Web HMI Part Grouping for Lower PLC Signal Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SCADA HMI systems require a large number of PLC signals to control the appearance of multiple parts on an HMI screen, leading to complex logic in the monitor control system and increased communication load, which complicates engineering efficiency and runtime performance.
Innovation Solution
The SCADA web HMI system integrates parts with identical attributes on the HMI screen, reducing the number of PLC signals needed by generating integrated part identifiers and using web browser functionality to update the display states of multiple parts with a single PLC signal, thereby simplifying the engineering process and improving runtime performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each part on the HMI screen is assigned a unique PLC signal, then the display state of each part can be controlled independently, but the number of PLC signals increases and the logic in the monitor control system becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple parts that share identical attributes into a single integrated part. Instead of assigning unique PLC signals to each individual part, the system assigns one PLC signal to the integrated part, which then automatically updates all constituent parts. This reduces the number of PLC signals from n (for n parts) to 1, significantly simplifying the monitor control system logic while maintaining independent control capability for groups of parts with the same attributes.
2Ease of operation
If each part on the HMI screen is assigned a unique PLC signal, then the display state of each part can be controlled independently, but the communication amount between the monitor control system and the HMI subsystem increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple parts into integrated parts based on identical attributes, reducing the total number of PLC signals required. Instead of transmitting n separate PLC signals for n parts, the system transmits only 1 PLC signal per integrated part group. This dramatically reduces the communication load between the monitor control system and the HMI subsystem while preserving the ability to independently control display states of different part groups.
3Productivity
If multiple PLC signals are used to control parts with identical color patterns, then each part can be controlled individually, but the engineering efficiency decreases and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent automatically identifies and merges parts that share identical attributes (such as color patterns, shapes, or other visual characteristics) into integrated parts. This automated grouping process significantly improves engineering efficiency by reducing the manual configuration work required. Instead of configuring n separate PLC signal assignments for n identical parts, the engineer only needs to configure 1 PLC signal assignment for the integrated group, thereby improving productivity and reducing system complexity simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An SCADA web HMI system includes a web browser for displaying an HMI screen. An integrated part identifier generation unit generates a new integrated part identifier when attribute identifiers of first part data and second part data are identical. A part data change unit changes part identifiers of the first part data and the second part data to the integrated part identifier. An integrated item name generation unit generates an integrated item name in which a screen identifier of the HMI screen, the integrated part identifier, and the identical attribute identifier are combined. The web browser changes, when a PLC signal received from a programmable logic controller corresponds to the integrated item name, a display state of the first part based on first display information and changes a display state of the second part based on second display information, according to the value of the received PLC signal.