Interface for managing test definitions

• US 6,434,500 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Dobrowski, Patrick, Sigtermans, Walt H., Boehne, Scott D., Gates, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRETLOW, DEMETRIUS R
• Application Number:
  US09/419,958
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57-59, 702/67, 702/68, 702/108, 702/117, 702/118, 702/119, 702/120, 702/121, 702/122, 702/123, 702/182-185, 700/83, 700/86, 700/87, 345/769, 345/839, 345/846, 345/835, 345/771, 345/773, 345/967
• US Class Current: 702/120
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33297 Diagnostic, test, debug
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33331 Test, diagnostic of field device for correct device, correct parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36143 Use of icon to represent a function, part of program
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

A method and apparatus for graphically managing test definitions of a field management system is disclosed. The method and apparatus establish a graphical user interface that is simple to use, efficient, user friendly, and displays test definition related information in an organized manner that can be easily understood by a user. The interface includes a device icon and a test procedure icon presented on a display. The device icon identifies testing data of a field device and the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure that has device testing parameters corresponding to the testing data. A test definition for the field device is created when the device icon and the test procedure icon are associated with each other.

Claims

1. A method for graphically managing test definitions, which are used by calibrators to test field devices, the method comprising:

associating a device icon on a display with a test procedure icon on the display, wherein the device icon identifies testing data of a field device, and wherein the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure having device testing parameters that correspond to the testing data;

creating a test definition for the field device using the testing data in accordance with the test procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein associating includes dragging the device icon across the display to the test procedure icon and dropping the device icon into the test procedure icon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating includes dragging the test procedure icon across the display to the device icon and dropping the test procedure icon into the device icon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device icon includes at least one graphical element selected from the list consisting of an image, a drawing, and text.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one graphical element describes the field device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one graphical element describes a location of the field device.

7. A method for graphically managing test definitions, which are used by calibrators to test field devices, the method comprising:

displaying at least one device icon on a display, wherein the device icon identifies testing data of a field device;

displaying at least one test procedure icon on the display, the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure, wherein the test procedure includes device testing parameters that correspond to the testing data;

associating the device icon to the test procedure icon; and

creating a test definition for the field device using the testing data in accordance with the test procedure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein associating includes dragging the device icon across the display to the test procedure icon and dropping the device icon into the test procedure icon.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein associating includes dragging the test procedure icon across the display to the device icon and dropping the test procedure into the device icon.

10. An apparatus for graphically managing test definitions, which are used by calibrators to test field devices, the apparatus comprising:

a display;

a processor operably coupleable to the display;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a program residing in the memory, the program including instructions to provide a graphical user interface on the display comprising;

i) at least one device icon, wherein the device icon identifies testing data of a field device; and

ii) at least one test procedure icon, wherein the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure having device testing parameters corresponding to the testing data;

wherein a test definition is created for the field device when the device icon is associated with the test procedure icon.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a context menu associated with the device icon, wherein the context menu associated with the device icon provides at least one option selected from the list consisting of associating the device icon with a test procedure icon, viewing a test definition that is associated with the device icon, editing the test definition that is associated with the device icon, renaming the device icon, deleting the device icon, viewing the testing data identified by the device icon, and editing the testing data identified by the device icon.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a context menu associated with the test procedure icon, wherein the context menu associated with the test procedure icon provides at least one option selected from the list consisting of associating the test procedure icon with a device icon, viewing the test procedure identified by the test procedure icon, editing the test procedure identified by the test procedure icon, copying information from another test procedure to the test procedure identified by the test procedure icon, and renaming the test procedure icon.

13. A test definition management interface for use by a field management system (FMS) used to manage field devices, and executed by programmed instructions on a general purpose computer;

the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are stored, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information;

the test definition management interface comprising;

a device list icon at an expandable level from which at least one additional level can expand from;

at least one device icon at a level expandable from the device list icon, wherein the device icon identifies testing data of a field device;

a test procedure list icon at an expandable level from which at least one additional level can expand from;

at least one test procedure icon at a level expandable from the test procedure list icon, wherein;

the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure having device testing parameters corresponding to the testing data; and

a test definition for the field device is created when the device icon is associated with the test procedure icon.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a list of affiliated device icons at a level expandable from the test procedure icon.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the device icon is organized under the device list icon according to a type of the field device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the device icon is organized under the device list icon according to a location of the field device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a context menu associated with the test procedure list icon, wherein the context menu associated with the test procedure list icon provides an option selected from the list consisting of adding a new test procedure icon to a level that is expandable from the test procedure list icon, and renaming the test procedure list icon.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a context menu associated with the test procedure icon, wherein the context menu associated with the test procedure icon provides at least one option selected from the list consisting of associating the test procedure icon with a device icon, viewing the test procedure identified by the test procedure icon, editing the test procedure identified by the test procedure icon, copying information from another test procedure to the test procedure identified by the test procedure icon, and renaming the test procedure icon.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a context menu associated with the device list icon, wherein the context menu associated with the device list icon provides an option selected from the list consisting of adding a new device icon to a level that is expandable from the device list icon, and renaming the device list icon.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a context menu associated with the device icon, wherein the context menu associated with the device icon provides at least one option selected from the list consisting of associating the device icon with a test procedure icon, viewing a test definition that is associated with the device icon, editing the test definition that is associated with the device icon, renaming the device icon, deleting the device icon, viewing the testing data identified by the device icon, and editing the testing data identified by the device icon.

21. A computer readable medium having stored instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving an input associating a device icon with a test procedure icon, wherein the device icon identifies testing data of a field device, and wherein the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure having device testing parameters that correspond to the testing data; and

instructions for creating a test definition in accordance with the test procedure using the testing data, wherein the test definition can be used by a calibrator to test the field device.

22. The invention of claim 21, wherein the input associating the device icon with the test procedure icon includes dragging the device icon across a display to the test procedure icon and dropping the device icon into the test procedure icon.

23. The invention of claim 21, wherein the input associating the device icon with the test procedure icon includes dragging the test procedure icon across a display to the device icon and dropping the test procedure icon into the device icon.

24. A computer readable medium having stored instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising:

instructions for displaying at least one device icon on a display, wherein the device icon identifies testing data of a field device;

instructions for displaying at least one test procedure icon on the display, wherein the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure having device testing parameters that correspond to the testing data;

instructions for receiving an input associating the device icon with the test procedure icon; and

instructions for creating a test definition for the field device when the device icon is associated with the test procedure icon, wherein the test definition can be used by a calibrator to test the field device.

25. The invention of claim 24, wherein the input associating the device icon with the test procedure icon includes dragging the device icon across the display to the test procedure icon and dropping the device icon into the test procedure icon.

26. The invention of claim 24, wherein the input associating the device icon with the test procedure icon includes dragging the test procedure icon to the device icon across the display and dropping the test procedure icon into the device icon.

27. An apparatus for managing test definitions, which are used by calibrators to test field devices, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a device icon on a display, wherein the device icon identifies testing data of a field device;

means for displaying a test procedure icon on the display, wherein the test procedure icon identifies a test procedure having device testing parameters that correspond to the testing data;

means for associating the device icon with the test procedure icon; and

means for creating a test definition for the field device using the testing data in accordance with the test procedure.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for associating includes dragging the device icon across the display to the test procedure icon and dropping the device icon into the test procedure icon.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for associating includes dragging the test procedure icon across the display to the device icon and dropping the test procedure icon into the device icon.