Abstracted display building method and system

• US 9,740,194 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mann, Krista Kummerfeldt, Lloyd, Robert F., Cisler, Steven Mark, Britt, Clinton D., Mann, Joseph Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): RIEGLER, PATRICK F
• Application Number:
  US12/708,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,742 Days
• Field of Search: 715810, 715771
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1205 Memory access for different processors, memory arbitration, mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2206 Microprocessor for display and parameter input, link to control microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24084 Remote and local monitoring, local result to remote, remote takes action
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25305 MMA, memory management, set ram and eprom part for flash memory, store state also
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31406 Data management, shop management, memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32142 Define device, module description using xml format file
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34192 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36138 Configuration of operator panel, using os-2 modular programs, masks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44594 Unloading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 15/00 Apparatus or local circuits for transmitting or receiving dot-and-dash codes, e.g. Morse code teaching apparatus therefor G09B; telegraph tapping keys H01H21/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A machine can be accessed and controlled with the help of an interface device. The customizable interface device contains device elements that define features relating to the external representation and internal functionality of the interface device, as linked to one or more machines. An operator can use a configuration station to implement single or reoccurring queries that interact with the interface device and corresponding machines. In particular, the queries target the configuration of device elements in the interface device. The process can include temporarily unloading unused features from active memory and mirroring property changes initialized by a source. An emulator can assist in the configuration process by providing a preliminary software representation of the interface device hardware. A user can develop, test, and reconfigure functions on the emulator before loading the finalized platform to the interface device.

Claims

1. An industrial automation system, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

a processor that facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to at least;

facilitate display of a main interface screen comprising a plurality of device elements stored in a temporary memory;

check a status of a first device element of the plurality of device elements;

determine whether to fully unload the first device element from the temporary memory or partially unload the first device element from the temporary memory based upon the status;

in response to a determination to fully unload the first device element from the temporary memory, fully unload the first device element from the temporary memory; and

in response to a determination to partially unload the first device element from the temporary memory, partially unload the first device element from the temporary memory.

2. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to check the status of the first device element refresh rate.

3. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to:

receive data, from a source, for at least one parameter of the first device element;

process the data;

update the at least one parameter of the first device element with the processed data;

mirror the processed data to at least one identical parameter of a second device element of the plurality of device elements.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of device elements represent display operations, monitoring operations or control operations.

4. A method, comprising:

displaying, by a system including a processor, a main interface screen comprising a plurality of device elements stored in an active memory;

checking, by the system, status of a first device element of the plurality of device elements;

determining whether to fully unload the first device element from the active memory or partially unload the first device element from the active memory based upon the status;

in response to a determination to fully unload the first device element from the active memory, fully unloading, by the system, the first device element from the active memory; and

in response to a determination to partially unload the first device element from the active memory, partially unloading, by the system from the active memory, the first device element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the checking further comprises checking, by the system, the status of the first device element at a time interval.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising

receiving, by the system, an operator request to configure a device element with a status of idle;

and

facilitating, by the system, configuration of the device element with the status of idle.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of device elements further comprise at least one of an adjustable attribute property, an executable function, a connection link to other device elements, or a communications interface.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of device elements further comprise object oriented components.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, by the system including a processor, data from a source for at least one parameter of the first device element;

processing, by the system, the data;

updating, by the system, the at least one parameter of the first device element with the processed data;

mirroring, by the system, the processed data to at least one identical parameter of a second device element of the plurality of device elements.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a system including a processor to perform operations comprising:

displaying a main interface screen comprising a plurality of device elements stored in a temporary memory;

checking status of a first device element of the plurality of device elements;

determining whether to fully unload the first device element from the active memory or partially unload the first device element from the active memory based upon the status;

in response to a determination to fully unload the first device element from the temporary memory, fully unloading the first device element from the temporary memory; and

in response to a determination to partially unload the first device element from the temporary memory, partially unloading the first device element from the temporary memory.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the checking the status of the first device element is based on a refresh rate.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data from a source for at least one parameter of the first device element;

processing the data;

updating the at least one parameter of the first device element with the processed data;

mirroring the processed data to at least one identical parameter of a second device element of the plurality of device elements.