Portable Notification Workflow for Collaborative Control Room Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Control room operators in process control environments often face challenges in accessing timely and convenient information regarding process control variables, as notifications are typically displayed within the control room, limiting collaboration with personnel outside the room.
Innovation Solution
A method that transmits notifications to portable wireless devices associated with process control variables, allowing alteration and distribution of these notifications back to the control room operator and other relevant personnel, enabling collaborative assistance through acknowledgment, text annotations, and file attachments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If notifications are displayed only within the control room, then control room operators can access process control information, but personnel outside the control room cannot conveniently access or collaborate on this information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the notification system from a single-location display (control room) to multiple locations by transmitting notifications to portable wireless devices. This dimensional expansion allows personnel outside the control room to access process control information on mobile devices, enabling collaboration while maintaining the original control room display functionality.
2Loss of information
If personnel outside the control room are sent automated messages about notifications, then they can be apprised of the notifications, but they must travel to the control room or contact the operator to provide assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables personnel outside the control room to directly interact with and alter notifications using their portable wireless devices. Instead of requiring them to travel to the control room or contact the operator, they can independently acknowledge, annotate, and attach files to notifications, providing self-service capability that reduces response time and eliminates travel requirements.
3Loss of information
If control room operators have access to all notification information, then they can make informed decisions, but personnel outside the control room lack the ability to contribute their expertise to the situation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the information access capabilities of control room operators with the external expertise of personnel outside the control room by allowing both groups to interact with the same notification system. External personnel can alter notifications with their insights and expertise, and these alterations are distributed back to the control room operator, creating a combined knowledge base that improves decision-making and collaborative problem-solving.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods for collaboratively assisting a control room operator are disclosed. An example method disclosed includes receiving a notification associated with a person via a portable wireless device. The notification includes information regarding a process control variable in a process control environment. The example method further includes altering the notification by the person via the portable wireless device and transmitting the altered notification via the portable wireless device. The control room operator and other persons associated with the notification are to receive the altered notification.