METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A CONTROL SYSTEM USER INTERFACE

• US 20100107108A1
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Enkerud, Torgeir, Husoy, Kristoffer, Graven, Tone-Grete
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,257 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 navigation in a user interface for an industrial control system including a computer, a display device, a plurality of process graphics, and at least one user interface. A plurality of software objects are displayed for use in controlling and/or monitoring of real world objects controlled by the control system. One or more designated views are generated providing navigation between members of a group of context-related process graphics. Each process graphic with a designated view is a member of a predetermined group of process graphics, where each designated view includes one or more tabs directly linked to other members of the predetermined group in the industrial control system. A system and computer program for carrying out the method are described.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface with improved navigation features for an industrial control system comprising a computer and a display device said system further comprising software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, said system being further comprising a plurality of process graphics comprising one or more said software objects, the method comprising:

displaying on said user interface a main view comprising a first said process graphic in a window comprising a designated view, the designated view being comprising one or more tabs,

generating a designated view for a group of process graphics in which said designated view each tab is linked with a process graphic that is a member of said group,

providing the designated view with one or more tabs with a direct link to other members of the said group of process graphics, and

directly displaying, upon selection of one of the one or more tabs, another process graphic so selected from the said group in said industrial control system.

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

automatically generating a link to each process graphic in the said process graphic group dependent on sharing a common process context.

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

automatically generating a link between a first software object in a first process graphic and a designated view of another process graphic comprising a second software object linked to the first software object, such that, the process graphic in a designated view comprising tabs linked to other process graphics are each members of the said group of process graphics selected sharing a logical grouping or common process context.

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

linking utilizing a designated view the first software object in a first process graphic to a second software object in a second process graphic dependent on a predetermined logical grouping or common process context of a structure of aspect objects.

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

linking utilizing a designated view the first software object in a first process graphic to a second software object in a second process graphic dependent on a predetermined logical grouping or common process context of a structure of aspect objects for monitoring and/or control of a process section.

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

linking utilizing a designated view the first software object in a first process graphic to a second software object in a second process graphic dependent on a preconfigured selection of a structure of aspect objects for monitoring and/or control of equipment.

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

linking utilizing a designated view the first software object in a first process graphic to a second software object in a second process graphic dependent on a preconfigured selection of a structure of aspect objects for monitoring and/or control of a location in a plant.

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

configuring a predetermined said group of process graphics utilizing a default setting.

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

configuring a predetermined said group of process graphics utilizing a manually operated selection.

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

linking utilizing a designated view the first process graphic to a second process graphic dependent in part on a current or historic series of steps navigated between process graphics.

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

linking utilizing a designated view the first process graphic to a second process graphic dependent in part on a software object being present in both process graphics.

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

maintaining a given designated view comprising a tab visible at all times on an operator display.

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

hiding a given designated view comprising a tab on an operator display when one or more conditions are met.

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

displaying context-sensitive information in a subtab view of the selected designated view.

15. 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 real world objects controlled by said control system, said computer program instructions making a computer or processor carry out a method comprising

displaying on said user interface a main view comprising a first said process graphic in a window comprising a designated view, the designated view being comprising one or more tabs, and

generating a designated view for a group of process graphics in which said designated view each tab is linked with a process graphic that is a member of said group,

providing the designated view with one or more tabs with a direct link to other members of the said group of process graphics, and

directly displaying, upon selection of one of the one or more tabs, another process graphic so selected from the said group in said industrial control system.

16. A graphical user interface for an industrial control system comprising a computer and a display device, said system further comprising a plurality of process graphics comprising one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, arranged such that elements of one or more of the software objects or part thereof may be displayed on an interface displayed on said display device, the user interface comprising:

computer program instructions for generating and displaying in a graphical user interface a main view comprising a first said process graphic in a window, which first said process graphic is a member of a predetermined group of process graphics, the main view comprising a designated view comprising one or more tabs directly linked to other members of the predetermined group in said industrial control system, such that selecting one of the tabs on a designated view of a main view with a process graphic allows the user to navigate to one of the predetermined group of process graphics.

17. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises computer hardware and software elements for loading a new process graphic into the main view of the selected tab.

18. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises computer hardware and software elements for highlighting a tab in the designated view based on which said process graphic is currently displayed in the interface.

19. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises computer hardware and software elements for automatically displaying one or more selected tabs dependent on said process graphic displayed on the interface and a predetermined logical or common process context link between one or more process graphics.

20. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises comprises computer hardware and software elements for automatically displaying, on a tab comprising a static reference to a process graphic, a dynamic information display or a dynamic value.

21. The graphical user interface according to claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises display elements configured to automatically display on a tab a dynamic value for the number of active alarms for a process section.

22. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, further comprising:

computer program instructions for automatically comparing any new objects found in a designated view with criteria and determining a logical grouping of a new object.

23. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, further comprising:

computer program instructions for automatically determining a logical grouping of a new object and storing tab information for the new object according to the logical grouping so determined.

24. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, further comprising:

computer program instructions for automatically displaying one or more selected tabs 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.

25. The graphical user interface according to claim 16, further comprising:

computer program instructions for automatically displaying one or more selected tabs 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.

26. An industrial control system, comprising:

a user interface and a computer and a display device said system further comprises a plurality of process graphics comprising one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system,

arranged such that elements of one or more of the software objects or part thereof may be displayed on an interface displayed on said display device, said user interface comprising elements configured to generate and display in a graphical user interface a main view comprising a first said process graphic in a window comprising a designated view, the designated view comprising one or more tabs which first said process graphic is a member of a predetermined group of process graphics, where each designated view comprising one or more tabs directly linked to other members of the predetermined group in said industrial control system, such that selecting one of the tabs on a designated view of a process graphic allows the user to navigate to one of the predetermined group of process graphics.

27. The system according to claim 26, further comprising:

computer elements or user interface elements configured to receive input to select a tab arranged on one of one or more designated views.

28. The system according to claim 26, further comprising:

computer elements or user interface elements configured to determine selection of the designated view by the input to the tab.

29. The system according to claim 26, 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 one or more designated views each said designated view comprising one or more tabs and further comprising any of said process graphics, software objects or elements dependent on location of a software object in a predetermined logical or process related group of process graphics.

30. Use of an industrial control system wherein said control system comprises one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, arranged such that elements of one or more of the software objects or part thereof may be displayed on a user interface displayed on said display device, which said user interface comprises computer program instructions for generating and displaying in a graphical user interface a main view comprising a first said process graphic in a window, which first said process graphic is a member of a predetermined group of process graphics, and the main view comprises a designated view comprising one or more tabs 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.

31. Use of an industrial control system wherein said control system comprises one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, arranged such that elements of one or more of the software objects or part thereof may be displayed on a user interface displayed on said display device, which said user interface comprises computer program instructions for generating and displaying in a graphical user interface a main view comprising a first said process graphic in a window, which first said process graphic is a member of a predetermined group of process graphics, and the main view comprises a designated view comprising one or more tabs for generating and providing information in a control system of an industrial automation or process installation.