Machinery Monitoring GUI Workflows for Direct View Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Condition monitoring systems in industrial settings face challenges in user customization and navigation efficiency, as different users employ tools in varying orders and workflows, and navigational flow between applications can be complex, making it difficult to maintain context when transitioning between analysis tools.

Innovation Solution

The development of improved graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that allow users to customize their workflows and enable non-hierarchical navigation between machine component views, using a GUI builder to define and customize workflows, and generate navigation objects that facilitate direct navigation between different visualizations, regardless of their hierarchical positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed hierarchical navigation structure is used in the GUI, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but users cannot efficiently navigate between non-hierarchical components and must traverse through multiple intermediate levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation efficiencyVSAvoidGUI structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces navigation objects as intermediary elements that mediate between the fixed hierarchical GUI structure and user navigation needs. These navigation objects act as shortcuts or direct links between components at different hierarchical levels, allowing users to navigate directly between parent and child components without traversing intermediate levels, thus resolving the contradiction between simple structure and efficient navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the navigation function from the hierarchical structure by introducing separate navigation objects that operate independently from the fixed hierarchical paths. This segmentation allows the GUI to maintain its simple hierarchical structure while providing efficient non-hierarchical navigation through separate navigation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If the GUI displays all available tools and components, then users have access to complete information, but the interface becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinterface usability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic visibility and accessibility of GUI components based on user context, selection state, and workflow needs. Components are dynamically displayed or hidden, and navigation objects are dynamically generated or activated, allowing the interface to adapt to user needs without permanently cluttering the display with all possible tools and components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-generates navigation objects and organizes components based on anticipated user needs and common workflows. This preliminary organization allows users to access frequently needed components and navigation paths without encountering interface clutter, as the system has already prepared and positioned relevant elements for efficient access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple display views and components are made accessible at the same level, then users can quickly access different visualizations, but the hierarchical structure becomes complex with multiple levels separating components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnosis efficiencyVSAvoidhierarchical structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses navigation objects as intermediary elements that provide direct access between components separated by multiple hierarchical levels. These navigation objects serve as shortcuts that bypass the complex hierarchical structure, allowing users to quickly access different visualizations and components without navigating through intermediate levels, thus improving diagnosis efficiency without altering the underlying hierarchical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3819737B1Customizable workflows for machinery management
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
  • EP3819737B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3819737B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3819737B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A condition monitoring system can include a memory and a processor. The memory can receive datasets associated with respective ones of a plurality of components in an industrial environment. The components can include machines and devices. The processor can receive datasets from the memory and generate a first GUI. The first GUI can display, in a first GUI portion, a hierarchical component list and a list of views for the components. The first GUI can also display, in a second GUI portion, a first visualization defined by a first hierarchical list component and a first view of list of views. The first GUI can further display a first navigation object overlaid with the first visualization. The first navigation object can be associated with a second visualization, different from the first visualization. The second GUI portion to display the second visualization in response to selection of the first navigation object.