System management user interface providing user access to status information for process control system equipment including displayed propagated status in a navigation pane

• US 20070239351A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Wayland, Donald, Murty, Naredla, Nguyen, Maria, Barry, Brian, Garrison, Kristen, Sherrill, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,702,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31471 Operator can select a graphical screen at his will as help diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36121 Tree oriented menu, go to root, scroll up down, select mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system management human-machine interface application for use in a process control system is described herein that enables users to view/monitor information regarding system status and performance and to initiate changes to the operation of system equipment, checkpoint control stations and execute diagnostics. A system management graphical user interface (GUI) includes a number of interface features that enhance the accessibility of system status information to users. Such enhancements include rendering selectable diagnostic information (e.g., online/offline status) on a system component navigation view. The GUI also provides access to a variety of system information including: alarms, messages, watched system management parameters, and a legend for symbols displayed in a system management navigation tree. Other enhancements include: a search function for quickly locating a device in the system to render detailed information, a navigation tree that displays equipment status via icons, and propagating fault statuses up to a highest level of the navigation tree.

Claims

1. A system management HMI application including:

a multi-paned interface including;

a navigation pane including a hierarchical tree including nodes corresponding to control system equipment, and

a component-specific information pane providing detailed information corresponding to a selected node on the navigation pane wherein the detailed information includes diagnostic information; and

wherein the hierarchical tree includes a logical monitor node at a highest level of the hierarchical tree and wherein status of lower nodes propagates from lower nodes up to the logical monitor node.