System, method and computer program for a synoptic interlock prompting and input override system with a maintenance log

• US 6,687,649 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Walczak, Scott, Ditter, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Huff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US09/845,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 702/33, 702/113-115, 702/119, 702/122-123, 702/182, 702/185, 702/188, 702/FOR.103, 702/104, 702/123.124, 702/134, 702/136, 702/155, 702/170, 702/171, 700/9, 700/17, 700/19, 700/46, 700/52, 700/54, 700/83, 700/150, 700/169, 700/247, 700/250, 340/2.24, 340/3.1, 340/3.42, 340/3.44, 340/3.71, 340/3.9, 340/7.1, 340/691.8, 340/853.1, 340/909, 340/FOR.206
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23065 Manual override of program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24211 Override normal program, execute urgency program so machine operates safe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0264 Control of logging system, e.g. decision on which data to store; time-stamping measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0291 Switching into safety or degraded mode, e.g. protection and supervision after failure

Abstract

A system, method and computer program for facilitating the operation of a control system utilizing one or more input devices is disclosed. The control system provides the ability to monitor and modify operating parameters of the input devices. A function integrated within a software code is to be executed by the control system. The function is responsive to the input device. The input device includes at least one condition comprising a state wherein all of the conditions must be met prior to the execution of the function. A display of an unmet condition is exhibited to operator personnel of the control system during the execution of any function having an unmet condition prohibiting the execution of the function. The operator personnel is capable of overriding the unmet condition by selecting the state of the condition that allows the condition to be met, thus allowing the function to be executed. A maintenance log contains a record of the conditions that were bypassed or overridden. The maintenance log can be utilized for repair and replacement of faulty devices during scheduled maintenance periods.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating operation of a control system utilizing one or more operably connected devices by providing the ability to monitor and directly modify operating parameters of the one or more devices, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a software code having a function to be executed by the control system, the function being responsive to a device, the device having a condition wherein the condition must be met prior to execution of the function;

identifying an unmet condition, the unmet condition prohibiting the function from being executed;

prompting a user to override the unmet condition by displaying the unmet condition to the user;

receiving a response from the user to override the unmet condition; and

,

overriding the unmet condition by designating the condition as being satisfied, the satisfied condition allowing the function to be executed.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording the overridden unmet condition in a database log.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising generating a maintenance report identifying the overridden unmet condition and the related device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the response to override the unmet condition is automatic after a predetermined amount of overrides of the condition has been encountered.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

providing a predetermined limit of overrides for the condition, the limit representing the amount of overrides to be encountered before an automatic override is implemented by the control system;

comparing an amount of overridden unmet conditions logged in the database to the predetermined limit of overrides;

discontinuing to prompt the user to override the unmet condition and automatically overriding the unmet condition if the amount of overridden unmet conditions logged in the database exceeds the predetermined limit.

6. A method of facilitating the operation of a control system utilizing one or more operably connected devices by monitoring and modifying operating parameters of the one or more devices, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a software code having a function to be executed by the control system, the function being responsive to the one or more devices, each of the one or more devices having a condition comprising a state wherein the condition must be met prior to execution of the function;

concurrently displaying during the execution of the function a synoptic interlock prompting display associated with the function for displaying the one or more devices having an unmet condition and the respective state of each unmet condition, the unmet condition impeding the function from being executed;

prompting to override all of the unmet conditions;

receiving a response to override all of the unmet conditions; and

,

overriding all of the unmet conditions by designating each condition as being satisfied, the satisfied condition allowing the function to be executed.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the designating each condition as being satisfied comprises providing the software code with the state of the unmet condition to allow the unmet condition to be met.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising recording the overridden unmet condition in a database log.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising generating a maintenance report identifying the overridden unmet condition and related device.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the response to override the unmet condition is automatic after a predetermined amount of overrides of the unmet condition has been performed.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a predetermined limit of overrides for the condition, the limit representing the amount of overrides to be encountered before an automatic override is implemented by the control system;

comparing an amount of overridden unmet conditions logged in the database to the predetermined limit of overrides;

discontinuing to prompt the user to override the unmet condition and automatically overriding the unmet condition if the amount of overridden unmet conditions logged in the database exceeds the predetermined limit.

13. The control system of claim 11 further comprising:

a database log for compiling an amount of the overridden unmet condition.

14. The control system of claim 11 further comprising a maintenance report identifying the device associated with the overridden unmet condition.

12. A control system for executing a function, the control system having an operably connected input device and an override mechanism for facilitating the operation of the control system, the control system comprising:

a function embedded in a software code, the function being responsive to the input device wherein the device has a condition comprising a state, the condition of the input device must be satisfied prior to the function being executed;

a synoptic interlock prompting display for displaying an unmet condition, the unmet condition impeding the execution of the function;

a prompt provided to a user to override the unmet condition; and

,

an override responsive to a response to the prompt wherein the unmet condition is designated in the software code as being satisfied, thus allowing the function to execute.

15. The control system of claim 12 further comprising:

an automatic override for discontinuing the prompt transmitted to the user to override the unmet condition when a predetermined amount of overrides have been performed.

16. The control system of claim 15 wherein the automatic override comprises:

a predetermined limit of overrides for the condition, the limit representing an amount of overrides to be approved by the user before the automatic override is implemented by the control system; and

,

a comparator for comparing the amount of overridden unmet conditions logged in the database to the predetermined limit of overrides, the automatic override being operably responsive to the comparator.

17. A medium readable by a computer, the medium providing a set of instructions for managing operating parameters of network devices, the medium comprising:

a first instruction for identifying an unmet condition of a network device, the unmet condition inhibiting a function operably responsive to the network device;

a second instruction for displaying the unmet condition; and

,

a third instruction for designating the unmet condition as being met.

18. The medium of claim 17 further comprising:

a fourth instruction for recording the designated met condition in a database log.

19. The medium of claim 18 further comprising:

a fifth instruction for generating a maintenance report identifying the designated met condition with the network device.

20. The medium of claim 19 further comprising:

a sixth instruction for counting an amount of occurrences the unmet condition has be designated as being met; and

,

a seventh instruction for automatically designating the unmet condition as being met after the amount of occurrences has exceeded a predetermined limit.