VISUALIZATION PROFILES AND TEMPLATES FOR AUTO-CONFIGURATION OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

• US 20100050097A1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baier, John Joseph, Fuller, Bruce Gordon, McGreevy, Robert Joseph, Pantaleano, Micheal John, Pingel, Jan, Tooke, Ian Edward, Albert, Kevin John
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32128 Gui graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A visualization system utilizing pre-configured visualization profiles and templates to reduce the level of effort and time required to commission an industrial automation visualization system. The preconfigured visualization profiles and templates include graphic displays, informational reports and data sampling and collection strategies appropriate for the specific sector of manufacturing or industry.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for an industrial automation visualization system employing preconfigured visualization profiles and preconfigured visualization templates, the system comprising:

a profiles component for managing the database of preconfigured visualization profiles;

a templates component for managing the database of preconfigured visualization templates; and

a selection component for choosing preconfigured visualization profiles and preconfigured visualization templates from their respective databases.

2. The system of claim 1, the selection component can select one or more preconfigured visualization profiles based on profile names.

3. The system of claim 1, the selection component can select one or more preconfigured visualization templates based on template names.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an editor component for adding user configured elements to at least one of a preconfigured visualization profile and a preconfigured visualization template.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a configuration component for modifying the configuration of at least one of a preconfigured visualization profile and a preconfigured visualization template.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interface component for accepting manual or automatic input data associated with selecting and modifying at least one of a preconfigured visualization profile and a preconfigured visualization template.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data store component for storing at least one of:

preconfigured visualization profiles, preconfigured visualization templates, user modified preconfigured visualization profiles, user modified preconfigured visualization templates, user created visualization profiles and user created visualization templates in connection with the creation of an industrial automation visualization system.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a scheduler component for scheduling at least one of a time and an event when a scheduled action is executed based on a preconfigured visualization profile and a preconfigured visualization template.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display component for displaying and animating a preconfigured visualization template and providing user interaction to an industrial automation visualization system.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a runtime component for generating an industrial automation visualization system from one or more predefined visualization profiles and one or more preconfigured visualization templates.

11. The system of claim 5, the configuration component can modify preconfigured visualization profile rate data comprising:

the rate to sample tag data from an industrial controller;

the rate to archive tag data to a data store; and

the rate to update a graphic display with tag data.

12. The system of claim 8, the scheduler component can execute a predefined visualization profile action by at least one of a preconfigured time of day and after a preconfigured period of time.

13. The system of claim 10, the runtime component can send timer data to an industrial controller by interrogating a preconfigured visualization profile for timer data comprising:

a timer preset value for defining a timing period;

a timer address for determining the timer'"'"'s location in the industrial controller; and

a timer action for facilitating notification of timer completion.

14. The system of claim 10, the runtime component can send counter data to an industrial controller by interrogating a preconfigured visualization profile for counter data comprising:

a counter preset value for defining a counting limit;

a counter address for determining the counter'"'"'s location in the industrial controller; and

a counter action for facilitating notification of counter completion.

15. The system of claim 10, the runtime component can request tag data from an industrial controller by interrogating a preconfigured visualization profile tag database comprising:

an address in the industrial controller;

a tag name representing the address in the industrial controller; and

a type of tag data represented at the address in the industrial controller.

16. The system of claim 10, the runtime component can download recipe data to an industrial controller by interrogating a preconfigured visualization profile recipe comprising:

a tag name representing an address in the industrial controller; and

a value associated with the tag name.

17. The system of claim 10, the runtime component can validate access to configuration aspects of an industrial automation visualization system by interrogating preconfigured visualization profile security data comprising:

a list of security checkpoints;

a list of secured areas associated with a security checkpoint; and

a security response required for passing the security checkpoint.

18. The system of claim 10, the runtime component can access user defined data by interrogating profile specific data of a preconfigured visualization profile.

19. The system of claim 9, the display component can display a graphic image by interrogating a preconfigured visualization template list of template shapes comprising:

a shape name;

a shape type;

a shape position;

a shape size;

a shape color;

a shape value;

a shape fill; and

at least one shape action.

20. The system of claim 9, the display component can navigate a list of preconfigured visualization templates associated with each other based on at least one of industry type, production line type, and unit operation type by interrogating a template chain list from the preconfigured visualization template.

21. The system of claim 9, the display component can provide a runtime component a list of tag names and associated graphic updates rates for each tag name by interrogating the preconfigured visualization template for graphic update rates.

22. The system of claim 9, the display component can generate a preconfigured report by interrogating the preconfigured visualization template for a report framework comprising:

a report heading comprising at least;

a title of the report;

a date of the report; and

a time of the report;

a report body comprising at least;

a list of tag names required for generating the report;

a list of tables required for at least one of formatting the report and displaying the report tag data;

a list of charts required for displaying the report data; and

a list of calculations required for manipulating the tag data before displaying the tag data on the report.

23. The system of claim 9, the display component can generate a list of preconfigured reports associated with each other based on at least one of industry type, production line type, and unit operation type by interrogating a report chain list from the preconfigured visualization template.

24. The system of claim 9, the display component can interrogate the preconfigured visualization template and execute a template event comprising:

a tag name to monitor for the template event condition;

the template event condition; and

an action to take when the template event condition is recognized.

25. The system of claim 9, the display component can interrogate the preconfigured visualization template and execute a report event comprising:

a tag name to monitor for the report event condition;

the report event condition; and

an action to take when the report event condition is recognized.

26. A computer-implemented method for creating an industrial automation visualization system for monitoring an industrial process, the method comprising:

selecting at least one preconfigured visualization profile;

selecting at least one preconfigured visualization template; and

generating the industrial automation visualization system from the selected elements;

displaying preconfigured graphic images;

downloading preconfigured recipes; and

generating preconfigured reports

27. The method of claim 26, the method further comprising:

creating new visualization profiles and visualization templates; and

saving the new visualization profiles and visualization templates on a data store; and

including the new visualization profiles and visualization templates in an industrial automation visualization system.

28. An industrial automation visualization system including preconfigured visualization profiles and preconfigured visualization templates, the system comprising:

means for selecting preconfigured visualization profiles and preconfigured visualization templates;

means for generating industrial automation visualization systems from preconfigured visualization profiles and preconfigured visualization templates;

means for displaying preconfigured graphic images;

means for downloading preconfigured recipes; and

means for generating preconfigured reports.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for editing preconfigured visualization profiles and preconfigured visualization templates;

means for configuring preconfigured visualization profiles and preconfigured visualization templates; and

30. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for creating user defined visualization profiles and visualization templates; and

means for storing user created visualization profiles and visualization templates for later selection.