Thin Client HMI Layout for Role-Based Combined Visualizations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional human machine interfaces (HMIs) in industrial automation lack flexibility in combining and altering data, limiting their utility, especially in mobile and thin client environments, where they primarily reproduce views from originating devices without allowing for significant customization or interaction.
Innovation Solution
A visualization manager system that configures a layout of combined automation visualizations, allowing thin client HMIs to access multiple visualizations from various industrial automation sources, defining which visualizations to include, their location, and layout, enabling users to customize and interact with the combined visualizations based on user roles, location, and other factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If thin client HMIs simply reproduce views from originating devices, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but adaptability and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The thin client HMI is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only reproduces views from originating devices but also combines multiple visualizations from different sources, applies layout configurations, and adapts to different user roles and locations. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling the device to remain simple in operation while simultaneously providing high adaptability through configuration-based versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
A configuration system acts as an intermediary between the originating devices and the thin client HMI. This intermediary provides layout configurations that define how visualizations from multiple sources are combined and displayed, allowing the thin client to adapt to different scenarios without increasing operational complexity for the end user.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple visualizations from different sources are combined into a single display, then adaptability and information completeness are improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration system serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of combining multiple visualizations. It receives layout configurations that specify how visualizations from different industrial automation sources should be combined, positioned, and sized. This intermediary approach allows the thin client HMI to display comprehensive combined visualizations without the complexity being embedded in the HMI device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
Layout configurations are prepared in advance, defining the combination, positioning, and sizing of multiple visualizations before they are displayed. This preliminary action allows the system to present complex combined visualizations on demand without requiring the thin client HMI to have built-in complexity for real-time composition of multiple data sources.
3Ease of manufacture
If pre-defined screens are used in conventional HMIs, then ease of manufacture and implementation are improved, but adaptability and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-defined screens to dynamic combined visualizations. Layout configurations enable the HMI to dynamically combine multiple visualizations from different sources according to user roles, locations, and specific operational contexts. This dynamic approach maintains ease of manufacture through configuration files while providing flexibility through runtime adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter-based layout configurations that can be changed to adapt to different scenarios. By modifying configuration parameters (such as which visualizations to include, their positions, and sizes), the system can adapt to different user needs and operational contexts without requiring manual screen redesign or complex programming changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A combined visualization configuration is stored and provided by a visualization manager to a thin client HMI. Based upon the configuration, the thin client HMI accesses individual visualizations from automation components, such as automation controllers, motor controllers, camera, and so forth. Policies may be established for users and their roles, and for particular thin client HMIs, and for particular locations of or around a machine or process being monitored and/or controlled. Based on the policies, the individual visualizations are combined and may be changed if one or more of the factors changes. Interactions with the individual visualizations of the combined visualization result in signals back to the automation components originating the visualizations.