Monitoring System for Dynamic Status Message Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

In complex technical installations like power plants, the vast amounts of measurement data generated make it difficult for operating personnel to identify and interpret relevant information for diagnosing malfunctions, leading to a need for more user-friendly and context-specific status reporting.

Innovation Solution

Implement a monitoring system that dynamically filters and selects information for status reports based on context, using data-side links and functional charts, and allows manual selection through pictograms and process images, ensuring only relevant information is displayed, reducing the complexity of data and facilitating targeted reactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If comprehensive status messages containing all available information are displayed, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to information overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the comprehensive status message into multiple individual messages, each representing a specific piece of information about the system component. This segmentation allows operators to view only the relevant individual messages needed for diagnosis, rather than being overwhelmed by a single comprehensive message containing all available information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic selection of individual messages based on the context of the abnormal condition. The control unit dynamically determines which individual messages to display by evaluating the abnormal condition's context, ensuring that the most relevant information is presented adaptively rather than using a static pre-configured message set.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If pre-configured message windows with all assigned information are used, then the reliability of information provision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to manual allocation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically determine and select the relevant individual messages based on the context of the abnormal condition, eliminating the need for manual pre-allocation of messages to status message windows. The control unit performs context evaluation and message selection automatically, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining reliable information provision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from static pre-configured message assignments to dynamic context-based message selection. The control unit adaptively determines which individual messages to include in the status message by evaluating the specific context of each abnormal condition, ensuring reliable information delivery without requiring complex manual configuration for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If context-dependent selection of individual messages is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved through targeted information, but the device complexity increases due to dynamic determination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit evaluates the context of abnormal conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically select the most relevant individual messages. This context-based feedback loop ensures that operators receive targeted information tailored to the specific situation, improving ease of operation while the automated feedback processing manages the complexity of dynamic determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the system components and the display unit, automatically evaluating contexts and selecting appropriate individual messages. This intermediary function filters and processes information before presentation, providing targeted information to operators while the automated intermediary processing handles the complexity of context-dependent selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2188688B1Method for monitoring a technical installation and monitoring system for carrying out said method
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2188688B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2188688B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2188688B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a technical installation (1) comprising a plurality of installation components (A1-A3) which are connected to one another by data transmission in order to carry out process steps, wherein status messages, each containing a number of individual messages, are optionally displayed on a display unit (36). The aim of the invention is to provide an especially adequate and user-friendly processing of information to be represented when a status message is generated. In order to achieve said aim, the invention provides that upon the initiation of the display of a status message, it is determined which individual messages associated to this status message are to be displayed.