Setting Screen Reference Linking for Faster Control System Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of components in a control system increases, the complexity of connection relationships and settings between components leads to time-consuming extraction of relevant settings for users in information processing devices.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device with a reception part for designating components and their connections, a setting screen processing part for displaying settings by category, a reference item processing part for associating and displaying reference items, and a collective processing part that duplicates and collectively displays relevant reference items when a selected reference item is chosen, including items from related and connected components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of components in the control system increases, then the functionality and complexity of the system improve, but the time required to extract relevant settings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system settings into multiple setting categories (e.g., motion control, I/O control, communication control) and organizes reference items hierarchically by category. When a user selects a component, the system extracts and displays only the reference items relevant to that component's setting category, rather than presenting all settings. This segmentation reduces the time required to extract relevant settings while maintaining comprehensive system functionality.
2Ease of operation
If settings are organized by component and setting category, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested hierarchical structure where setting categories contain multiple reference items, and each reference item is associated with specific components. The system nests the display structure so that when a user selects a component, the relevant setting categories and their associated reference items are automatically organized and displayed in a nested manner. This nesting approach improves ease of operation by providing a structured, layered view of settings while managing complexity through automatic organization rather than requiring complex user navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a setting category as an intermediary layer between components and reference items. Instead of directly linking components to all their settings, the system uses setting categories as mediators that organize and filter the display of reference items. This intermediary structure simplifies user interaction by providing a logical grouping mechanism, while the automated management of these categories and their associations handles the underlying complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
When a first reference item is selected, an information processing device duplicates a second reference item associated with a second setting screen belonging to another setting category related to a component, which is a setting target of a first setting screen associated with the first reference item, and duplicates a third reference item associated with a third setting screen, of which a setting target is another component electrically or mechanically connected to the component being the setting target of the first setting screen. The information processing device duplicates and collectively displays one or multiple reference items including at least one of the second reference item and the third reference item.