Methods and apparatus for system and device design and control

• US 6,965,855 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Woolner, John, Garofalo, Barry, Burbridge, David, Steffen, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US09/574,566
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 703/2, 703/22, 703/6, 707/102, 709/101, 709/202, 709/223, 702/188, 702/184, 700/108, 701/29, 706/46, 345/441
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31334 Database with devices, configuration, of plant
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system includes a database stored on a server utilized for collecting information throughout a plant and/or component design process, and usable in operation and maintenance of the plant and components. The system provides access to engineering data for all parties simultaneously, even if team members are in different parts of the world and allows changes and/or corrections to engineering documents through remote access. The system also is robust enough to handle large volumes of documents and users and facilitates startup and operation of the plant and components.

Claims

1. A method for system design and control of a plant using a web-based system including a server and at least one device connected to the server via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving application data from a user via the device;

integrating the received data into a database;

utilizing the integrated data to monitor plant activities;

collecting monitored plant activity data; and

displaying the collected data through a web interface to a person, wherein said displaying the collected data includes providing notices when at least one of a failure of an equipment used within the plant and a maintenance of the equipment is identified.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data comprises the step of receiving data related to the design and operation of the plant.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing the integrated data comprises the step of utilizing a maintenance system to track and provide the notices regarding maintenance.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data comprises the steps of:

gathering engineering data and information from multiple phases of a project;

utilizing the gathered data and information to make decisions regarding an operation and maintenance of the plant; and

assessing needs and opportunities of the plant to improve the plant.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data comprises the step of receiving application data via a network.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data comprises the step of receiving application data via at least one of a WAN, a LAN, an intranet, and the Internet.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data comprises the steps of:

receiving login information from the user;

receiving a project selection from the user; and

determining a functionality available to the user and information the user can view based on a user level permission provided to the user.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of displaying the collected data comprises the step of displaying a set of instrumentation and information associated with the instrumentation.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data comprises the step of receiving red-lined drawings from the user.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of integrating the received data into a database comprises the step of storing project data on a server remote from the system.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a site administration command; and

transmitting a site administration page to the user for selection of one of an edit news block, an edit safety message block, and edit project team block, and an edit contact block.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data from a user comprises the step of receiving application data from a team member.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprises the step of creating a team member by:

creating an application user in the system; and

assigning the team member to a project.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a list of project issues.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing the integrated data comprises the step of enabling the user to view a screen including each component which is to be monitored or controlled.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of displaying the collected data comprises the step of limiting access to the collected data in accordance with permissions given to the user.

17. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of enabling the user to:

control a monitored device; and

access information pertaining to the monitored device.

18. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing the integrated data comprises the step of utilizing the integrated data to monitor the equipment for predictive failure, failure, and scheduled maintenance.

19. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of displaying the collected data comprises the step of paging the person a pending work order.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said step of displaying the collected data comprises the step of emailing personnel a work order to complete a job.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said step of paging the person comprises the steps of:

identifying at least one of an equipment failure and an equipment maintenance alarm;

identifying the equipment that generated the at least one of an equipment failure and an equipment maintenance alarm;

identifying the person responsible for the equipment; and

sending a page command to a page system so the person can be paged.

22. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving application data comprises the step of receiving information pertaining to concept, scope, pre-engineering, detailed engineering, and construction of the plant.

23. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of utilizing information for designing the plant.

24. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of utilizing information for operating the plant.

25. A system for design and control of a plant, said system comprising:

a device; and

a server connected to said device and configured to receive plant application information data from a user via said device, utilize the application information data to monitor plant activities, and display information obtained from monitoring the plant activities through a web interface to a person, wherein to display information obtained from monitoring the plant activities said server configured to provide notices when at least one of a failure of an equipment used within the plant and a maintenance of the equipment is identified.

26. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to:

receive data related to the design and operation of the plant during a fabrication of the plant; and

utilize the plant application information during operation of the plant.

27. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to integrate the received information into a database.

28. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to collect monitored plant activity information.

29. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to track and provide the notices regarding plant maintenance.

30. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to:

gather engineering data and information from multiple phases of a project;

utilize the gathered data and information to make decisions regarding operation and maintenance of the plant; and

assess needs and opportunities of the plant to improve the plant.

31. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to:

receive login information from the user;

receive a project selection from the user; and

determine a functionality available to the user and information the user can view based on a user level permission provided to the user.

32. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to display a set of instrumentation and information associated with the instrumentation.

33. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to receive red-lined drawings from the user.

34. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to store project data on a server remote from the system.

35. A system in accordance with claim 25 further configured to:

receive a site administration command; and

transmit a site administration page to the user for selection of one of an edit news block, an edit safety message block, an edit project team block, and an edit contact block.

36. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to receive application data from a team member.

37. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to enable the user to view a screen including each component which is to be monitored or controlled.

38. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to limit access to collected data in accordance with permissions given to the user.

39. A system in accordance with claim 25 further configured to enable the user to control a monitored device and access information pertaining to the monitored device.

40. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to utilize integrated data to monitor the equipment for predictive failure, failure, and scheduled maintenance.

41. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to page the person a pending work order.

42. A system in accordance with claim 41 wherein said server further configured to e-mail personnel a work order to complete a job.

43. A system in accordance with claim 41 wherein said server further configured to:

identify at least one of a failure and a maintenance alarm;

identify the equipment that generated the at least one of an equipment failure and an equipment maintenance alarm;

identify the person responsible for the equipment; and

send a page command to a page system so the person can be paged.

44. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to receive information pertaining to concept, scope, pre-engineering, detailed engineering, and construction of the plant.

45. A system in accordance with claim 25 further configured to utilize information for designing the plant.

46. A system in accordance with claim 25 further configured to utilize information for operating the plant.