Trend Curve Display with Interpolation for Process Data Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

In process engineering, the infrequent updating of process values due to event-oriented transmission and connection failures leads to operators working with 'old' data, compromising the reliability of operation and monitoring, especially in telecontrol systems where not all changed values are transferred, resulting in incomplete and outdated trend curves.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that involves receiving measured values from technical objects, interpolating values when updates are unavailable, generating and transmitting actual and interpolated trend profiles to operators, and visually presenting these for continuous monitoring and correction, with the ability to integrate actual values once they become available.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If event-driven transmission is used to reduce data transmission frequency, then energy consumption and network load are reduced, but the reliability and continuity of trend curve data deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidtrend curve reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing historical process data locally in the operator station before it becomes critical. When data transmission is interrupted, the operator station can retrieve and display previously stored data, ensuring continuity of the trend curve without requiring frequent real-time transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a local data storage buffer in the operator station that mediates between the automation station and the display system. This buffer stores process data locally, allowing the trend curve to continue displaying during transmission interruptions, thus maintaining reliability while allowing infrequent updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If remote control systems transmit only changed values in packets, then transmission efficiency is improved, but the completeness and timeliness of process data deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidprocess data completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores complete process data packets locally in the operator station before transmission interruptions occur. This preliminary storage ensures that even if only changed values are transmitted later, the operator station already has the complete data set needed to reconstruct accurate trend curves without information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If connection outages occur, then system robustness is improved, but the availability of real-time process data deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem robustnessVSAvoiddata availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a local data storage buffer as an intermediary between the automation station and the display system. During connection outages, this buffer provides stored process data to maintain trend curve display, ensuring data availability remains high even when the connection is unstable or interrupted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares cushioning data by pre-storing process values locally in the operator station. This beforehand cushioning creates a data reserve that protects against connection outages, allowing the trend curve to continue displaying uninterrupted during periods when the connection is unavailable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Reliability

If measuring points fail, then system fault tolerance is improved, but the ability to derive operating instructions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault toleranceVSAvoidoperating information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

When a measuring point fails, the local data storage buffer in the operator station acts as an intermediary, providing previously stored data from that measuring point. This allows the trend curve to continue displaying information from the failed measuring point, enabling operators to maintain situational awareness and derive operating instructions even during measurement failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3819727B1Control system for a technical installation with a trend curve diagram
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3819727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3819727B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3819727B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for displaying operator information in the context of a technical system is proposed, which has at least one Operator Station Server (2) and one Operator Station Client (3). The method comprises: a) receiving measured values ​​from at least one technical object (8, 9) of the technical system by means of the Operator Station Server; b) continuously generating an actual trend of the measured value, wherein, in the event that no measured value can be received from the at least one technical object (8, 9), the measured value is interpolated to generate an interpolated trend until a measured value can be received again; c) transmitting the actual and the interpolated trend from the Operator Station Server (2) to the Operator Station Client (3).d) Visual presentation of the actual and the interpolated trend to an operator of the technical system, preferably in a common trend diagram (13) .;