COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR SHARING VISUALIZATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION DATA

• US 20090089682A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Gordon, Kevin George, Baier, John Joseph, Hobbs, Mark, Fuller, Bruce Gordan, Jasper, Taryl Jon, McGreevy, Robert Joseph, Bromley, Clifton Harold, Schouten, Teunis Hendrik, Reichard, Douglas James
• Application Number:
  US11/863,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20090089682A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A visualization system that generates a collaborative visualization environment in an industrial automation environment is provided. A view component maps a plurality of displays to respective users. A visualization component dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received information and inferred or determined entity context. A collaboration component receives instructions or requests to initiate a collaboration with another user, machine, or displays the collaboration component provides for joining multiple users, machines, or displays to create a common view or workspace via the view component and the visualization component.

Claims

1. A visualization system that generates a collaborative visualization environment in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

a view component that maps a plurality of displays to respective users;

a visualization component that dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received information and inferred or determined entity context; and

a collaboration component that receives instructions or requests to initiate a collaboration with another user, machine, or displays the collaboration component provides for joining multiple users, machines, or displays to create a common view or workspace via the view component and the visualization component.

2. The system of claim 1, the collaboration component identifies the users that desire to collaborate in connection with a display.

3. The system of claim 2, the view component selects the desired display, and serves as a proxy for the display.

4. The system of claim 3, the view component multiplexes the display data so that M number of the users (M being an integer) can see the display as part of a visualization generated by the visualization component.

5. The system of claim 1, the view component provides for multiple displays to be dynamically accessed and viewed as part of a shared working environment.

6. The system of claim 1, the view component allows for users to seamlessly designate displays of interest and provide for concurrent access to such displays.

7. The system of claim 1, the view component provides for a user'"'"'s display to serve as a thin client that displays information from other disparately located displays of interest.

8. The system of claim 1, the view component provides for multiple display views to be shown as a mash-up or through independent portal views.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a virtualization component that provides for creating a virtualized workspace coincident with collaborative efforts.

10. The system of claim 9, the virtualized workspace provides for at least one of the following functionalities in connection with the collaborative efforts:

chat space, notes taking, logging info., teleconferencing, video-conferencing, or web-conferencing.

11. The system of claim 9, the virtualization component generates avatars of individuals as well as devices to facilitate collaborating in the virtualized workspace.

12. A computer-implemented methodology for generating a collaborative visualization environment in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

identifying users desiring to collaborate;

establishing a common view;

infer or determine respective desired industrial automation visualizations; and

generate a collaborative visualization and virtualized work environment corresponding to the desired industrial automation visualizations.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein establishing the common view comprises determining whether a user'"'"'s interest matches a device or equipment information obtained.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the inference is based on at least one of identity, role, location, and/or on text in a production facility via matching a user'"'"'s location, context, or role with the location, or status of equipment being monitored.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising multiplexing display data so that M number of the users (M being an integer) can see a common display.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising providing multiple displays to be dynamically accessed and viewed as part of a shared working environment.

17. The method of claim 12, comprising receiving designations for displays of interest and providing concurrent access to such displays.

18. The method of claim 12, comprising providing for a user'"'"'s display to serve as a thin client that displays information from other disparately located displays of interest.

19. The method of claim 12, comprising providing for multiple display views to be shown as a mash-up or through independent portal views.

20. The method of claim 12, comprising providing for creating a virtualized workspace coincident with collaborative efforts.

21. The method of claim 12, comprising generating avatars of individuals as well as devices to facilitate collaborating in the virtualized workspace.

22. A visualization system that generates a collaborative visualization environment in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

means for mapping a plurality of displays to respective users;

means for dynamically generating a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received information and inferred or determined entity context; and

means for receiving instructions or requests to initiate a collaboration with another user, machine, or displays the collaboration component provides for joining multiple users, machines, or displays to create a common view or workspace via the view component and the visualization component.