Mobile Alarm Notification System for Industrial Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial automation systems, the large number of alarms generated by industrial controllers can be overwhelming for operators, as current alarm notification methods may not reach all operators effectively, especially when they are away from their posts or responsible for multiple alarms, leading to inefficiencies in data monitoring and manual logging processes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for personalized alarm notifications using a mobile application that allows users to specify notification criteria, upload these criteria to an alarm service, receive relevant notifications, and download associated alarm data, enabling customized and timely alerts through visual, audible, or tactile means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional centralized alarm notification methods are used, then alarm coverage can be comprehensive, but operators away from their posts or with multiple alarms cannot receive timely notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile computing devices (smartphones, tablets) as a new dimension for alarm notification delivery. Instead of relying solely on fixed floor alarms at control stations, the system delivers notifications to operators' portable devices, enabling alarm reception anywhere in the facility or remotely. This dimensional shift from fixed-location to mobile notification solves the problem of operators being away from their posts or handling multiple alarms simultaneously.
2Loss of information
If all alarms are monitored centrally, then complete alarm data is available, but customization of individual alarms becomes onerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service alarm customization where each operator independently configures their own alarm preferences, notification methods, and priority levels through a user interface on their mobile device. The system automatically processes these individualized settings and delivers customized alarm streams to each operator without requiring centralized manual configuration. This eliminates the onerous task of centralized customization while maintaining complete alarm data availability.
3Loss of information
If manual logging of alarms is required, then detailed records can be maintained, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual logging with automated electronic data capture and transmission. When an alarm is triggered, the system automatically logs the alarm details, timestamp, and relevant parameters in a digital database accessible through the mobile application. Operators receive structured notifications with all necessary information already recorded, eliminating the need for manual writing or data entry while maintaining complete and accurate alarm records.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for generating one or more personalized alarm notifications in an industrial environment. In an implementation, including a storage device and a processing system coupled together, with a mobile application stored on the storage device and having program instructions that, when executed by the processing system, direct the processing system render a configuration module through which to receive user input specifying notification criteria related to alarms in an industrial process environment, upload the notification criteria to an alarm service that receives the alarms from the industrial process environment, receive a notification from the alarm service associated with one or more of the alarms that satisfy the notification criteria, display the notification in a notification module, and in response to a user selection of the notification, download the one or more alarms.