Method For Control In A Process Control System Implemented In Part By One Or More Computer Implemented Run-Time Processes

• US 20120005270A1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Pauly, Thomas, Harding, Jeff, Dahlstedt, Petter, Olsson, Joakim
• Granted Patent: US 10,606,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4148 characterised by using several processors for different functions, distributed (real-time) systems G05B19/4141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A method for control in a process control system, where a graphical user interface of said process control system is arranged with graphic representations of one or more control objects for monitoring and/or control of a process or an equipment. The control system GUI is displayed by a control system client application on a computer or workstation. In addition, one or more applications for monitoring and/or controlling at least one said control object are run in a computing process environment separate from said process control system. No code components execute in the same processing space as that running the GUI for the process control system. Any flaw or error in the extended applications cannot affect the control system program controlling an industrial process in real-time. A control system and a computer program are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for control in a process control system where a graphical user interface of said process control system comprises graphic representations of one or more control objects for monitoring and control of a process or an equipment displayed by a client application of said process control system running in a first computer processing environment on a computer or workstation comprising the steps of:

running a second application in a second computing process environment separate from said first computer processing environment in which said client application is run,

generating by means of the non-core application graphic image output in a second graphical user interface display comprising at least one said control object,

sending the graphic image output of the second graphical user interface in a graphic output format from the second application to said process control system via an intermediate service,

integrating the second graphical user interface of the second application running in the second and separate computing process environment in said graphical user interface of said client application of said process control system,

accepting a user input to the second graphical user interface in said graphical user interface and

sending information resulting from the user input via the intermediate service to the application running in the second computing process environment separate from said process control system.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising processing the information resulting from the user input in the separate computing process environment and returning, via the intermediate service, an updated graphic image output of the second graphical user interface in a graphic output format for integration with said graphical user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying on said graphical user interface an update, said update being at least one of a value, a status, or an event.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the graphic image output of the second graphical user interface in a graphic output format by means of a remote viewer service and providing the application running in the computing process environment separate from said process control system by means of a viewer service running on a server.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterised by graphic output being in the form of a pixel-based graphic or bitmap

6. The method according to claim 1, characterised by graphic output being in the form of a vector-based graphic.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterised by graphic output being in the form of graphic display instructions for a graphic display apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterised by displaying on said graphical user interface a status or condition of a device or process on a display means of—

at least one of a workstation, a portable computer, a dedicated handheld tool for configuration/maintenance, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, or a mobile computing device.

9. A computer program for control in a process control system implemented at least in part by one or more computer implemented run-time processes comprising software code portions or computer code to cause a computer or processor to carry out the steps of the method according to claim 1.

10. A process control system where a graphical user interface of said process control system is arranged with graphic representations of one or more control objects for monitoring and control of a process or an equipment and displayed by a control system client application running in a first computer processing environment on a computer or workstation comprising:

a Server Node arranged for running a second application in a second computing process environment separate from said process control system, and

an intermediate service arranged for sending a second graphic user interface graphic image data comprising the at least one said control object generated by means of the second application, in a graphic output format, from the second application to said process control system for integration of the second graphical user interface of the application in said graphical user interface of said process control system and for sending information resulting from accepting a user input to the second graphical user interface in said graphical user interface via the intermediate service to the application running in the second computing process environment separate from said process control system.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate service is provided for sending graphic output from a second user interface display to the Control System Client Application using Remote Desktop Protocol.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate service is provided for sending user input to second user interface display and sending the information of the user input to an application running in the separate computing process environment using Remote Desktop Protocol.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate service is provided for sending graphic output from a second user interface display to the Control System Client Application using a remote viewer to remote viewer server communication channel.

14. The system according to claim 10, characterised in that the Server Node is arranged with a Terminal Server Session Manager service application.

15. The system according to claim 10, characterised in that at least one sandbox is arranged for managing multiple Terminal Server Sessions.

16. The system according to claim 10, characterised in that said process control system is arranged with data network or gateway connections to at least one of a workstation, a portable computer, a dedicated handheld tool for configuration/maintenance, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, or a mobile computing device.

17. Use of a remote viewer server and a remote viewer client to run an application for control in a process control system in a first computer processing environment, where a graphical user interface of said process control system is arranged with graphic representations of one or more control objects for monitoring and control of a process or an equipment and displayed by said control system client application on a computer or workstation, characterized in that a second application is run in a computing process environment of the remote viewer server, which is a separate computing process environment from that running the remote viewer client, and view or receive user input to graphic information about a control object integrated in said graphical user interface of said control system client application.