Method for Positioning and a Positioning System

• US 20080284649A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mathiesen, Mogens, Bratthall, Lars, Svensson, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,944,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.13
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric

Abstract

A method for recording a position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process. A model of the facility is created, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility. The model is stored in a location system storage. A component is identified. A mobile information processing device is placed adjacent the component and position coordinates are detected for the mobile information processing device. Identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device are stored in the location system storage.

Claims

1. A method for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, the method comprising:

a) creating a model of the facility, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility,

b) storing the model in a location system storage means,

c) identifying a component in the facility,

d) placing a mobile information processing device adjacent the component and detecting position coordinates for the mobile information processing device, and

e) storing identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system storage means.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

repeating steps c, d and e for each component that is to be recorded in the location system.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a positioning system to detect the position coordinates of each position in a geographical area of the model.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using one or more nodes of wireless communication means to detect the position coordinates of each position in the model of the geographical area.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a wireless local area network to detect the position coordinates of each position in the model of the geographical area.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using button means or other input means to store the identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a data display means to store the identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using wireless communication means to store the identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a positioning system to detect the position coordinates of the location of the mobile information processing device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using wireless means to detect the position coordinates of the location of the mobile information processing device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a component comprises individual identification means attached to the component, the method further comprising:

identifying the component in the control system by the individual identification means on the component.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises image recognition means of the component, the method further comprising:

identifying the component in the control system by the image recognition means.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating means to create position coordinates for a component in the location system when implementing the component in the control system.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a component in the location system by navigating through a corresponding control system.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

separating the model of the facility in sub-areas, wherein each component located in that sub-area also has a sub-area position coordinate in the location system.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

locating a component in a physical implementation by the location coordinates of the component in the location system.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein clicking on a component or a sub-area in the location system selects that component or sub-area.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the location system is a data display picture.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile information processing device communicates with the control system through a cable between the device and the component, or the control system.

36. A computerised industrial system, comprising:

means to perform a method in an industrial system for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, according to claim 1.

37. A database, comprising:

information to be used in a method in an industrial system for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, according to claim 1.

38. A website, comprising

means to perform a method in an industrial system for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, according to claim 1.

41. The method according to claim 3, wherein the positioning system comprises a global positioning system.

42. The method according to claim 9, wherein the positioning system comprises a global positioning system.

43. The method according to claim 11, wherein the individual identification means comprises a tag.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the tag comprises a bar code, a radio frequency tag or a wireless technology link.

45. The method according to claim 18, wherein the data display picture comprises at least one of a spread sheet, a drawing or a diagram.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

programming instructions recorded on the computer readable medium to control a computer or a computer process to make it perform a method including

creating a model of the facility, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility,

storing the model in a location system storage means,

identifying a component in the facility,

placing a mobile information processing device adjacent the component and detecting position coordinates for the mobile information processing device, and

storing identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system storage means.

21. Use of a computer program according to claim 20 to control a computer or a computer process to make it perform a method in an industrial system for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process.

22. (canceled)

23. A graphical user interface for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, the graphical user interface comprising:

a) display means to display said at least one component,

b) display means to display position coordinates for said component, and

c) input means to register the position coordinates of said component.

24. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, further comprising:

a) input means to register identification information of the component; and

b) input means to register position coordinates of the mobile information.

25. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, further comprising:

display means to identify a component.

26. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, further comprising:

input means to register the position coordinates for the mobile information processing device.

27. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, further comprising:

a) display means for creating a model of the facility, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility such as sub-areas, and

b) input means to register position coordinates of the model.

28. A system for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, comprising:

a mobile information processing device,

a computer program,

graphical user interface,

a positioning system,

a location system, and

a computer.

29. The system according to claim 28, further comprising:

wireless access to information.

46. The method according to claim 28, wherein the mobile information processing device comprises a mobile hardware Personal Digital Assistant.

47. The method according to claim 28, wherein the positioning system comprises indoor or outdoor GPS, positioning by WLAN or other standards or protocols, or GSM.

48. The method according to claim 28, wherein the computer comprises a tablet personal computer.

49. The system according to claim 29, wherein the wireless access to information comprises General Packet Radio Service, VLAN, or Bluetooth.

30. A mobile information processing device for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, comprising:

a processor,

memory means,

standard interface, and

input means.

31. The device according to claim 30, further comprising:

a radio antenna,

radio receiver/transmitter hardware, and

wireless means.

32. The device according to claim 30, further comprising:

a wireless hardware member.

33. The device according to claim claim 30, wherein the wireless communication means is compatible with the ISM band with significant interference suppression means by spread spectrum technology.

34. The device according to claim 30, wherein the wireless communication means is compatible with a protocol wherein each data packet may be re-sent one or more times per second at different frequencies in the spectrum.

35. The device according to claim 30, further comprising:

a configurable hardware input/output interface.

39. A data communication signal for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, the data communication signal comprising:

position information for a position of a mobile information processing device.

40. A data communication signal for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, the data communication signal comprising:

identification information of the component.