SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY PROVIDING ADAPTIVE INTERFACE IN AN INDUSTRIAL CONTROLLER ENVIRONMENT

• US 20090228122A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Baier, John Joseph, Vasko, David A., Wylie, Douglas R., Callaghan, David Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,132,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing adaptive user interface capabilities in an industrial control environment. A user interface is provided that can operate across various software and/or hardware platforms. The platforms can be adapted with smart devices and/or wearable devices to facilitate access to a control system and can be adapted as a remote web service and/or adapted to interact with the service. The user interface can be tuned or adjusted in accordance with device capabilities operating the interface and can be adjusted or modified according to various operator or administrative preferences.

Claims

1. A system for providing an adaptable user interface for an industrial control system, comprising:

an input component that receives input related to providing one or more user interfaces; and

an interface component that provides the user interfaces that are adaptable to at least one of resource capabilities of remote devices providing the input or interface preferences.

2. The system of claim 1, at least one of the user interfaces includes a display comprising a Human and Machine Interface (HMI) that provides feedback and output data regarding a control system.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a data store that serves a plurality of interface types and interface options to the interface component.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least on interface type is associated with a predetermined file number such that based on a received code, the interface component transmits one of the interface types with associated interface options to one of local or remote platforms.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a section menu provided by the interface component facilitating user selection of interface options.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a discovery component that facilitates determination of controller services.

7. The system of claim 6, the discovery component facilitates Universal Discovery Description and Integration (UDDI) by providing a directory describing Web services offered by a controller system.

8. The system of claim 7, the UDDI directory entry is an XML file that describes the controller system and related services.

9. The system of claim 7, the UDDI director further includes a plurality of options to search for the related services to build remote applications.

10. The system of claim 1, at least one of the user interfaces facilitates a messenger service to transmit and receives messages from one or more remote platforms or users.

11. A method for providing an adaptable user interface for an industrial control system, comprising:

receiving an input from a device;

determining capabilities of the device providing the input;

generating a user interface comprising display objects that facilitate user interaction with a control system through the device; and

transmitting the generated user interface to the device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination step further comprises testing or sampling device resources prior to generating the user interface.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a selection menu to facilitate a user to provide the input.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising translating data received from the device to a protocol employed by a controller associated with the control system.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitted user interface provides data to the device that is formatted based upon the determined capabilities of the device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining one or more of capabilities or characteristics of a user of the device providing the input.

17. The method of claim 16, generating and transmitting the user interface based on determined capabilities or characteristics of the user.

18. A system for providing an adaptable user interface for an industrial control system, comprising:

means for receiving an input from a device; and

means for generating a user interface comprising display objects that facilitate user interaction with a control system through the device, the user interface is generated based on determined capabilities of the device.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for storing a plurality of interfaces and related interface options.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for publishing information related to controller services associated with the control system.