Process Plant Search UI Using Contextual and Time-Series Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current process control systems lack effective search functionality for process plant-related data, making it difficult for users to access and navigate large datasets, and they also face challenges in securely delivering data to external systems while preventing cyber intrusions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a process plant search query server that analyzes user queries to identify subjects, modifiers, and context, and generates meaningful search results by obtaining data from a contextual knowledge repository and temporal repository, while also employing a secure edge gateway system to deliver data to external systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If process control systems store and manage large datasets from field devices and controllers, then the quantity and completeness of available data increases, but the difficulty of searching and accessing specific data items increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a search interface and search engine as intermediary components between users and the large dataset stored in databases. The search interface accepts user queries and the search engine processes these queries to retrieve relevant data items from the database, thereby mediating between the user's information needs and the extensive data storage without requiring users to directly navigate or search through the entire dataset manually
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical searching methods (such as physically navigating through data or using basic query interfaces) with an automated electronic search engine that uses algorithms to process queries and retrieve relevant data. This substitution of automated electronic search mechanisms for manual mechanical data access methods significantly improves the ease of searching and accessing process plant data
2Adaptability or versatility
If process control systems connect to external networks and devices, then remote access and data sharing capabilities improve, but vulnerability to cyber intrusions and security threats increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an edge gateway system as an intermediary component that sits between the process control system and external networks or devices. This gateway acts as a secure bridge that enables remote access and data sharing while filtering and controlling communications to prevent direct exposure of the control system to external threats, thereby mediating between the need for remote connectivity and the need for security protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the security vulnerability by implementing security measures that convert the potential harm of network connectivity into a benefit. By implementing authenticated access control and encrypted communications in the edge gateway system, the patent ensures that the very network connections that could introduce security threats are the same channels that enable secure, controlled remote access and data sharing when proper security protocols are applied
3Device complexity
If process control systems implement centralized hardware devices in control rooms, then data management and control functions are consolidated, but operator mobility and remote monitoring capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control architecture by introducing distributed components including portable user interfaces, remote computing devices, and edge gateway systems that can be deployed throughout the facility or accessed remotely. This segmentation allows control functions and data access to be distributed across multiple locations and devices while maintaining connection to the central control system, thereby enabling operator mobility and remote monitoring without completely abandoning the benefits of centralized data management
Data Source
AI summary
To provide enhanced search capabilities in a process control system, a knowledge repository is generated that includes both contextual data and time series data. The contextual data organizes process plant-related data according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities. When a user submits a process plant search query related to process plant entities within a process plant, search results are obtained by identifying a data set from the knowledge repository. The contextual data categorizes process parameters so that users can search for a particular process parameter category. Users can tag previous searches to execute them once again at a later time. Users can also execute queries for predicted or future states of process plant entities, batch queries regarding batch processes, soft sensor analytics and monitoring applications, parameter lifecycle applications, perturbation applications, step testing applications, or batch provisioning and scheduling applications using the knowledge repository.