Industrial operator interfaces interacting with higher-level business workflow

• US 8,855,791 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chand, Sujeet, Briant, Stephen C, Hall, Kenwood H, Hood, Gavan W, Baier, John J, Kalan, Michael D
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARLAND, STEVEN R
• Application Number:
  US13/486,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/83, 705/1.1, 715/762, 715/763
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that enable high-level and abstract business engines to affect and influence plant-floor or industrial operations via dynamic and flexible operator interfaces. In a similar manner, actions directed from the operator interfaces can be communicated to higher level decision components of an enterprise to facilitate automated control and dynamics of the enterprise. In one aspect, an industrial automation system is provided. The system includes one or more controllers to process transaction events in an industrial automation environment. One or more operator interface components are provided that automatically adapt interface control functionality based on the transaction events.

Claims

1. An industrial device, comprising

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

and

at least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, that executes the computer-executable instructions to at least;

execute a business execution language that controls a business process associated with a business priority defined for an enterprise;

interface the business execution language with a message control capability of an operator interface device for control of industrial equipment or devices of the enterprise;

based on the business priority, sending, using the business execution language, a message to the operator interface device in response to detection of a change to a business variable indicative of a state of the business process, wherein the message comprises state information that specifies the state of the business process; and

adjust, using the business execution language, functionality of the operator interface device in accordance with the message.

2. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to initiate sending, as the message, a compensation message pertaining to a result of a reversal of an effect of a previously executed business activity.

3. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to receive first data about the state of the business process and return second data pertaining to a result of a reversal of an effect of a previously executed business activity.

4. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to control at least one of a purchase of a material, a receipt of a purchase order, a calculation of a price, a management arrangement, or a production scheduling.

5. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to generate a message event to drive the operator interface device.

6. The industrial device of claim 5, wherein the message event is part of an asynchronous operation or a synchronous operation.

7. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to generate an alarm event associated with a timeout.

8. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to cause, using the business execution language, the operator interface device to prompt for an acknowledgement of the change to the business variable in accordance with the message.

9. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to cause, using the business execution language, the operator interface device to send a manufacturing instruction in accordance with the message.

10. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to cause, using the business execution language, the operator interface device to prompt for feedback regarding the state of the business process in accordance with the message.

11. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to output, using the business execution language, a control procedure to the operator interface device in accordance with the message.

12. The industrial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to invoke, using the business execution language and in accordance with the message, a procedure with the operator interface device to bring the business variable within a defined range.

13. An operator interface system, comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, that executes the computer-executable instructions to at least;

interface a message control capability of an operator interface that controls at least one of industrial equipment or an industrial device on a control level of an enterprise with a business execution language operating on a business level of the enterprise, wherein the business execution language controls a business process associated with a business priority defined for an enterprise;

receive a message sent by the business execution language based on the business priority, wherein the received message identifies a change of a business variable indicative of a condition of the business process, and comprises state information specifying the condition of the business process; and

adjust, using the business execution language, functionality of the operator interface based on the message.

14. The operator interface system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to prompt for an acknowledgement of the change of the business variable based on the message.

15. The operator interface system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to send a manufacturing instruction based on the message.

16. The operator interface system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to prompt for feedback regarding the condition of the business process based on the message.

17. The operator interface system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor further executes the computer-executable instructions to execute a procedure to bring the business variable within a defined range based on the message.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

interfacing a message control capability of an operator interface that facilitates monitor and control of one or more industrial devices on a control level of an industrial enterprise with a business execution language that controls a business event relating to a defined business priority of the enterprise;

receiving a message, sent by the business execution language based on the defined business priority, indicating a change of a business variable indicative of a state of the business event, wherein the message comprises state information specifying the state of the business event; and

adjusting, using the business execution language, functionality of the operator interface based on the message.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the adjusting comprises displaying a prompt for an acknowledgement of the change of the business variable based on the message.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the adjusting comprises sending a manufacturing instruction based on the message.