Reusable GUI Component for Intelligent Device Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for configuring intelligent devices in industrial control and automation systems result in inconsistent user experiences due to device-specific and application-specific tools, leading to varying features and functions across different software applications and devices, causing user frustration and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
An architecture that provides a reusable graphical user interface (GUI) component, adaptable to various devices and applications, ensuring consistent visual representation and control of device features, facilitated by an adapter or 'wrapper' that interacts with host applications in a manner consistent with their context, allowing the GUI component to be reused across different devices and applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If device-specific and application-specific tools are used for configuration, then each tool can be optimized for its specific device or application, but the user experience becomes inconsistent and users must learn multiple different interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal configuration interface framework that provides a consistent user experience across multiple devices and applications. The framework includes a common interface definition, standardized control elements, and unified navigation structure that works for configuring various intelligent devices (motors, drives, controllers) across different applications (SCADA, HMI, MES), eliminating the need for users to learn multiple different interfaces while maintaining optimized functionality for each specific device type
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple monolithic configuration packages are used to support diverse components, then comprehensive device support is achieved, but the cost increases and configuration becomes confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configuration system into a modular framework structure with separate configurable components. Instead of using monolithic configuration packages, the system divides functionality into: (1) a common framework providing universal interface definitions and control mechanisms, (2) device-specific plugins that implement device-particular configuration parameters, and (3) application-specific extensions that add domain-related functionality. This segmentation reduces complexity by allowing users to access only the relevant configuration elements for their specific device while maintaining comprehensive support through the modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user interface and device-specific configuration parameters. This intermediary framework translates user interactions into device-independent commands and handles the complexity of device-specific protocols, communication protocols, and parameter formats automatically, presenting a simplified consistent interface to users while maintaining comprehensive device support through the intermediary translation layer
3Ease of operation
If consistent interface features are implemented across all devices and applications, then user experience is standardized and training costs are reduced, but the ability to support diverse device features may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing device-specific configuration parameters and control mechanisms to be implemented within the standardized framework. Each device type maintains its unique configuration capabilities while presenting them through a consistent interface structure. The framework provides standardized control elements (buttons, sliders, displays) that can be locally adapted to show device-specific parameters. This enables interface consistency at the macro level while preserving device feature flexibility at the micro level through localized parameter definitions and device-specific plugin implementations
Data Source
AI summary
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate consistent experiences with respect to control or configuration of a feature or function of a device. In particular, a reusable graphical user interface (GUI) component can be employed to interact with a specific feature or function of the device rather than to a specific device or application.