Systems and Methods Providing Distributed Training Simulations

• US 20120208153A1
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bolla, Veera Paparao, Synard, Clayton, Udupa, Chetan
• Application Number:
  US13/028,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20120208153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/02 of industrial processes; of machinery
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/08 providing for individual presentation of information to a plurality of student stations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/10 all student stations being capable of presenting the same information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/12 different stations being capable of presenting different information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

Systems and methods providing distributed training simulations are provided. A system may include a trainer station computer in operable communication with multiple trainee workstation computers. The trainer station computer can be operable to: facilitate simulation of plant operations on at least one of the trainee workstation computers; and monitor operations performed by at least one of the trainee workstation computers. The trainee workstation computers can be operable to: display the simulation of plant operations to a user; receive control instructions input to cause a change in the simulation of plant operations; and transmit to the trainer station computer information associated with at least one of: (a) the control instructions input; or (b) the change in the simulation of plant operations.

Claims

1. A system for simulating plant operations, comprising:

a trainer station computer in operable communication with a plurality of trainee workstation computers;

wherein the trainer station computer is operable to;

facilitate simulation of plant operations on at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers; and

monitor operations performed by at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers is operable to;

display the simulation of plant operations to a user;

receive control instructions input to cause a change in the simulation of plant operations; and

transmit to the trainer station computer information associated with at least one of;

(a) the control instructions input;

or (b) the change in the simulation of plant operations.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, when facilitating simulation of plant operations or monitoring operations, the trainer station computer executes instructions to a network-based application accessed by at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network-based application comprises an Internet-based application.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the network-based application comprises a private network-based application.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein, when facilitating the simulation of plant operations, the trainer station computer adjusts the simulation of plant operations and monitors operations performed on the at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers in response thereto.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the trainer station computer is operable to initiate a chat session with the at least one of the plurality of trainee station workstation computers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of trainee workstation computers are operable to initiate respective chat sessions with the trainer station computer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the trainer station computer is operable to facilitate a first simulation of plant operations on a first training workstation computer and a second simulation of plant operations on a second training workstation computer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first simulation of plant operations simulates different plant operations than the second simulation of plant operations.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first simulation of plant operations is associated with a first plant component and the second simulation of plant operations is associated with a second plant component different than the first plant component.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers is operable to display simulations of plant operations and to receive the control instructions input via a human machine interface application.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the trainer station computer is operable to facilitate the storage in memory of data representing at least one of (a) control instructions input at the at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers, or (b) the change in the simulation of plant operations resulting from the control instructions, for subsequent retrieval by the trainer station computer.

13. A method for simulating plant operations, comprising:

providing a trainer station computer;

providing a plurality of trainee workstation computers in operable communication with the trainer station computer;

simulating plant operations on at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers;

monitoring operations performed by at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers; and

transmitting from the at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers to the trainer station computer information associated with at least one of;

(a) control instructions input at the at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers;

or (b) a change in the simulation of plant operations resulting from the control instructions.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

adjusting the simulation of plant operations in response input received at the trainer station computer; and

displaying on the trainer station computer operations performed on the at least one of the plurality of workstation computers in response to adjusting the simulation of plant operations.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising initiating a chat session between at least one of the plurality of trainee station workstation computers by the trainer station computer.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising initiating a chat session with the trainer station computer by at least one of the plurality of trainee station workstation computers.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein simulating plant operations on at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers further comprises:

facilitating a first simulation of plant operations on a first training workstation computer; and

facilitating a second simulation of plant operations on a second training workstation computer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first simulation of plant operations simulates different plant operations than the second simulation of plant operations.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first simulation of plant operations is associated with a first plant component and the second simulation of plant operations is associated with a second plant component different than the first plant component.

20. A system for simulating plant operations, comprising:

a trainer station computer in operable communication with a plurality of trainee workstation computers;

wherein the trainer station computer is operable to;

facilitate simulation of plant operations on a plurality of trainee workstation computers representing at least two different simulation conditions or at least two different plant components on at least two different trainee workstation computers; and

monitor operations performed by at least one of the plurality of trainee workstation computers.