Integrating Field User Location into Process Graphics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators in process control systems face difficulties in simultaneously monitoring the location of maintenance engineers and the status of the process, as existing solutions do not integrate location tracking with process monitoring effectively, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that integrates the location of field users into process control system graphics, using wireless terminals with sensors like GPS and NFC, allowing operators to track maintenance engineers' positions and status without switching between screens, through a presentation control unit and object release determining unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If operators use separate screens for process monitoring and location tracking, then comprehensive information can be obtained, but operator workload increases and response time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges process monitoring graphics and field user location tracking into a single integrated display. The presentation control unit combines process control objects with field user position indicators on the same screen, eliminating the need for operators to switch between separate screens while maintaining complete information visibility.
2Reliability
If operators monitor both process status and field user locations simultaneously on separate systems, then comprehensive situational awareness is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The presentation control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both process monitoring and field user location tracking purposes through a single integrated system. This universal interface reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple functions into one control unit rather than requiring separate specialized systems.
3Productivity
If field user location tracking is integrated into process graphics, then operator efficiency improves, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display information into distinct visual elements within the integrated graphics. Field user positions are represented as separate indicators overlaid on process control objects, allowing the presentation control unit to manage and render different information layers independently while maintaining overall integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method, field user presenting arrangement and a computer program product for enabling an operator of a process control system (10) to determine the location of field users in the process control system. The arrangement (12; 23) comprises a presentation control unit (21) that obtains position data of the position of a field user, obtain the positions of objects (24, 26, 28, 30) in the process control system, compares the position of the field user with the positions of the objects, determines that the field user is in the vicinity of an object if the distance between the position of the field user and the position of the object is below a proximity threshold, and presents the field user on graphics depicting the process, where a field user deemed to be in the vicinity of an object is presented at this object (24) in the graphics.