Context-Aware Search Engine for Process Control Runtime Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Process control systems face challenges in efficiently managing search results across multiple databases, as existing search engines often fail to index real-time data and provide up-to-date information, requiring users to search multiple databases manually and lacking context-based search capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a search engine to index control parameters corresponding to runtime data generated by process controllers, allowing for context-based searches and displaying relevant, updated search results within a specific display context, including the ability to save and promote frequently used searches and maintain a backup index for availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a search engine indexes control parameters corresponding to runtime data generated by process controllers, then search results are up-to-date and context-aware, but system complexity increases due to the need to manage multiple databases and indexing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple databases (process control database, operator manual database, maintenance manual database) into a unified search system that indexes control parameters across all databases simultaneously. This merging allows the search engine to retrieve relevant information from any database using a single search query, eliminating the need for users to manually search multiple databases while maintaining comprehensive coverage of all available information.
Solution Approach 2:
The search engine acts as an intermediary between users and multiple databases. It receives search requests, queries the search index that contains control parameters from various databases, and returns relevant results. This intermediary layer simplifies the user interface while managing the complexity of multiple databases in the background.
2Measurement precision
If the system provides context-based search results by determining display context, then search accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-indexing control parameters from runtime data and multiple databases before search requests are made. The search index is maintained in advance, containing organized control parameters that can be quickly retrieved. This preliminary indexing reduces the processing time during actual search operations while maintaining high accuracy through context-based filtering.
3Reliability
If the system indexes runtime data from process controllers, then information availability improves, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The search system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various types of data from multiple sources (runtime data from process controllers, operator manuals, maintenance manuals). The unified search engine can process and retrieve information from all these sources using the same interface and indexing mechanism, simplifying data management while improving information availability across different user needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Example methods and apparatus to manage process control search results are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a search parameter from a user via an application to view search results associated with the search parameter, determining a display context based on the application, searching a search index for control parameters that match the search parameter to form a set of matched control parameters, wherein the search index includes control parameters that correspond to runtime data generated by a controller within a process control system, and rendering the set of matched control parameters for display via the application as the search results based on the determined display context.