Event Synchronized Reporting for Process Control Data Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Process control systems face difficulties in efficiently collecting, consolidating, and viewing report information across non-contiguous time periods due to scattered data across various databases and inconsistent shift schedules, requiring manual and cumbersome multi-step procedures.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for generating synchronized event reports by obtaining synchronization parameters, extracting relevant data from centralized databases, and combining historical information to produce aggregate values, allowing for automatic generation of reports across multiple time intervals and databases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual multi-step procedures are used to collect and consolidate report information across non-contiguous time periods, then data can be obtained from multiple databases, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to access data across multiple databases and time periodsVSAvoidtime required for manual data collection and consolidation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing users to automatically retrieve and consolidate data from multiple databases across non-contiguous time periods through a single operation. The event synchronizer automatically queries historical databases, extracts relevant events, and consolidates them into synchronized reports without requiring manual multi-step procedures, thus eliminating time loss while maintaining comprehensive data access capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing event synchronization mechanisms and indexing structures that enable rapid retrieval of data across multiple databases. Historical data is pre-organized with time stamps and synchronization parameters, allowing the system to quickly extract and consolidate information across non-contiguous time periods without requiring manual intervention during the actual data collection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If data is stored across multiple centralized databases, then comprehensive historical information is available, but data consolidation and retrieval becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of historical data storedVSAvoidcomplexity of data consolidation and retrieval operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The event synchronizer acts as an intermediary between users and the multiple centralized databases. It provides a unified interface that automatically queries various historical databases, extracts relevant events based on synchronization parameters, and consolidates them into coherent reports. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of multi-database operations from the user perspective while maintaining comprehensive access to stored historical information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments data retrieval operations by dividing the consolidation process into discrete, manageable steps: querying individual databases for events within specified time periods, extracting relevant data based on synchronization parameters, and assembling the results into coordinated reports. This segmentation approach simplifies the overall complexity of retrieving data from multiple sources by breaking down the operation into sequential, manageable tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If work shift schedules are inconsistent and vary over time, then operational flexibility is maintained, but identifying and aggregating data across time periods becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in work shift schedulingVSAvoidease of identifying and aggregating data across time periods

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by using flexible time interval specifications that can adapt to varying work shift schedules. The event synchronizer accepts dynamic time range parameters and automatically adjusts data retrieval operations to accommodate inconsistent shift patterns. This allows the system to maintain ease of operation even when schedules vary, as the time interval specifications dynamically adapt to the actual work shift configurations rather than requiring fixed, rigid time periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8874461B2Event synchronized reporting in process control systems

Publication Date: 2014.10.28 FISHER ROSEMOUNT SYST INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer-executable instructions for event synchronized reporting in an process control system are disclosed. Events may be synchronized by a synchronization parameter, whose instances of occurrence may be non-contiguous in time. Examples of synchronization parameters may include a work shift, a work group, an individual's on-duty time, a logged-on period of an individual, the execution times of a process control entity, a batch run type, and a procedure or sub-unit of a batch run. Instances of occurrence of the synchronization parameter may be recorded into a process control event database. Event synchronized reports may contain at least one synchronization value based on both the instances of occurrence of the synchronization parameter as well as historical process control data. Data from various historian databases may be accessed from process control system tools and integrated into a single report.