsibilities, then adaptability and versatility improve, but device complexity and difficulty of detecting and measuring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The HMI system is segmented into reusable graphic components and templates that can be independently configured and assembled. This allows complex customized displays to be built from modular elements, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Pre-configured graphic templates and components are copied and reused across multiple workstations and applications. This eliminates the need to recreate similar graphics from scratch, reducing complexity while enabling consistent customization across the system.
2Ease of operation
If real-time updates and modifications to HMI graphics are enabled, then ease of operation improves, but reliability may worsen due to potential disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
Graphic configurations are prepared and validated in advance in a configuration environment before being deployed to the run-time system. This preliminary preparation ensures that modifications do not disrupt ongoing processes, maintaining reliability while enabling ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A configuration database serves as an intermediary between the configuration environment and the run-time system. It stores and manages graphic configurations, allowing updates to be made without direct interference with active processes, thus maintaining system reliability.
3Ease of repair
If centralized configuration management is implemented across multiple workstations, then ease of repair and maintenance improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Configuration management functions are merged into a centralized database that is accessible by all workstations. This consolidation simplifies maintenance by providing a single source of truth for all configurations, reducing the complexity of managing distributed configuration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized configuration database serves multiple functions: storing graphic definitions, managing workstation configurations, enabling updates, and providing backup/restore capabilities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate maintenance systems, improving ease of repair while managing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for embedding a web browser in a graphical display view of a process plant include presenting a graphical display view including (i) indications of one or more process control elements, such as a control module, a function block, a process plant entity, or a process section of the process plant, and (ii) a web browser having web content from a source address. The web browser is presented according to one or several presentation parameters, such as such as a size and position of the web browser within the display view. Furthermore, the presentation parameters include restrictions on functions performed within the web browser, such as a sandbox or sandbox attributes. The presentation parameters also include a source whitelist that specifies web addresses which are allowed to be set as the source address for presenting web content.