Industrial Control Navigation Map for Hierarchical Process Graphics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators in industrial control systems face difficulties navigating between process graphics to find relevant information quickly, especially in large information spaces with limited time, and often lack context awareness of their position in the hierarchical structure.
Innovation Solution
A navigation tool is provided that generates a graphic map showing process graphics as nodes, allowing operators to visually navigate and identify hierarchical relationships, with the currently displayed process graphic indicated, enabling easy access to relevant information without leaving the current context.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple process graphics are displayed simultaneously on separate monitors, then operators can view more information at once, but the complexity of the navigation system increases and operators still lack context awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a map display as an intermediary navigation tool that mediates between the operator and the multiple process graphics. This map provides an overview of all process graphics and their hierarchical relationships, allowing operators to navigate efficiently without directly managing the complexity of multiple displays. The map acts as a mediator that simplifies the navigation task while maintaining access to comprehensive process information.
2Loss of information
If operators navigate between multiple process graphics to find relevant information, then they can access comprehensive process data, but the time required to locate information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a map display that is generated and maintained in advance, showing the hierarchical structure and relationships between all process graphics before navigation is needed. This preliminary organization of information allows operators to quickly locate relevant process graphics by visually tracing hierarchical paths on the map, rather than searching through multiple displays sequentially. The map is prepared beforehand to facilitate rapid navigation when needed.
3Loss of information
If the user interface provides detailed process graphics with lots of information, then operators have comprehensive data for decision-making, but the ease of operation decreases due to difficulty in navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user interface into two distinct functional areas: detailed process graphics for comprehensive data viewing and a separate map display for navigation. This segmentation allows operators to access detailed information in process graphics while using the simplified map interface for navigation tasks. The map shows hierarchical relationships and locations of process graphics without the complexity of detailed process data, making navigation easier while preserving access to comprehensive information when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a navigation tool of a user interface for an industrial control system. The control system is arranged with a plurality of process graphics including one or more software objects. The software objects are arranged in hierarchical groups each representing a process, part-process or an equipment, in which materials are moved and/or processed in a predetermined order. The navigation tool includes a graphic image or map showing the plurality of process graphics symbolically arranged as a plurality of nodes. Each node is spatially arranged at a given distance from the centre of the map according to a hierarchical relationship between the process graphics, and the map is displayed superimposed on top of the process graphic currently displayed on the workstation. A computer program and a workstation are also described. The node representing the currently open process graphic is shown by a visual indicator.