Gesture-Based Process Display Prototyping with Template Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Creating process displays in process control systems requires significant burdens on both process engineers and display experts due to the need for knowledge of the process plant layout and familiarity with display creation applications, often necessitating multiple iterative development phases.
Innovation Solution
A display creation application that allows users to provide gestures to indicate process entities, translating them into corresponding template objects using a gesture recognition algorithm, enabling intuitive design of process displays without extensive prior knowledge of the application or template library.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional process display creation methods are used, then process displays can be created with comprehensive control over details, but the process requires significant time and expertise from both process engineers and display experts
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses template objects that are copies of standardized process display elements. Users can select from pre-defined templates representing common process entities (tanks, valves, pumps, etc.) and simply configure their specific parameters rather than creating each display element from scratch. This copying approach maintains display accuracy through standardized templates while dramatically reducing creation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The template objects are prepared in advance with standard configurations, properties, and associations already defined. The gesture recognition system also performs preliminary interpretation of user gestures to identify intended process entities before final display generation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for detailed manual configuration during the display creation process itself.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional process display creation methods are used, then comprehensive control over display details is achieved, but the process requires multiple iterative development phases involving both process engineers and display experts
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables process engineers to independently create and configure process displays using gesture-based input and template selection, without requiring display experts. The template objects are designed to be self-configuring based on gesture recognition, automatically associating process entities with appropriate display elements. This self-service capability reduces process complexity by eliminating the need for multiple specialists while maintaining configuration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The template objects are designed as universal, multi-functional elements that can represent various process entities through configuration rather than requiring separate specialized tools or expertise for each entity type. A single template framework handles diverse process elements (storage tanks, processing vessels, valves, sensors, etc.), simplifying the overall display creation process while maintaining precise control over each element's configuration.
3Ease of operation
If gesture-based input is implemented, then process display creation becomes more intuitive and accessible to users without extensive training, but the system must accurately interpret gestures to identify intended process entities
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces template objects as an intermediary layer between user gestures and the final process display. Gestures are interpreted to select from predefined templates rather than directly creating custom elements. This intermediary approach simplifies gesture interpretation (users only need to select from known templates) while maintaining accuracy (templates are precisely defined with all necessary properties and associations).
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described with respect to a display creation application that provides an interactive graphical environment by which a user can configure a process display associated with operation of a process plant. More specifically, the display creation application implements a gesture recognition algorithm configured to translate user-provided gestures (e.g., lines or shapes drawn on a touchpad or touchscreen) to template objects representative of entities in the process plant, each template having various preconfigured parameters, behaviors, animations, etc. associated therewith. By interconnecting and configuring templates, the user can create and configure a process display to be used by a viewing application to monitor and/or control a process plant.