Derived and Linked Definitions with Override

• US 20170364225A1
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Hammack, Stephen G., Gilbert, Stephen C., Sullivan, Matthew J., Jundt, Larry O.
• Granted Patent: US 10,691,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4188 characterised by CIM planning or realisation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25067 Graphic configuration control system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31418 NC program management, support, storage, distribution, version, update
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31467 Display of operating conditions of machines, workcells, selected programs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31472 Graphical display of process
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32128 Gui graphical user interface
• 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: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.

Claims

1. A method of flexibly configuring graphic elements for use in a process plant, the method comprising:

receiving, in a run-time operating environment of the process plant, an indication of a modification to a particular graphic element object included in a set of graphic element objects, the modification being an override of a definition of the particular graphic element object, and wherein;

an instantiation of each graphic element object of the set of graphic element objects includes a respective graphic element that represents, on at least one process control display view, a respective process entity of the process plant;

the each graphic element object of the set of graphic element objects is linked to at least one display object, wherein an instantiation of the at least one display object executed in the run-time operating environment of the process plant generates the at least one process control display view, and

the at least one process control display view presents real-time data corresponding to control of a process by the process plant;

generating a definition of the override and storing the override definition separately from the definition of the particular graphic element object, thereby causing the override definition to be available for use separately from the definition of particular graphic element object;

propagating, in the run-time operating environment of the process plant, the modification to each graphic element object of a subset of the set of graphic element objects, wherein each graphic element object included in the subset is derived from the particular graphic element object, and the propagation of the modification to the subset of graphic element objects generates a set of modified graphic element objects; and

causing an instantiation of one or more members of the set of modified graphic element objects to be executed in the run-time operating environment so that one or more modified graphic elements corresponding to the one or more members of the set of modified graphic element objects are presented on the at least one process control display view.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the set of modified graphic element objects to be accessible to a configuration environment of the process plant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of an override of at least one of:

a definition of a visual shape or content of a particular graphic element instantiated from the particular graphic element object, a definition of the link to the at least one display object, or a definition of an attribute of the particular graphic element.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the attribute defined by the particular graphic element object is one of:

an animation defining a dynamic behavior, that changes based on the real-time data, of at least a portion of the particular graphic element;

an event handler defining a behavior to be executed by the particular graphic element when a trigger occurs; and

the property defines a characteristic of the particular graphic element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object, wherein the definition of the particular graphic element object is provided by another graphic element object from which the particular graphic element object is derived.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of a deletion of the definition of the particular graphic element object or of a change to the definition of the particular graphic element object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of an additional definition added to the particular graphic element object, the additional definition corresponding to at least one of:

another visual shape or content of the particular graphic element, another link to another display object, or another attribute of the particular graphic element.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing an indication that the modification was propagated to the each graphic element object of the subset.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification to the each graphic element object of the subset is a first modification, and wherein the method further comprises determining a set of multiple modifications to the each graphic element object of the subset, the multiple modifications including the first modification.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the modification to the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of a modification to another graphic element object from which the particular graphic element object was derived.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the subset of the set of graphic element objects based on a distribution policy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the subset of graphic element objects based on the distribution policy comprises determining the subset of graphic element objects based on a distribution policy corresponding to the particular graphic element object.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the subset of graphic element objects based on the distribution policy comprises determining the subset of graphic element objects based on a distribution policy corresponding to at least some of the members of the subset of graphic element objects.

14. A method of flexibly configuring graphic elements for use in a process plant, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a modification to a particular graphic element object included in a set of graphic element objects, the modification to the particular graphic element object being an override of a definition of the particular graphic element object, and wherein;

an execution of an instantiation of each graphic element object of the set of graphic element objects (i) generates a respective graphic element that is presented on respective one or more process control display views, and (ii) represents a respective process entity of the process plant,

the respective one or more process control display views (a) are generated from an execution of an instantiation of respective one or more display objects, and (b) present real-time data corresponding to control of a process by the process plant, and

the each graphic element object of the set of graphic element objects is linked to the respective one or more display objects;

generating a definition of the modification and storing the modification definition separately from the definition of the particular graphic element object, thereby causing the modification definition to be available for use separately from the definition of the particular graphic element object;

