Proximity-Based Process Data Presentation on Mobile Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote desktop solutions for process control systems are inflexible, requiring users to start from a fixed position and offering cluttered displays on mobile terminals, making it difficult for maintenance engineers to efficiently access and navigate process control objects.
Innovation Solution
A method and data presentation control arrangement that guide users to the vicinity of a process control object using proximity-based navigation, emphasizing the primary object on the mobile terminal display with increasing detail as the user approaches, while hiding less relevant information to reduce clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a remote desktop solution is used to allow maintenance engineers to access process control objects independently, then operator dependency is reduced, but the interface becomes cluttered and navigation becomes inflexible on mobile terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the information display based on the user's physical location. The mobile terminal determines which process control objects are nearby and prioritizes displaying information about those objects, while minimizing clutter from distant objects. This creates a localized, context-relevant interface that adapts to the user's immediate surroundings, making navigation intuitive and the interface clear without sacrificing independence from operator assistance
2Loss of information
If all process control objects are displayed on the mobile terminal screen, then complete information is provided, but the display becomes cluttered and hard to read due to limited screen space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the most relevant information for display on the mobile terminal. By determining the user's location and identifying nearby process control objects, the system extracts and prioritizes information about those specific objects for display. Less relevant information about distant objects is minimized or hidden, allowing the limited screen area to display complete and readable information about the most important objects without clutter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes display parameters based on the user's location and the distance to process control objects. The interface adjusts which objects are displayed, their prominence, and the amount of detail shown. This parameter adaptation allows the system to provide complete information about nearby objects while managing the limited display area effectively, preventing clutter while maintaining information completeness for relevant objects
Data Source
AI summary
A method, presentation control arrangement and a computer program product enables a user of a process control system to obtain details of a process control object. Distances between a mobile terminal of the user and process control objects in an area around the mobile terminal are determined as well as the closest process control object to the mobile terminal, process data of this object is obtained and presented together with a representation of the object on a display of the mobile terminal, where the representation of the closest process control object is emphasized compared with the presentation of other process control objects and the amount of process data being presented is dependent on the distance between the mobile terminal and the process control object.