Event Logging System with Timestamped Context Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current logging systems in large-scale industrial plants lack the ability to effectively store and retrieve context information, making it difficult to distinguish between production volume reductions due to process issues or intentional changes, and operators face challenges in recording and sharing information across different systems, leading to inefficiencies and lost data.
Innovation Solution
A logging system that integrates input devices for acoustic and written information, converting spoken and handwritten notes into digital text messages, and using adapters to standardize and filter data, with a processing unit that assigns timestamps and provides a search module for context-based analysis of operator actions, process messages, and system events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If operators manually record information on sticky notes or use separate systems, then information can be captured quickly, but the information is lost or cannot be retrieved later
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the quick-recording capability of sticky notes with the retrievability of digital systems by integrating a camera into the logging system. Operators can photograph sticky notes or handwritten notes, converting physical records into digital images that are stored and associated with the logging system, thus preserving both the speed of manual recording and the retrievability of digital storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of physical records by using a camera to photograph sticky notes and handwritten notes. These digital copies are then stored in the logging system, allowing operators to capture information quickly on physical media while ensuring it can be retrieved and analyzed later in digital form.
2Loss of information
If operators enter text into electronic shift books, then information is stored digitally and can be retrieved, but the process is too time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for manual text entry by allowing operators to photograph physical notes and handwritten records. The camera captures the information as an image, which is then stored digitally and associated with the logging system, converting a time-consuming text-entry process into a quick photographic capture process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual text entry with an optical system (camera) that automatically captures information. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming keyboard input process while maintaining digital storage and retrievability of the recorded information.
3Ease of operation
If context information is not entered into the logging system, then the system remains simple to operate, but it becomes difficult to understand the reasons behind operational changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the logging system multi-functional by integrating a camera that can capture both operational data and contextual information (such as photos of equipment, sticky notes with reasons for changes, or handwritten observations). This allows the system to maintain simplicity while simultaneously capturing comprehensive context information for later analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between simple operation and comprehensive information capture. The camera automatically photographs physical notes and equipment states, serving as a mediator that captures context information without requiring operators to manually enter detailed contextual data, thus maintaining system simplicity while enriching the logged information.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a logging system and a method for recording, processing, and displaying plant- and/or process-specific operating actions, process messages, alarm messages, system events, plant parameters, and digital text messages of a technical plant or a technical process with at least one input device (310, 320, 330, 340) which automatically converts acoustic and/or spoken information and information in written form into digital text messages (140) and provides them, together with information on operating actions, information on navigation steps performed, and other text information in digital form, to a processing unit (10), characterized in that the processing unit (10) automatically assigns timestamps (110) to the digital text messages, the information on operating actions, and the navigation steps performed.linked to this, by means of at least one search module provided in the processing unit (10) together with time series data of process signals and alarm messages, system events and plant parameters provided from at least one data archive, a corresponding context to certain events can be assigned and the digital text messages, operating actions, process messages, alarm messages, system events and plant parameters processed in this way can be retrieved via a complete search integrated in the search module and can be displayed as an operator log or event log.