Position-Based Search for Process Control Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
In process control systems, maintenance engineers face difficulties in efficiently searching for specific process control objects using wireless terminals with limited screen estate and input capabilities, often resulting in a large number of irrelevant search results due to the need to input long names and navigate through extensive lists of objects.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a position-based search functionality that utilizes the user's location to limit search results, allowing users to filter by proximity or building location, thereby reducing the number of search hits and improving the utilization of limited screen space on wireless terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional search function is used in a process control system with many objects of the same type, then the search may return a large number of results, but this makes it difficult for maintenance engineers to quickly identify the specific object of interest on wireless terminals with limited screen space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating spatial information (location data) into the search results. Objects are annotated with their physical locations, and search results are sorted or filtered based on proximity to the user's current location. This means that locally relevant objects (those near the user) are prioritized in the search results, making it easier for maintenance engineers to quickly find objects of interest without having to type complete names or navigate through extensive lists on wireless terminals with limited screen space
2Adaptability or versatility
If maintenance engineers use wireless terminals with small displays to search for process control objects, then portability is improved, but the limited screen estate makes it hard to display and navigate through search results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes location data from the wireless terminal to filter and prioritize search results. By extracting the spatial dimension from the search process, the system can present a reduced and relevant subset of search results on the limited screen estate, rather than displaying all possible matches. This allows maintenance engineers to keep using portable wireless terminals while overcoming the limitation of small display screens
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for sorting and filtering search results from traditional criteria (like object name or type) to include spatial proximity to the user's location. This parameter change allows the system to dynamically adjust which objects are presented first in the search results, optimizing the display for the limited screen space of wireless terminals while maintaining portability
3Measurement precision
If the search function requires input of long object names, then search precision may be maintained, but the time required for searching increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-annotating process control objects with their location information in the database. This preliminary enrichment of data allows the search function to quickly filter and rank results based on proximity to the user's location without requiring the user to input complete object names. The system can present relevant results based on partial input combined with location data, significantly reducing search time while maintaining precision
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method, searching arrangement and a computer program product for searching for process control objects in a process control system (10). A searching unit (22; 38) providing a search function receives, from a user, a first search term regarding process control objects in the process control system, obtains the position of the user in the process control system, searches for process control objects using the first search term, and presents the results of the search, where the presented results depend on the user position.