propagating the modification to each graphic element object of a first subset of the set of graphic element objects, wherein the each graphic element object included in the first subset is derived from the particular graphic element object, and the propagation of the modification to the first subset of graphic element objects generates a set of modified graphic element objects;

causing one or more modified graphic elements corresponding to one or more members of the set of modified graphic element objects to be presented on corresponding one or more process control display views when instantiations of the one or more members of the set of modified graphic element objects are executed; and

not propagating the modification to each graphic element object of a second subset of the set of graphic element objects, wherein each graphic element object included in the second subset is derived from the particular graphic element object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the indication of the modification to the particular graphic element object comprises receiving, at a user interface in a run-time operating environment of the process plant, the indication of the modification to the particular graphic element object.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises storing the set of modified graphic element objects in a location accessible to both the run-time operating environment and a configuration environment of the process plant.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of an override at least one of;

a definition of a visual shape or content of a particular graphic element corresponding to the particular graphic element object, a definition of a link to at least one display object, or a definition of an attribute of the particular graphic element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the attribute of the particular graphic element object is one of:

an animation defining a dynamic behavior of at least a portion of the visual shape or content of the particular graphic element that changes based on the real-time data;

an event handler defining a behavior to be executed by the particular graphic element when a trigger occurs; and

the property defines a characteristic of the visual shape or content of the particular graphic element.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object comprises receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object, wherein the definition of the particular graphic element object provided by another graphic element object from which the particular graphic element object is derived.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object includes receiving an indication of one of a deletion of the definition or a change to the definition.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the indication of the override of the definition of the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of an additional definition added to the particular graphic element object, the additional definition corresponding to at least one of:

another visual shape or content of the particular graphic element, another link to another display object, or another attribute of the particular graphic element.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing an indication that the modification was propagated to the each graphic element object of the first subset.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the modification to the each graphic element object of the first subset is a first modification, and wherein the method further comprises determining a set of multiple modifications to the each graphic element object of the first subset, the multiple modifications including the first modification.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the indication of the modification to the particular graphic element object comprises receiving an indication of a modification to another graphic element object from which the particular graphic element object was derived.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining, based on a distribution policy, at least one of (i) the first subset of graphic element objects or (ii) the second subset of graphic element objects.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein determining the at least one of the first or the second subset of graphic element objects based on the distribution policy comprises determining the at least one of the first or the second subset of graphic element objects based on a distribution policy corresponding to the particular graphic element object.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein determining the at least one of the first or the second subset of graphic element objects based on the distribution policy comprises determining the at least one of the first or the second subset of graphic element objects based on a distribution policy corresponding to at least one member of the at least one of the first or the second subset of graphic element objects.

28. A method of using flexibly configured graphic elements in process plants, the method comprising:

initiating, at a computing device, a loading of a display view,

the display view comprising an execution of an instantiation of a display object including a link to receive real-time data corresponding to controlling a process in the process plant, wherein information presented on the display view is based on the received real-time data;

the display object linked to a particular graphic element object, and

the particular graphic element object comprising (i) a definition of a visual representation of a process entity of the process plant, the definition of the visual representation of the process entity provided by another graphic element object from which the particular graphic element object is derived, and (ii) a modification to the definition of the visual representation provided by the another graphic element object, the modification being an override of the definition of the visual representation; and

upon the initiation of the loading of the display view,

(a) determining the definition of the visual representation provided by the another graphic element object;

(b) applying the modification to the determined definition to generated a modified definition; and

(c) instantiating, on the display view, the modified definition as a particular graphic element corresponding to the particular graphic element object,

wherein a definition of the override is stored separately from the definition of the visual representation provided by the another graphic element object.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein:

determining the definition of the of the visual representation provided by the another graphic element object comprises determining a definition of a property of the visual representation, the property of the visual representation including a visual characteristic of at least a portion of the visual representation; and

applying the modification to the determined definition includes at least one of;

removing the property from the determined definition, replacing the property with another property, or changing the at least a portion of the visual representation corresponding to the property.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein:

determining the definition of the of the visual representation provided by the another graphic element object comprises determining a definition of a shape of at least a portion of the visual representation; and

