Location-Based ICS Mobile Interface for Field Operators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field operators and mobile users face difficulties in accessing and navigating the vast array of data, commands, and messages within Industrial Control Systems (ICS) on their mobile devices due to the complexity and limited screen size, making it time-consuming to perform tasks efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A location-based automation and control system that uses geo-tags, GPS, and position sensors to detect the user's location and provide a filtered interface on mobile devices, allowing users to interact with equipment or resources based on their proximity, leveraging existing mobile devices and networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional remote desktop services and web browsers are used to access ICS on mobile devices, then users can view the host system, but it becomes difficult and time-consuming to navigate and filter the vast array of data, commands, and messages
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and presents only the relevant subset of ICS data, commands, and messages that are pertinent to the user's current location and job responsibilities, filtering out unnecessary information to simplify navigation and reduce task completion time
Solution Approach 2:
The interface adapts its content and functionality based on the user's specific location within the facility, providing location-tailored controls and information rather than a uniform global view, making operation easier and more intuitive
2Loss of information
If the mobile device interface displays all available ICS data, commands, and messages, then complete information is provided, but the interface becomes overwhelming and difficult to navigate on limited screen size
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically extracts and displays only the specific portion of ICS information relevant to the user's current context (location, role, active tasks), maintaining information completeness for their needs while eliminating extraneous data that would increase interface complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The interface dynamically adjusts its content and structure based on real-time user context including location, job responsibilities, and active tasks, transforming from a static comprehensive view to an adaptive simplified view that reduces complexity while preserving necessary information
3Adaptability or versatility
If users manually navigate through the host system to find relevant actions, then all system functions are accessible, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary filtering and organization of ICS commands and actions based on the user's location and job responsibilities before presentation, so that when the user needs to perform a task, the relevant actions are already prepared and displayed, eliminating manual navigation time while maintaining full system accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments provide for a method, a system, and a computer readable medium for providing automation and control of equipment and facility resources via a mobile device of a user. Location information of a user in or near a facility is detected using a position sensor. The location information is communicated wirelessly from a mobile device of the user to a server. One or more actions are determined as being available to the user based on the location information and user role, where the actions are representative of the actions available in an ICS application. Instructions are communicated to cause the mobile device to display the determined actions in a user interface, enabling the user to receive messages and interact with equipment or facility resources located in proximity of the user by interacting with the one or more actions displayed in the user interface.