Industrial UI Widget Layout for KPI-Focused Data Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation environments face challenges in effectively visualizing and customizing the display of operational data from machines, limiting user interaction and efficiency in monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs).
Innovation Solution
A display composer interface is provided that allows users to design customized display layouts for industrial automation applications, enabling the selection and positioning of data items, such as KPIs, to create a tailored graphical user interface with dynamic updates, optimizing data presentation and reducing unnecessary operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standardized graphical user interface is used to display operational data, then the system is simple to implement and maintain, but it limits user interaction and efficiency in monitoring key performance indicators
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical user interface is segmented into multiple widget types (e.g., KPI widgets, trend widgets, alarm widgets) that can be independently selected and configured. Each widget represents a discrete functional unit that can be customized without affecting the entire interface system, enabling users to build tailored interfaces from modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface transitions from a static standardized design to a dynamic customizable layout where users can modify widget positions, sizes, and configurations based on their specific monitoring needs. The system dynamically adapts to different user preferences and operational contexts while maintaining underlying standardization.
2Loss of information
If all operational data items are displayed on the interface, then complete information is provided, but resource usage increases and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and displays only the most relevant data items and KPIs that users select for their specific monitoring needs, rather than displaying all available operational data. This extraction approach maintains information quality by presenting curated, high-value data while reducing the computational and energy resources required to render and update the complete dataset.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a customized display layout is created for each user, then user-specific needs are met, but the complexity of interface creation and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides pre-configured widget templates and common interface patterns that users can select and modify with minimal effort. These preliminary configurations include standard KPI displays, trend visualizations, and alarm presentations, allowing users to create customized interfaces by adapting existing templates rather than building from scratch, thereby reducing creation complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques to facilitate visualization ofan application associated with an industrial automation environment are disclosed. In at least one implementation, a display composer interface is presented that enables a user to design a customized display layout for the application associated with the industrial automation environment. Data display instructions are received comprising a user selection of at least one data item associated with an operation of a machine in the industrial automation environment. Position information that identifies where to display the at least one data item is also received. The data display instructions and the position information are processed to generate the customized display layout for the application. Based on the customized display layout, a graphical user interface is rendered to the application having the at least one data item positioned according to the position information.