applying the modification to the determined definition includes at least one of;

removing the shape from the determined definition, replacing the shape with another shape, or changing the shape.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein:

determining the definition of the of the visual representation provided by the another graphic element object comprises determining a definition of an animation of the visual representation, the animation of the visual representation including a behavior of at least a portion of the visual representation that dynamically changes based on the received real-time data; and

applying the modification to the determined definition includes at least one of;

removing the animation from the determined definition, replacing the animation with another animation, or changing the at least a portion of the visual representation corresponding to the animation.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein:

determining the definition of the of the visual representation provided by the another graphic element object comprises determining a definition of an event handler, the event handler indicating a behavior to be executed when a trigger occurs; and

applying the modification to the determined definition includes at least one of;

removing the event handler, changing the behavior to be executed by the particular graphic element when the trigger occurs, or changing the trigger that causes the behavior to be executed.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the trigger is based on the received real-time data.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein applying the modification to the determined definition includes adding, to the determined definition, at least one of a property, an animation or an event handler.

31. The method of claim 31, wherein changing the shape comprises changing at least one of an orientation, a size, or a position of the shape.

36. A system for supporting flexible graphic elements in a process plant, the system comprising:

one or more display views generated in a real-time operating environment of the process plant, the one or more display views presenting information corresponding to real-time data generated from controlling a process in the real-time operating environment of the process plant; and

a plurality of graphic elements presented on the one or more display views, wherein;

each graphic element of the plurality of graphic elements includes a visual representation of a respective process entity included in the process plant, the each graphic element is generated by an execution of the instantiation of a respective graphic element object,

the respective graphic element object is linked to a respective display object corresponding to each display view on which the each graphic element is presented,

the each respective graphic element object is configurable in the real-time operating environment of the process plant and is configurable in a configuration environment of the process plant,

a first graphic element object included in the respective graphic element objects is derived from a second graphic element object included in the respective graphic element objects, and

the first graphic element object includes a modification comprising an override of a definition of the first graphic element object.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the respective display object is a particular graphic element object.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the modification of the first graphic element object is propagated from the second graphic element object.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the modification of the first graphic element object is not propagated from the second graphic element object.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the modification of the first graphic element object is based on a user input.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the modification of the first graphic element object is propagated from another graphic element object different from the second graphic element object.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the definition of the first graphic element object is provided by the second graphic element object.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the override of the definition of the first graphic element object comprises at least one of a removal of at least a portion of the definition, a replacement of at least a portion of the definition, a change to at least a portion of the definition, or an addition to the definition.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein the instantiation of the first graphic element object comprises (i) a determination of the definition provided by the second graphic element object, and (ii) an application of the override to the determined definition.

45. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a user interface to receive a query for an identification of a set of overrides corresponding to the first graphic element object, the set of overrides including the override of the definition of the first graphic element object; and

a mechanism to determine the set of overrides and provide a response to the query.

46. The system of claim 36, wherein the definition of the first graphic element object defines at least one of a shape, a property, an animation, or an event handler of at least a portion of the visual representation of the process entity.

47. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a user interface to receive a query for an identification of a set of graphic element objects, the set of graphic element objects including the first graphic element object; and

a mechanism to determine the set of graphic element objects and provide a response to the query.

48. The system of claim 36, wherein the first graphic element object is derived from multiple graphic element objects, the multiple graphic element objects including the second graphic element object.

49. The system of claim 36, wherein a third graphic element object is derived from the second graphic element object.

50. The system of claim 36, wherein the second graphic element object is derived from a fourth graphic element object.

51. The system of claim 36, wherein a fifth graphic element object is derived from the first graphic element object.

52. The system of claim 36, wherein a first graphic element object comprises a combination of more than one other graphic element objects.

53. The system of claim 36, further comprising a data storage entity configured to store the plurality of graphic element objects, the data storage entity accessible to both the real-time operating environment of the process plant and the configuration environment of the process plant.

54. The system of claim 36, wherein the process entity comprises at least one of:

a class module, an instance of the class module, a process element module, an area, a unit, a piece of equipment, a control module, a routing module, or a display module.