METHOD FOR LOADING AND DISPLAYING DIFFERENT PROCESS DISPLAYS ON A USER INTERFACE OF AN INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100088627A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Husoy, Kristoffer, Skourup, Charlotte, Enkerud, Torgeir
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method for providing an improved user navigation interface for an industrial control system. The system includes a computer and a display device and a computer implemented workplace application. The system also includes a plurality of process control interfaces displayed on the display device. The process control interfaces include one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring objects controlled by the control system. The method includes displaying in the user interface a set of the process control interfaces generated by one instance of the workplace application in a designated view that includes a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects. Each graphic user interface object identifies and, on selection, displays the corresponding the process control interface. By selecting a first or second graphic user interface objects, a user can switch between a display of a first process control interface and a display of the second process control interface provided by the same instance of the workplace application. A graphic user interface, a system and a computer program for carrying out the method are also described.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface for an industrial control system comprising a computer and a display device and a computer implemented workplace application, said system comprising a plurality of process control interfaces comprising one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring an object, controlled by said control system, and displayed on said display device, the method comprising:

displaying in the user interface a set of said process control interfaces generated by one instance of said workplace application in a designated view, the designated view comprising a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects, where each graphic user interface object identifies and, on selection, displays the corresponding said process control interface by selecting a first or second graphic user interface object, so switching between a display of a first process control interface and a display of a second process control interface in the same instance of said workplace application.

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

maintaining the data of both the first designated view and the second designated view loaded in a computer memory.

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

displaying the first said process control interface in the designated view with the first tab and the second tab and,

on detection of a keyboard command or other predetermined computer input, switching between the first or second tabs, opening and displaying the corresponding first or second process control interface in the interface.

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

displaying the designated view comprising a plurality of tabs each linked to another process control interface and

switching to any of the other process control interfaces by selecting a respective one of the plurality of tabs.

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

removing, on detecting a user input command to close a tab, the process control interface from said display and removing the data of the process control interface from a computer memory.

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

closing, on detecting of a GUI input to the first tab or second tab of a designated view, or equivalent user input command, the first or second process control interface from said display and removing the data of the closed first or second process control interface from computer memory.

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

closing, on detecting a user input command to switch to another process control interface, the currently open view on said display in the designated view and retaining the data of the presently closed process control interface in computer memory, such that the data of the presently closed process control interface remains in memory and comprising a link to a tab arranged in another designated view.

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

on detecting a user input command directed to a link in the currently open process control interface on said display in the designated view and opening a new process control interface either inside the present window and replacing the currently open process control interface, or inside new a separate pane or view, depending on the user input.

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

saving a list or group of user-selected of process control interfaces or process graphics as process control interfaces to be opened in a designated view with tabs.

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

selecting and opening in a designated view process control interfaces from a list of process control interfaces or process graphics arranged as designated views with tabs to be used according to a specific work flow, or depending on system state, user input or user preferences.

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

displaying at the same time a plurality of process control interfaces arranged in the same designated view each sized in a format smaller than the complete size of said display.

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

switching a selected or active state of the plurality of process control interfaces arranged in the same designated view sized in a smaller format and displayed at the same time on said display from one process control interface to another.

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

automatically generating a designated view wherein the tabs and or links are generated dependent on at which position in a hierarchical structure below a said software object the process graphic is arranged.

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

selecting the one or more said software objects dependent on a logical grouping in which said software object is arranged and at which level in a hierarchy the logical grouping is arranged.

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

a designated view comprising a tab or similar, further comprising a selector configured to select utilizing layers which of the available items of said information shall be visually displayed or otherwise presented prominently, or displayed less prominently, or hidden.

16. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing a user interface for an industrial control system comprising a computer and a plurality of process graphics comprising software objects for controlling and/or monitoring objects controlled by said control system, said computer program instructions making a computer or processor carry out a method comprising displaying in the user interface a set of said process control interfaces generated by one instance of said workplace application in a designated view, the designated view comprising a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects, where each graphic user interface object identifies and, on selection, displays the corresponding said process control interface by selecting a first or second graphic user interface object, so switching between a display of a first process control interface and a display of a second process control interface in the same instance of said workplace application.

17. A user interface for an industrial control system industrial control system comprising a computer and a display device and a computer implemented workplace application, said system further comprising a plurality of process control interfaces comprising one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring an object controlled by said control system, and displayed on said display device, the user interface comprising:

computer hardware and software arranged for displaying in the user interface a set of said process control interfaces generated by one instance of said workplace application in a designated view, the designated view comprising a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects, where each graphic user interface object identifies, and on selection displays, the corresponding said process control interface by selecting a first or second graphic user interface object, so switching between a display of a first process control interface and a display of a second process control interface in the same instance of said workplace application.

18. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software for maintaining the data of both the first designated view and the second designated view loaded in a computer memory.

19. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software for displaying the first said process control interface in the designated view with the first tab and the second tab and, on detection of a keyboard command or other predetermined computer input, switching between the first or second tabs, opening and displaying the corresponding first or second process control interface in the interface.

20. The user interface according to claim 17, wherein the user interface is arranged to display the designated view arranged with comprising a plurality of graphic user interface objects or tabs each linked to another process control interface and switching to any of the other process control interfaces by selecting a respective one of the plurality of tabs.

21. The user interface according to claim 17, wherein the user interface is arranged to remove, on detecting a user input command to close a graphic user interface objects or tab, the process control interface from said display and removing the data of the process control interface from a computer memory.

22. The user interface according to claim 17, wherein the user interface is arranged to close, on detecting of a graphical user interface input to the first tab or second tab of a designated view, or equivalent user input command, the first or second process control interface from said display and removing the data of the closed first or second designated view from computer memory.

23. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software for closing, on detecting a user input command to switch to another process control interface, the currently open view on said display in the designated view and retaining the data of the presently closed process control interface in computer memory, such that the data of the presently closed process control interface remains in memory and comprising a link to a graphic user interface objects arranged in another designated view.

24. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software for detecting a user input command directed to a link in the currently open process control interface on said display in the designated view and opening a new process control interface either inside the present window and replacing the currently open process control interface, or inside new a separate pane or view, depending on the user input.

25. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software for saving a list or group of user-selected of process control interfaces or process graphics as process control interfaces to be opened in a designated view with tabs.

26. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software to register selection and then to open in a designated view process control interfaces from a list of process control interfaces or process graphics arranged in the designated view with graphic user interface objects or tabs.

27. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software displaying at the same time a plurality of process control interfaces arranged in the same designated view each sized in a format smaller than the complete size of said display.

28. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software for switching a selected or active state of the plurality of process control interfaces arranged in the same designated view sized in a smaller format and displayed at the same time on said display.

29. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer hardware and software for automatically generating a designated view wherein the graphic user interface objects, tabs and/or links, are generated dependent on at which position in a hierarchical structure below a said software object the process graphic is arranged.

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

computer hardware and software for generating a designated view comprising graphic user interface objects, a tab or similar, further comprising a selector configured to select utilizing graphic information in separate graphical layers, superimposed one on top of each other, which of the available items of said information shall be visually displayed or otherwise presented prominently, or displayed less prominently, or hidden by superimposing the layers.

31. The user interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

computer program instructions configured to automatically display one or more selected tabs, graphic user interface objects (5a-n), dependent on a task for an operator, the task comprising and not limited to any from the group of;

start up, operate, change operation, alarm handling tasks, specific process related tasks, maintenance, shut down.

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

computer program instructions configured to automatically display one or more selected tabs or other graphic user interface objects which are displayed dependent on a status of a process controlled by said control system, the status comprising and not limited to any from the group of;

start, run, process change, event, alarm, stop, offline, configuration or maintenance, simulation.

33. An industrial control system, comprising:

a user interface, a computer, a display device and a computer implemented workplace application,

a plurality of process control interfaces comprising one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, and displayed on said display device,

wherein the user interface comprises computer hardware and software arranged for displaying in the user interface a set of said process control interfaces generated by one instance of said workplace application in a designated view, the designated view comprising a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects, where each graphic user interface object identifies, and on selection displays, the corresponding said process control interface by selecting a first or second graphic user interface object, so switching between a display of a first process control interface and a display of the second process control interface in the same instance of said workplace application.

34. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

computer program instructions stored in a memory storage device or processor of the system which when run on a computer or processor carries out the steps of automatically generating a designated view wherein the tabs and or links are generated dependent on at which position in a hierarchical structure below a said software object the process graphic is arranged.

35. Use of an industrial control system wherein said control system comprises user interface comprises computer hardware and software arranged for displaying in the user interface a set of process control interfaces generated by one instance of said workplace application in a designated view, the designated view comprising a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects, where each graphic user interface object identifies, and on selection displays, the corresponding said process control interface by selecting a first or second graphic user interface object, so switching between a display of a first process control interface and a display of the second process control interface in the same instance of said workplace application on one or more display screens of a control system for monitoring an oil and gas extraction, production or processing installation, for generating and providing information in a control system of an oil or gas storage, treatment or process installation.

36. Use of an industrial control system wherein said control system comprises a user interface comprising computer hardware and software arranged for displaying in the user interface a set of said process control interfaces generated by one instance of said workplace application in a designated view which comprises a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects, where each graphic user interface object identifies, and on selection displays, the corresponding said process control interface by selecting a first or second graphic user interface object, so switching between a display of a first said process control interface and a display of the second said process control interface in the same instance of said workplace application for purposes of operating or engineering in a control system of an industrial automation or process installation.