Method and apparatus for managing a work flow in a process plant

• US 10,671,028 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Nixon, Mark J., Beoughter, Ken J., Christensen, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/028,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,450 Days
• Field of Search: 700 28, 705 712, 705 713, 705 714, 705 715, 705 716, 705 717
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An automated method for managing a work flow in a process plant includes determining the steps of performing a work item and generating associated displays for an operator or other personnel to perform the steps of the work item. A work item is created specifying a task to be performed in the process plant and determining from the specified task a set of procedures for execution of the work item. For each procedure, an associated display is generated and the associated displays are displayed on a mobile user interface device sequentially in an order in which the set of procedures are to be performed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented, automated method of managing a work flow associated with process equipment in a process plant, the method comprising:

creating a work item specifying a task associated with the process equipment to be performed by personnel in the process plant;

determining one or more suitable times to perform the task based upon information regarding the process plant;

selecting a user to perform the task based upon a user schedule indicating expected proximity of the user to the process equipment during the one or more suitable times, information regarding the task, and information regarding the user;

determining from the specified task a set of procedures for execution of the work item;

generating for each of the procedures in the set of procedures an associated display;

determining the user is currently at a target location proximate the process equipment during the one or more suitable times;

assigning a permission token to the task and the user to enable the user to perform the task;

displaying on a mobile user interface device of the user the set of associated displays sequentially in an order in which the set of procedures are to be performed as each of the procedures is completed; and

upon completion of the specified task, verifying completion of the set of procedures by automated communication with one or more process equipment components associated with the specified task and revoke the permission token.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein creating a work item comprises receiving data from an expert system and specifying a task according to the data received from the expert system.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein receiving data from an expert system comprises receiving an instruction to perform a particular action with respect to a process control device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein creating a work item specifying a task to be performed in the process plant comprises specifying a maintenance task, a calibration task, a replacement task, an inspection task, or a repair task.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein creating a work item specifying a task to be performed in the process plant comprises specifying a task that requires a safety lockout procedure.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein creating a work item specifying a task to be performed in the process plant comprises specifying a task that requires a shut-down procedure and a start-up procedure.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating for each of the procedures in the set of procedures an associated display comprises generating a display including one or more images depicting the performance of the procedure.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating for each of the procedures in the set of procedures an associated display comprises generating a display comprising an image of a target piece of equipment in the context of its surroundings to assist a person viewing the display in locating the target piece of equipment.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating for each of the procedures in the set of procedures an associated display comprises generating a display comprising a parameter entry field for recording a parameter associated with a target piece of equipment.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating for each of the procedures in the set of procedures an associated display comprises generating a display including a set of standard operating procedures.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising depicting on a display of the mobile user interface device the location of a target piece of equipment in the context of the process plant.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a set of user interface controls to allow the user of the mobile user interface device to navigate between the set of associated displays.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing access to documentation related to a target piece of equipment associated with the specified task.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein creating a work item specifying a task to be performed in the process plant comprises creating a work item specifying a manual data collection task.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein determining a set of procedures for execution of the work item comprises determining a route to collect the manual data.

16. A process control system for managing a work flow associated with process equipment in a process plant, the process control system comprising:

a plurality of process control devices for processing physical materials in the process plant;

a supervisor engine configured to;

(i) determine a set of procedures, associated with a task to be performed by personnel, the task specified by a work item relating to a target device of the plurality of process control devices;

(ii) determine one or more suitable times to perform the task based upon information regarding the process plant;

(iii) select the user to perform the task based upon a user schedule indicating expected proximity of the user to the process equipment during the one or more suitable times information regarding the user, and information regarding the task;

(iv) determine the user is currently at a target location proximate the process equipment during the one or more suitable times;

(v) assign a permission token to the task and the user to enable the user to perform the task;

(vi) transmit via a network interface the set of procedures to a mobile interface device associated with the user;

(vii) receive electronic data communicated from at least one of the plurality of process control devices associated with the task;

(viii) verify completion of the set of procedures based upon the electronic data; and

(ix) revoke the permission token; and

the mobile user interface device configured to;

receive via a network interface the set of procedures and, for each procedure in the set of procedures, an associated display, and, by displaying the associated displays, provide the set of procedures according to an order in which the set of procedures are to be performed for completing the task as each of the procedures is completed.

17. The process control system of claim 16, wherein the supervisor engine is further configured to transmit the set of procedures in response to receiving a context of the mobile user interface device.

18. The process control system of claim 17, wherein the context of the mobile user interface device comprises:

an indication that the mobile user interface device is located within a region of the process plant including the target device.

19. The process control system of claim 17, wherein the context of the mobile user interface device comprises:

an indication that the user of the mobile user interface device is assigned to perform the work item;

or

an indication that the work item is scheduled to be performed.

20. The process control system of claim 16, wherein the set of procedures is selected from one or more of:

an equipment manual;

a maintenance manual; and

a standard operating procedure.

21. The process control system of claim 16, wherein the set of procedures is selected from one or more of:

a map;

a diagram; and

a picture of at least part of the target device.

22. The process control system of claim 16, wherein the supervisor engine is further configured to create the work item.

23. The process control system of claim 22, wherein creating the work item comprises specifying a task according to data received from an expert system.