Object-Specific Right Click Menu Configuration in Process Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing operation monitoring apparatuses cannot display highly flexible and dynamic right click menus that vary according to the selected object, as the configuration of the right click menu remains the same regardless of the object, limiting the ability to provide object-specific information.
Innovation Solution
An operation monitoring apparatus that holds individual menu definition files specific to each object, allowing for the retrieval and display of unique right click menus by using an object file holding means, retrieval means, and screen display means, enabling the display of menus with a hierarchical structure and allowing for object-by-object customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a general-purpose menu table is used to display right click menus, then the menu structure is simple and easy to manage, but the menu configuration cannot vary according to different objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the menu definition into individual files for each object (e.g., IFIC200.Menu, TIV200.Menu) rather than using a single general-purpose menu table. Each object's menu is defined in its own dedicated file, allowing independent customization without affecting other objects. This segmentation enables the menu configuration to vary according to different objects while maintaining manageable file structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing each object to have its own specific menu definition file with customized menu items, commands, and parameters tailored to that object's functionality. For example, the IFIC200 object can have different menu items than the TIV200 object, with each file containing only the relevant local definitions for that specific object type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual menu definition files are created for each object, then object-specific menu customization is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically retrieving and loading the appropriate menu definition file based on the selected object's tag name. When an operator selects an object, the system automatically identifies the corresponding .Menu file (e.g., IFIC200.Menu) and loads it without requiring manual configuration or complex lookup tables. This automation reduces the perceived complexity for users while maintaining the flexibility of individual object customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the object identification mechanism with the menu retrieval mechanism. The tag name of the selected object serves dual purposes: it identifies the object itself and simultaneously identifies the corresponding menu definition file (by appending the .Menu extension). This merging eliminates the need for separate menu configuration tables or complex mapping relationships, simplifying the overall system structure while enabling object-specific customization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a general-purpose menu table with special keywords is used, then partial object-dependent display is possible, but highly flexible dynamic menus cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining complete menu configurations in separate files for each object type before runtime. Instead of using special keywords that require interpretation during menu display, the entire menu structure, items, and commands are预先 prepared in the object's dedicated .Menu file. This preliminary preparation enables highly flexible dynamic menus to be displayed immediately when the object is selected, without requiring complex keyword substitution or runtime generation.
Data Source
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AI summary
An operation monitoring apparatus capable of displaying right click menus varying in configuration from each other according to a select object on an operation-monitoring screen (100) is realized. The operation monitoring apparatus of a process control system comprising an object file holding means (300) for holding a plurality of individual menu definition files (301) registered under object names, respectively, having menu items defined on an object-by-object basis, in an object (101) displayed on the operation-monitoring screen (100), the object (101) being a target for display on a right click menu screen (102), a retrieval means (200) for acquiring information on the object name of the object (101) subjected to right click on the operation-monitoring screen (100), and retrieving the object file holding means (300), thereby extracting the individual menu definition file (301) registered under the object name, and a screen display means (30) for acquiring information on the individual menu definition file (301) as extracted, and displaying the right click menu screen (102) on the operation-monitoring screen (100).