Form-based user-configurable process information system and method

• US 20140325331A1
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLOWatch, LLC
• Original Assignee: FLOWatch, LLC
• Inventors: Madireddi, Kapaleeswar, Levine, Bruno Bernard, Panganamamula, Arvind
• Granted Patent: US 9,524,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A machine-implemented system and method for defining process information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system or method allows a user to list processes, define processes using an input form, list process parameters, list sampling points, define sampling points using an input form, and list sampling point parameters for a chemical process or processes. Enhancements can include functionality that allows a user to list process streams, define process streams using an input form, list process stream parameters, list process stream chemicals, and list process chemicals. Other enhancements can include functionality that allows a user to list reports, render reports using an input form, and list sampling point logs. The objective is to allow users to log, report, and chart process data using electronic input forms that do not require the writing of programming code by the person defining the process or processes.

Claims

1. ) A form-based user-configurable machine-implemented chemical process information system, the system comprising:

a processes listing module that displays a list of processes;

a process definition module responsive to the processes listing module wherein the process definition module comprises;

a form displayed on a computer screen whereby a user can enter and save process definition information for a process or processes; and

a process parameters listing module that displays a list of parameters employed to monitor the process or processes;

a sampling points listing module that displays a list of sampling points for a process or processes; and

a sampling points definition module responsive to the sampling points listing module wherein the sampling points definition module comprises;

a form displayed on the computer screen whereby a user can enter and save sampling points definition information for the process or processes; and

a sampling point parameters listing module that displays a list of sampling point parameters employed to collect information from the process or processes.

2. ) The system of claim 1 wherein:

the system further comprises;

a process streams listing module that displays a list of process streams; and

a process stream definition module responsive to the process streams listing module wherein the process stream definition module comprises;

a form displayed on the computer screen whereby a user can enter and save process streams definition information for a process stream or process streams; and

a process stream parameters listing module that displays a list of process stream parameters for the process or process streams;

a process stream chemicals listing module that displays a list of chemicals associated with the process stream or process streams; and

the process definition module further comprises a process chemicals listing module that displays a list of chemicals associated with the process or processes.

3. ) The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reports listing module that displays a list of reports for a process; and

a report rendering module responsive to the reports listing module wherein the report rendering module comprises a form displayed on the computer screen further comprising a submit button, the actuation of which causes a report to be shown on the computer screen.

4. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising a sampling point logs listing module that displays a list of sampling points log search fields for a process or processes.

5. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a reports listing module that displays a list of reports for the process or processes;

a report rendering module responsive to the reports listing module wherein the report rendering module comprises a form displayed on the computer screen further comprising a submit button, the actuation of which causes a report to be shown on the computer screen; and

a sampling point logs listing module that displays a list of sampling point log search fields for a process or processes.

6. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the process definition module form further comprises:

a plurality of process definition input fields responsive to user input comprising a process name field and a process type field;

a save button displayed on the computer screen that is responsive to user input; and

a data movement element that transfers the user-provided contents of the process definition input fields to a computer memory in response to a signal from the save button wherein the data movement element does not require computer-generated code to transfer the user input field content into the computer memory.

8. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is implemented using a client-server architecture in which forms are displayed on a client computing device and data is stored on a server computing device connected to the client computing device.

9. ) The system of claim 8, wherein:

the forms on the client computing device are displayed using a program selected from the group of a web browser and/or application software residing on the client computing device; and

the client computing device and the server computing device communicate using an internet protocol.

10. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising a process set organization module that allows a user to group processes and process streams.

11. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plant definition module that allows a user to group processes and process streams into one plant;

a facility definition module that allows a user to group multiple plants into one facility; and

an organization definition module that allows a user to group multiple facilities into one organization.

12. ) The system of claim 11 further comprising:

an asset management module wherein the asset management module allows a user to list assets, edit assets, and add assets.

13. ) The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a facility points management module wherein the facility points management module allows a user to list facility points, edit facility points, and add facility points.

14. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a maintenance management module wherein the maintenance management module allows a user to list maintenance items, edit maintenance items, and add maintenance items.

15. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a schedule management module wherein the schedule management module allows a user to list scheduled items, edit scheduled items, and add scheduled items.

16. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising a data import and export function wherein each imported and exported datum comprises:

a value that represents a measurement stored in the system; and

a key that provides contextual information for the value.

17. ) The system of claim 16 wherein the format of the data being imported is from the group of Extensible Markup Language, Java Script Object Notation, and/or a text file.

18. ) The system of claim 1 wherein the computer screen is part of a mobile electronic device selected from the group of a tablet computer and a mobile phone.

7. ) The system of claim L, further comprising a users listing module and a user definition module wherein said users definition module is responsive to the users listing module and the users listing module further comprises a user functions listing module and wherein:

the users listing module shows a list of existing system users;

the user definition module comprises a form displayed on the computer screen comprising a user definition input field; and

the user functions listing module allows a user with the right permissions to view and change the modules accessible to a specific system user.

19. ) A form-based method for defining and recording process information, the method comprising the steps of:

electronically connecting a client computing device to a server computing device;

entering process definition information into a process definition form displayed on the client computing device wherein;

the process information comprises at least one process;

the process comprises at least one process definition;

the process definition comprises at least one process parameter;

the process definition input fields comprise a process name field and a process type field; and

the process definition form further comprises a save button the actuation of which causes data to be saved on the server computing device; and

entering information for at least one sampling point for a process into a sampling point form displayed on the client computing device wherein;

the sampling point information comprises at least one sampling point definition;

the sampling point definition comprises at least one sampling point parameter;

the sampling point definition input fields comprise a sampling point definition name field and a sampling point definition type field; and

the sampling point definition form field further comprises a save button the actuation of which causes data to be saved on the server computing device.

20. ) A form based client-server system for defining and recording chemical process information, the system comprising:

a computer-readable memory wherein the memory is located in a device selected from the group of a server computer, a client computer, and a combination of the client computer and the server computer;

a computer program stored on the computer-readable memory and adapted to be executed on a processor wherein the computer program displays the following on a client computer;

a list of processes;

a list of definitions for the processes;

a list of parameters for the processes;

a list of chemicals for the processes;

a list of definitions for the process parameters;

a list of sampling points for the processes; and

a list of parameters for the sampling points.