Interface controls for use in a field device management system
First Claim
1. An interface control adapted for use with a management system having a user interface, a database and a communication network that communicates with the database, a field device and a device description associated with the field device, wherein the field device, the device description and the database store a multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data, the interface control comprising:
- means for implementing a particular interface control for an indicated group of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data including;
means for commanding the communication network to read the items of device data associated with the indicated group from at least one of the field device, the device description, and the database to produce a set of items of retrieved device data for the indicated group, andmeans for displaying the set of items of retrieved device data for the indicated group via the user interface in a predefined format;
means for identifying any one of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data as the indicated group; and
means responsive to the identifying means for invoking the implementing means to create the particular interface control for the indicated group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface control for use in a field device management system coupled to a set of smart field devices automatically performs functions related to communication between a device, a database and a user of the management system and functions related to interfacing with a user in a manner which is transparent to the software application running on the management system. The control monitors a device, or a block or a parameter of a device, displays information pertaining to the device, block or parameter to a user, receives information pertaining to such device, block, or parameter from a user and the device, automatically updates the displayed information, and implements changes to the device block or parameter specified by the user. A timeline control specifies a time at which past, present or future configurations of devices, blocks, parameters, or other data associated with one or more devices is to be displayed.
369 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An interface control adapted for use with a management system having a user interface, a database and a communication network that communicates with the database, a field device and a device description associated with the field device, wherein the field device, the device description and the database store a multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data, the interface control comprising:
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means for implementing a particular interface control for an indicated group of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data including; means for commanding the communication network to read the items of device data associated with the indicated group from at least one of the field device, the device description, and the database to produce a set of items of retrieved device data for the indicated group, and means for displaying the set of items of retrieved device data for the indicated group via the user interface in a predefined format; means for identifying any one of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data as the indicated group; and means responsive to the identifying means for invoking the implementing means to create the particular interface control for the indicated group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A control adapted for use by a management system that includes a user interface and that is capable of being coupled to a plurality of field devices, each having a device description associated therewith, the control comprising:
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means for communicating with the plurality of field devices and the device descriptions to effect communication with respect to a multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data stored in the plurality of field devices and the device descriptions; means for implementing a particular control for a particular one of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data including, means for controlling the communicating means to retrieve the items of device data within the particular one of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data to produce a retrieved group of items of device data, and means for displaying the retrieved group of items of device data via the user interface in a predefined format; means for identifying any of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data as the particular one of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data; and means responsive to the identifying means for invoking the implementing means to create the particular control for the particular one of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of controlling communication between a management system, having a user interface, and a plurality of field devices, each having a device description associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a generalized interfacing routine which, for any particular one of a plurality of different groups of logically related items of the device data performs the steps of; retrieving the items of device data associated with the particular one of the groups of logically related items of device data as stored in the plurality of field devices and the device descriptions, displaying the retrieved items of device data associated with the particular one of the groups via the user interface in a predefined format, recognizing when one of the items of device data stored in one of the plurality of field devices changes, and indicating, via the user interface, the change to the one of the items of device data when the one of the items of device data corresponds to one of the retrieved items of device data associated with the particular one of the groups; and using the generalized interfacing routine to perform communication for a multiplicity of the plurality of different groups of logically related items of device data. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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Specification