Hybrid user interface having base presentation information with variably prominent supplemental information

• US 7,962,229 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Gordon, Kevin G., Bromley, Clifton H., Semkow, Marc D., Reichard, Douglas J., Dorgelo, Eric G., Virji, Shafin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman; Sean P
• Application Number:
  US12/147,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20080256478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/83, 700/108, 700/111, 700174-178, 700180-185, 700/204, 702182-185, 715/700, 715/771, 715/772, 715/964, 715/965, 726 4- 5, 726/7, 726 17- 21, 726 28- 30
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23163 Display enlarged, zoomed detail and small overall schematic, plan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24102 Display status of controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that enable various interface applications that more efficiently communicate data to users in an industrial control system. In one aspect, an industrial automation system is provided. The system includes a base presentation component to display one or more elements of an industrial control environment. Various display items can be dynamically superimposed on the base presentation component to provide industrial control information to a user. In another aspect of the industrial automation system, a location component is provided to identify a physical or a virtual location for a user in an industrial control environment. This can include a context component to determine at least one attribute for the user in view of the physical or virtual location. A presentation component then provides information to the user based in part on the physical or virtual location and the determined attribute.

Claims

1. An industrial automation system, comprising:

an information retrieval component that creates mappings between tracked historical user and industrial automation device context information in an industrial automation environment and real time user and industrial automation device context information in the industrial automation environment, the information retrieval component continuously selects information to present to a user based upon the mappings and without prompting or requesting from the user;

at least one base presentation that displays one or more elements of the industrial automation environment to the user;

an interface that overlays one or more display items within the base presentation, the display items include at least a portion of the selected information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a context component that determines context information for at least one of users or devices.

3. The system of claim 2, the context component further comprises a user component that determines context information relating to users.

4. The system of claim 1, the information retrieval component receives the context information and creates the mappings based at least in part on the received context information.

5. The system of claim 1, the context information comprises at least one of the identity, role, logical location, physical location, current activity, previous activities, related devices equipment, or any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, the context information further comprises information relating to a production environment in which the industrial automation system operates.

7. The system of claim 6, the context component comprises at least a location component that identifies the physical or virtual location of users.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an item component for managing at least one graphical element or object that is overlaid on at least part of the base presentation or outside the boundaries of the base presentation.

9. The system of claim 8, the graphical element or object is at least one of an icon, thumbnail, dialog box, tool tip, widget, text box, graphic, or any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, the interface is accessible through a web browser.

11. The system of claim 2, the context component further comprising a device component that determines the industrial automation device context data pertaining to industrial automation devices including control systems, industrial devices, associated equipment, or any combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, the interface is a human machine interface that facilitates viewing and interaction with the base presentation component or the display items.

13. The system of claim 1, the interface format is editable based upon user preference.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a security component that controls the displayed information based at least in part on user identity.

15. The system of claim 14, the security component provides security credentials for at least one user.

16. The system of claim 14, the security component further comprises:

an authentication component that determines a user identity; and

a credential component that matches the user with credentials based at least on at least one of individual user information, user group membership, user position, or any combination thereof.

17. The system of claim 16, the authentication component employs at least one of biometrics, smart cards or passwords to authenticate a user.

18. The system of claim 17, the authentication component further comprises a graphical component that requests user authentication input.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connection component that provides information to the interface.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising an update component that detects changes in information provided by the connection component.

21. A method to provide information to users of an industrial control system, comprising:

generating an interface with at least one base presentation for an industrial control system;

creating mappings between tracked historical user and automation device context information associated with the industrial control system and real time user and automation device context information associated with the industrial control system;

continuously selecting information to display to the user based at least in part on the mappings and without prompting or requesting from the user; and

changing interface display information based at least in part on the selected information.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising overlaying information on a base presentation.

23. The method of claim 21, the information appears embedded in, within proximity to, or is overlaid on the base presentation.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a selection component that selects an overlaid display items associated with the base presentation.

25. The method of claim 21, the overlaid information includes historical data, machine data, warning data, attention data, help data, production data, or any combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 21, the selecting information is based at least in part on a production environment in which the industrial control system operates.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying the physical or virtual location of the user.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying the interface in a web browser.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising altering the interface display format based at least in part on user preference.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising controlling the displayed information based at least in part on a user identity.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing security credentials for the user.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

authenticating the user identity; and

matching the user with credentials based at least in part on at least one of individual user information, user group membership, user position, or any combination thereof.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising requesting input to authenticate the user.

34. The method of claim 33, the requested input includes at least one of biometrics, smart cards, passwords, or any combination thereof.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising connecting to sources of information to display with the interface.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising detecting changes to the information displayed with the interface and updating the information based on the detected changes.

37. An industrial controller interface, comprising:

means for generating a base presentation of a production environment;

means for creating mappings between tracked historical user and industrial automation device context information in the production environment and real time user and industrial automation device context information in the production environment;

means for automatically choosing information to display to a user based in part on the mappings and without prompting or requesting from the user; and

means for overlaying the chosen information on the base presentation displayed on a graphical user interface for the production environment.