Operator Access Coordination in Process Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In process control systems, coordinating operator accesses and managing process objects during exceptional situations, such as multiple alarms, is inefficient due to extensive hierarchies and the need for manual communication among numerous operators.
Innovation Solution
An automated method recognizes and visualizes operator actions within the equipment and image hierarchies, allowing for optimized coordination without requiring operator agreements, using components that determine process objects and map alarms to tags, enabling real-time monitoring and guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual communication methods (e-mail, telephone) are used to coordinate operator accesses, then operators can communicate about system status, but coordination efficiency deteriorates and recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual communication mechanisms (e-mail, telephone) with an automated computer-based system that monitors and coordinates operator accesses electronically. The operator system automatically tracks which operators are viewing or modifying process objects and communicates this information through the user interface, eliminating the need for manual coordination while improving both reliability and recovery speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring operator accesses to process objects and immediately updating the user interface to reflect current system state. This feedback mechanism allows operators to see who is accessing what process objects, enabling coordinated action without manual communication and significantly improving system recovery efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive equipment and image hierarchies are used to manage process objects, then system organization is improved, but operator coordination becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal coordination mechanism that operates across the entire equipment and image hierarchy structure. The system universally monitors all operator accesses to any process object regardless of its position in the hierarchy, and provides centralized coordination information that simplifies navigation and coordination throughout the extensive hierarchical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary coordination layer between operators and the extensive process object hierarchies. This intermediary automatically tracks and communicates access information, serving as a mediator that simplifies the complex interactions between multiple operators and the hierarchical structure, making coordination easier without reducing organizational capability.
3Productivity
If multiple operators work simultaneously in separate control rooms, then system operation capacity is improved, but coordination difficulty increases and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback to all operators about who is accessing which process objects, creating situational awareness across distributed control rooms. This feedback prevents conflicting actions by making coordination transparent, maintaining high operation capacity while improving coordination accuracy and reducing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the coordination functions of multiple distributed operators into a unified electronic coordination system. By combining access information from all operators into a centralized view that displays to everyone, the system maintains the productivity benefits of multiple operators working simultaneously while ensuring coordinated accuracy through shared awareness.
Data Source
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AI summary
Because a process control system typically contains hundreds of plant images and thousands of process objects, the image hierarchy and equipment hierarchy are very extensive. Furthermore, numerous operators are involved in operating the plant simultaneously. This makes coordination very difficult for the operators, especially in exceptional situations when many alarms occur at once and alarm-causing process objects need to be addressed to bring the plant back to a safe state. Measures are proposed to enable efficient coordination of operator access.