MOBILE EXTENSION FOR INDUSTRIAL OPERATOR CONSOLES

• US 20150227123A1
• Filed: 02/11/2014
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Laycock, Graeme, McAdam, Rohan
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• 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 19/418 Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31469 Graphical display of process as function of detected alarm signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32412 One engineering, workstation can supervise several processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32414 Workstation has two displays, for process control and for general applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system includes an operator console having at least one graphical display configured to present information associated with an industrial process and with a control system associated with the industrial process. The system also includes a mobile extension associated with the operator console. The mobile extension is configured to present first process-related information to an operator and receive second process-related information from the operator for the control system. The operator console is configured to provide state information to the mobile extension, where the state information is associated with operations of the operator console. The mobile extension could be configured to base at least part of the first process-related information or at least part of the second process-related information on a location of the apparatus. The operator console could be configured to provide an indication that the mobile extension is currently in use by the operator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting first process-related information to an operator at a mobile extension, the mobile extension associated with an operator console that displays information associated with an industrial process and with a control system associated with the industrial process;

receiving second process-related information from the operator at the mobile extension for the control system; and

receiving state information from the operator console at the mobile extension, the state information associated with operations of the operator console.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the state information comprises login credentials of the operator and one or more current views of one or more Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) at the operator console.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile extension is used by the operator without the operator providing the login credentials to the mobile extension.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication at the operator console that the mobile extension is currently in use by the operator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the first process-related information that is presented to the operator or at least part of the second process-related information that is received from the operator is based on a location of the mobile extension.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the location of the mobile extension is associated with one of multiple zones; and

at least part of the first process-related information that is presented to the operator or at least part of the second process-related information that is received from the operator is based on the zone in which the mobile extension is located.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

when the mobile extension is located within a first zone, the mobile extension allows the operator to view and acknowledge alarms and provides read/write access to process parameters;

when the mobile extension is located within a second zone, the mobile extension allows the operator to view and acknowledge alarms and provides read access but not write access to process parameters; and

when the mobile extension is located within a third zone, the mobile extension allows the operator to view but not acknowledge alarms and provides read access but not write access to process parameters.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the location of the mobile extension is defined as a distance of the mobile extension from the operator console.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a display configured to present first process-related information to an operator, the apparatus associated with an operator console that is configured to display information associated with an industrial process and with a control system associated with the industrial process; and

at least one processing device configured to control presentation of the first process-related information on the display and to receive second process-related information from the operator for the control system;

wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to receive state information from the operator console, the state information associated with operations of the operator console.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the state information comprises login credentials of the operator and one or more current views of one or more Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) at the operator console.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to base at least part of the first process-related information that is presented to the operator or at least part of the second process-related information that is received from the operator on a location of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the location of the apparatus is associated with one of multiple zones; and

the at least one processing device is configured to base at least part of the first process-related information that is presented to the operator or at least part of the second process-related information that is received from the operator on the zone in which the apparatus is located.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to identify the location of the apparatus as a distance of the apparatus from the operator console.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to initiate transmission of activity update information to the operator console, the activity update information identifying actions taken by the operator using the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to support operator interaction with one or more Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) at the operator console.

16. A system comprising:

an operator console comprising at least one graphical display configured to present information associated with an industrial process and with a control system associated with the industrial process; and

a mobile extension associated with the operator console, the mobile extension configured to present first process-related information to an operator and receive second process-related information from the operator for the control system;

wherein the operator console is further configured to provide state information to the mobile extension, the state information associated with operations of the operator console.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the operator console is further configured to provide an indication that the mobile extension is currently in use by the operator.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile extension is configured to base at least part of the first process-related information that is presented to the operator or at least part of the second process-related information that is received from the operator on a location of the apparatus.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the location of the mobile extension is associated with one of multiple zones; and

the mobile extension is configured to base at least part of the first process-related information that is presented to the operator or at least part of the second process-related information that is received from the operator on the zone in which the mobile extension is located.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the operator console is further configured, upon detecting that the mobile extension is approaching or at the operator console, to update one or more Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) presented at the operator console based on one or more HMIs that the operator opened, modified, or closed using the mobile extension.