Operator Interface List Filtering for Process Plant Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators in process engineering plants face difficulties in navigating extensive plant diagram hierarchies and identifying relevant automation plans and objects during operation and monitoring, especially when dealing with complex displays like message sequence or trend displays with active alarms.
Innovation Solution
A control system that visually displays a graphical representation of an object alongside a separate list of related elements, adapting the list in real-time based on operator requests, such as via symbols or voice input, to focus on essential elements relevant to the current activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If plant diagram hierarchies and technological hierarchies are used to represent process plants, then comprehensive operation and monitoring capability is achieved, but navigation and identification of relevant automation plans and objects become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and displays only the relevant automation plans and objects that are currently needed for the operator's task, separating them from the complete hierarchy. This is achieved by detecting the operator's current context (e.g., which plant diagram is active) and automatically filtering the list to show only related elements, thus eliminating the need to navigate through extensive hierarchies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the information display into multiple functional areas: a graphical representation area showing the current plant diagram, and a separate list area showing only relevant automation plans and objects. This segmentation allows the operator to view comprehensive information in the graphical area while having quick access to relevant elements in the segmented list area without being overwhelmed by the complete hierarchy.
2Loss of information
If extensive plant diagram hierarchies are displayed, then complete system overview is provided, but operator efficiency in compiling relevant plans and objects decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting the operator's current context and pre-filtering the list of automation plans and objects to show only relevant items before the operator needs them. This eliminates the operator's manual effort to compile relevant items and directly presents the filtered list, thereby improving efficiency without losing system overview capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple displays (message sequence, trend display, SFC) are opened simultaneously, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but recognition of relevant automation plans and objects becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary function that automatically detects the operator's current context (which display is active, what task is being performed) and mediates between the multiple open displays and the list of automation plans and objects. This intermediary automatically filters and prioritizes the list based on the current context, making relevant elements immediately recognizable without requiring the operator to manually search through all elements related to multiple displays.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control system (13) for a technical installation, in particular a manufacturing or processing installation, which is designed to visually display a graphic representation of at least one object (4, 11, 12) and a list (2) of various elements relating to the technical installation, separate from the graphic representation, in an image display (1) for operation and observation by an operator of the control system (13). The control system (13) is characterized in that it is designed to adapt the list (2) in response to a request from the operator during runtime of the technical installation in such a way that only elements (5) in the list (2) are visually displayed which are related to the at least one object (4, 11, 12).