Automatic user interface generation

• US 9,557,900 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hood, Gavan W., Kappelhoff, Ralph, Hall, Kenwood H.
• Primary Examiner(s): England, Sara
• Application Number:
  US14/249,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/35 model driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A user interface generation system comprises a reception component that facilitates receipt of instantiated objects from within a programmable logic controller, wherein the objects conform to a hierarchically structured data model. A view generation component communicatively coupled to the reception component utilizes a subset of the objects to dynamically generate a user interface. For example, the hierarchically structured data model can be based at least in part upon one or more of ISA S95, ISA S88 and/or OMA.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions, comprising;

a reception component that receives an object that conforms to a hierarchically structured data model and comprises data indicating a state associated with at least one of an industrial process or an industrial device associated with the industrial process; and

a view generation component that accesses an interface library and selects a template based at least in part upon the state associated with the at least one of industrial process or the industrial device, wherein the template comprises a graphical representation of at least one of the industrial process or the industrial device, and generates a display comprising at least the template and an indication of the state of the at least one of industrial process or the industrial device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hierarchically structured data model is based at least in part upon one or more of ISA S95, ISA S88, or OMAC.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data aggregation component that aggregates at least two objects, the view generation component generates the display based upon the aggregated data.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a proxy component that converts the object formatted in accordance with a first network protocol to correspond to the hierarchically structured data model.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a security component that receives a request for the display from an initiator, requests identification information from the initiator, and determines whether the initiator is authorized to review data displayed on the display based at least in part upon the identification information.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a filtering component that filters the data based at least in part upon identity of the initiator.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a feedback component that alters at least one of content or perspective of the display based upon feedback from the initiator.

8. A programmable logic controller, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions, comprising;

a reception component that receives an object that conforms to a hierarchically structured data model and comprises data indicating a state associated with at least one of an industrial process or an industrial device associated with the industrial process; and

a view generation component that accesses an interface library and selects a template based at least in part upon the state associated with the at least one of industrial process or the industrial device, wherein the template comprises a graphical representation of at least one of the industrial process or the industrial device, and generates a display comprising at least the template and an indication of the state of the at least one of industrial process or the industrial device.

9. The programmable logic controller of claim 8, wherein the hierarchically structured data model is based at least in part upon one or more of ISA S95, ISA S88, or OMAC.

10. The programmable logic controller of claim 8, further comprising a data aggregation component that aggregates at least two objects, the view generation component generates the display based upon the aggregated data.

11. The programmable logic controller of claim 8, further comprising a proxy component that converts the object formatted in accordance with a first network protocol to correspond to the hierarchically structured data model.

12. The programmable logic controller of claim 8, further comprising a security component that receives a request for the display from an initiator, requests identification information from the initiator, and determines whether the initiator is authorized to review data displayed on the display based at least in part upon the identification information.

13. The programmable logic controller of claim 12, further comprising a filtering component that filters the data based at least in part upon identity of the initiator.

14. The programmable logic controller of claim 12, further comprising a feedback component that alters at least one of content or perspective of the display based upon feedback from the initiator.

15. A display device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions, comprising;

a reception component that receives an object that conforms to a hierarchically structured data model and comprises data indicating a state associated with at least one of an industrial process or an industrial device associated with the industrial process; and

a view generation component that accesses an interface library and selects a template based at least in part upon the state associated with the at least one of industrial process or the industrial device, wherein the template comprises a graphical representation of at least one of the industrial process or the industrial device, and generates a display comprising at least the template and an indication of the state of the at least one of industrial process or the industrial device.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the hierarchically structured data model is based at least in part upon one or more of ISA S95, ISA S88, or OMAC.

17. The display device of claim 15, further comprising a data aggregation component that aggregates at least two objects, the view generation component generates the display based upon the aggregated data.

18. The display device of claim 15, further comprising a proxy component that converts the object formatted in accordance with a first network protocol to correspond to the hierarchically structured data model.

19. The display device of claim 15, further comprising a security component that receives a request for the display from an initiator, requests identification information from the initiator, and determines whether the initiator is authorized to review data displayed on the display based at least in part upon the identification information.

20. The display device of claim 19, further comprising a filtering component that filters the data based at least in part upon identity of the initiator.