Visualization of workflow in an industrial automation environment

• US 7,676,294 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Gordon, Kevin George, Fuller, Bruce Gordan, Bromley, Clifton Harold, Schouten, Teunis Hendrik, Baier, John Joseph, Hobbs, Mark, Jasper, Taryl Jon, McGreevy, Robert Joseph, Reichard, Douglas James
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US11/863,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/83, 700/108, 702182-186, 717102-103, 717/105, 717/109, 717/113, 717/125, 340 343- 344
• US Class Current: 700/108
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31449 Monitor workflow, to optimize business, industrial processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31467 Display of operating conditions of machines, workcells, selected programs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31474 Icon display for quick access of detailed information
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• 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: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A visualization system that generates a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow is provided. An interface component receives input concerning displayed objects and information. A context component can detect, infer or determine context information regarding an entity or application. A workflow component binds workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information. A visualization component dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

Claims

1. A visualization system that generates a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow, comprising:

an interface component that receives input concerning displayed objects and information;

a context component that can detect, infer or determine context information regarding an entity or application;

a workflow component that binds workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information; and

a visualization component that dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the context information comprises at least one of:

an entity'"'"'s identity, role, location, current activity, similar or previous interactions with automation devices, or context data pertaining to automation devices including control systems, devices and associated equipment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the visualization component generates a graphical representation of a production environment including one or more objects representing, devices or information pertaining to devices, and workflow information corresponding to the production environment.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic/prognostic component that provides for collecting and/or generating data relating to historical, current and predicted operating state(s) of machines.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the visualization component displays worker productivity information with production line information corresponding to the workers concurrently in a single integrated visualization.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the visualization component displays revenue information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the visualization component displays inventory information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the visualization component displays sales order information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the visualization displays icons representative of workflow state concurrently with visualizations of manufacturing operations, the respective icons are located in a visualization space as a function of relevance to respective manufacturing operations.

10. A method for generating a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow, comprising:

receiving input concerning displayed objects and information;

detecting, inferring or determining context information regarding an entity or application;

binding workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information; and

dynamically generating a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the context information comprises at least one of:

an entity'"'"'s identity, role, location, current activity, similar or previous interactions with automation devices, or context data pertaining to automation devices including control systems, devices and associated equipment.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising generating a graphical representation of a production environment including one or more objects representing, devices or information pertaining to devices, and workflow information corresponding to the production environment.

13. The method of claim 10, collecting and/or generating data relating to historical, current and predicted operating state(s) of machines.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying worker productivity information with production line information corresponding to the workers concurrently in a single integrated visualization.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying revenue information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying inventory information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying sales order information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying icons representative of workflow state concurrently with visualizations of manufacturing operations, the respective icons are located in a visualization space as a function of relevance to respective manufacturing operations.

19. A computer-implemented system that generates a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow, comprising:

means for receiving input concerning displayed objects and information;

means for detecting, inferring or determining context information regarding an entity or application;

means for binding workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information; and

means for dynamically generating a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for generating a graphical representation of a production environment including one or more objects representing, devices or information pertaining to devices, and workflow information corresponding to the production environment.