Process Control Tag Relationship Navigation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process control systems lack the ability to effectively utilize relationships between physical and logical entities, such as device to standard operating procedure documents and Materials Safety Data Sheets, which are crucial for the successful operation of a plant but are not reflected in operator displays, requiring manual hardcoding of navigation links.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that defines relationships between process control tags, storing these relationships in a data store and using them to create navigational links within a graphical interface, allowing any entity to be navigationally linked, including devices, controllers, areas, units, loops, and documentation, without impacting control performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual hardcoding of navigation links is used, then navigation between entities can be implemented, but the system complexity increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically discovers and establishes navigation links by querying the data store for relationships between process control tags. When a user selects an entity, the system self-services by automatically populating the navigation pane with related entities without requiring manual configuration, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining ease of navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The relationships between process control tags are pre-stored in the data store during system initialization or configuration phases. This preliminary action allows the navigation system to quickly retrieve and display relationships without requiring real-time computation or manual hardcoding, improving both ease of operation and reducing system complexity.
2Loss of information
If relationships between entities are not reflected in operator displays, then control performance is maintained, but information accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data store as an intermediary component that stores relationship information between process control tags. This data store acts as a mediator between the control system and the operator interface, allowing relationship information to be retrieved and displayed without impacting control performance, thereby improving information accessibility and operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the operator interface by incorporating a navigation pane that displays relationships between entities in addition to the traditional process display. This dimensional addition allows operators to access relationship information without interfering with control operations, simultaneously improving information accessibility and operational efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If manual hardcoding of navigation links is required, then navigation functionality is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically retrieves relationship data from the data store and populates the navigation interface without requiring manual hardcoding. This self-service mechanism eliminates time-consuming manual configuration while maintaining ease of navigation setup, as the system performs the configuration work automatically based on stored relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
Relationship data is pre-stored in the data store during initial system setup or configuration phases. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly generate navigation links without requiring time-consuming manual hardcoding during operation, significantly reducing configuration time while maintaining navigation functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Navigation between process control graphics representative of process control entities in an operator display includes a list of relationship value references and process control graphical element identifications associated with each relationship value reference. Each process control graphical element identification uniquely identifies a process control graphical element of the operator display, each relationship is between various physical/logical entities and each relationship value reference uniquely identifies a logical and/or physical relationship between two or more entities within the process plant. One or more relationships are associated with a graphical object. Each relationship value reference is bound to two or more process control graphical elements of the operator display based on associated process control graphical element identifications.