SCADA Alarm List Integration for Operator Short Message Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current SCADA systems lack effective mechanisms to ensure operators are continuously informed of urgent instructions and actions related to process objects, leading to potential fatal consequences if manual notes are overlooked.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an input/output window with an input field for short messages and an activation means, allowing operators to create and manage alarm instances, which are stored as alarm messages and displayed in a message sequence, enabling acknowledgment and traceability, with a 'Trigger Alarm' option for reminders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operators use manual sticky notes or integrated memo functions in SCADA systems, then they can leave instructions for next shifts or successors, but these memos can be overlooked or addressed late leading to disastrous consequences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the memo function with the alarm management system by integrating short message input fields into the alarm list interface. When operators enter short messages and activate the activation means, the system creates alarm instances from these messages and displays them in the message sequence display alongside other alarm messages. This integration ensures that urgent instructions receive the same attention and notification mechanisms as critical alarm conditions, preventing them from being overlooked.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously displaying short messages as alarm messages in the message sequence display, which shows the latest alarm messages in chronological order. This ensures operators are continuously informed about pending instructions during their routine tasks. The alarm management system provides acknowledgment mechanisms and audit trails that feedback the status of these instructions to operators and the system.
2Reliability
If operators continuously monitor all alarm messages and short messages, then they can ensure urgent instructions are not missed, but this increases the complexity of the operator interface and information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines short message notifications with the existing alarm message display infrastructure. By integrating short messages into the alarm list and message sequence display, the system leverages the already-established alarm monitoring interface rather than creating a separate notification system. This approach maintains reliability through continuous visibility while avoiding additional interface complexity that would arise from a separate memo monitoring system.
3Reliability
If the system integrates short messages into the alarm management system with alarm instances and message sequence display, then operators are continuously informed of urgent instructions, but this increases the system complexity and integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm management system is extended to serve multiple functions: it continues to handle traditional alarm messages while also managing short messages as alarm instances. The message sequence display and alarm list serve dual purposes by displaying both conventional alarm messages and short message conversions. This multi-functionality approach increases reliability through continuous notification while minimizing additional system complexity by reusing existing alarm management infrastructure rather than building separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The administration component for managing process objects acts as an intermediary that translates short messages into alarm instances. When operators enter short messages and activate the activation means, this intermediary component creates corresponding alarm instances, stores them in the alarm list, and manages their display in the message sequence display. This intermediary layer simplifies the integration complexity by providing a standardized translation mechanism between the memo function and alarm management system.
4Ease of operation
If operators use traditional memo functions linked to process objects, then they can document actions and instructions, but these memos can only be created and read in a single view and may be overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by displaying short messages as alarm messages in the message sequence display, which continuously shows the latest alarm messages. This ensures operators are continuously informed about pending instructions during their routine tasks across different views and operator units, not just in a single face plate view. The alarm management system provides acknowledgment mechanisms that feedback the completion status of these instructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm management system serves multiple functions by handling both traditional alarm messages and short messages through the same infrastructure. The message sequence display and alarm list display both types of messages uniformly, allowing operators to access and monitor all urgent communications across different views and operator units through a single integrated interface, enhancing both ease of operation and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a process monitoring system (100) with at least one first operating unit (1) which is connected to a server (3). The server (3) has a visualization service (6) for monitoring an automation system (10). The visualization service (6) is configured with a variable management system (8) for process values (PV) from a process image (7), and is further configured with an alarm management system (9) and an alarm list (13) with alarm messages (A1). The visualization service (6) is configured to supply the at least first operating unit (1) with process values (PV) and alarm messages (A1). The first operating unit (1) is configured to display a process object (15, 16) with its process values (PV) in an input/output window (4). The first operating unit (1) is further configured to display a message sequence display (14) with alarm messages (A1) from the alarm list (13). The input/output window (4) is equipped with an input field. (20) for short messages (M1,M2,M3) and furthermore has an activation means (21), wherein an administration component (5) for managing the process objects (15,16) is present and is configured to create an alarm instance (15a,16a) for the process object (15,16) assigned to the input field (20) when a short message (M1,M2,M3) is entered and an activation means (21) is activated, and to store the assigned short message (M1,M2,M3) as a further alarm message (A') in the alarm list (13), wherein the message sequence display (14) is extended to display the further alarm messages (A') from the alarm list (13) as short messages (M1,M2,M3).