Operator Station Notifications for Continuous State Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control systems for technical plants restrict operators' ability to continuously monitor the status of measuring devices during runtime, requiring them to leave the special search function open, limiting actual operation and observation, and only allow snapshot updates.
Innovation Solution
An operator station server enables continuous monitoring of definable measuring device states, notifying operators of changes independently of the system image, allowing flexible and persistent configuration of status change notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operators use the special search function to continuously monitor measuring device states, then monitoring capability is improved, but operation and observation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the monitoring function from the visual presentation by implementing independent state monitoring of measuring devices that operates separately from the system image display. This allows operators to monitor device states through notifications without being constrained by the visual interface, resolving the contradiction between monitoring reliability and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces notifications as an intermediary mechanism that conveys measuring device state changes to operators independently of the visual system image. This intermediary notification system enables continuous monitoring without requiring operators to maintain a specific interface view, thus improving monitoring capability while preserving operational freedom.
2Loss of information
If operators leave the special search function open for continuous monitoring, then state changes are detected, but actual operation and observation are severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous state monitoring through notifications that operate persistently in the background without requiring the search function to remain open. This ensures continuous detection of state changes while allowing operators to freely navigate and interact with the system, maintaining both information completeness and operational productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system provides continuous feedback to operators about measuring device state changes without requiring them to actively maintain a monitoring interface. This feedback mechanism ensures operators are informed of all state changes while preserving their ability to perform other operations, thus preventing information loss without compromising productivity.
3Device complexity
If only snapshot updates are allowed, then system simplicity is maintained, but continuous monitoring capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system acts as an intermediary that provides continuous monitoring capability without requiring complex continuous update mechanisms in the visual interface. The notifications handle the continuous monitoring function separately, allowing the main system to remain simple while achieving reliable continuous monitoring through the intermediary notification layer.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control system (1) for a technical plant, in particular a process or manufacturing plant, is proposed, comprising at least one Operator Station Server (2) and one Operator Station Client (3), wherein the Operator Station Server (2) includes a computer-implemented visualization service (12) configured to transmit at least one plant image (14) to the Operator Station Client (3), and wherein the Operator Station Client (3) is configured to visually present the at least one plant image (14) to an operator of the control system (1) for operation and monitoring of the technical plant, and wherein a digital image (10) of the technical plant, in particular a process image, is implemented on the Operator Station Server (2).The control system (1) is characterized in that the Operator Station Server (2) is configured to enable the operator, via the Operator Station Client (3), to continuously monitor at runtime a state of a measuring device (9) of the technical system that can be defined by the operator at runtime, wherein the Operator Station Server (2) is configured to notify the operator, via the Operator Station Client (3), of a change in the state of the measuring device (9), independent of a visual presentation of the system image (14), wherein the state of the measuring device (9) can be determined from the digital image (10) of the technical system implemented on the Operator Station Server (2).