Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-11
2004-09-28
Cabeca, John (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S960000, C345S215000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06798428
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for processing data or information of a technical installation, in particular of a power station installation, which are stored in different data memories in a user-specific manner. In this case, different data memories are understood to mean, in particular, different information processing systems, data processing systems or databases which are based on different operating systems.
In a power station installation, an operational control system should enable not only process control and monitoring but also maintenance of the power station installation. To that end, the operational control system is divided into a number of functional units or systems. The functions required for the respective system are thereby usually structured into a number of functional groups. Such a system is disclosed, for example, in the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,207 (corresp. to published international application WO 94/27195).
By way of example, the operational control system comprises for process control purposes, as a first system, an automation system which serves for acquiring physical quantities in the form of measured values or indication signals and subsequently processing them to form control signals which control installation sections or components of the power station installation.
A second system, a process control and/or process information system, which processes, visualizes and evaluates the information or data of the automation system, serves for process monitoring and process analysis. Such a system is disclosed, for example, in the document “ABB Technik” [ABB Technology] January 1997, pages 13-18; or the document “atp”, December 1996 pages 37-45.
A third system, a management, maintenance or administration system, serves for monitoring finances and also material management and documentation of the power station installation. All three systems of the operational control system are connected to one another via interfaces or data bus systems. With increasing energy and/or work utilization of such installations and also with increasing improvement in their safety standards, the requirements imposed on the individual systems of the operational control system with regard to the processing and storage of large volumes of data also become more stringent. Because of this, the information or data obtained in the individual systems are hierarchically built up and archived therein using information filters that are provided. Often, specific hardware and software systems which are suited to the respective requirements and differ greatly in terms of their performance are used in the individual hierarchical levels and/or in the individual systems. In order to display compressed information or data in a higher hierarchical level or in another system, it is often necessary to convert the data of the subordinate hierarchical levels or of the other system. This is particularly time-intensive and highly complicated owing to the complexity of such systems. Furthermore, a complex display of information of all relevant systems including all hierarchical levels is not possible. Rather, the different systems each have to be called individually.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a method for processing data or information of a technical installation which overcomes the above-noted deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this kind, and which enables the selection of data in all of the operating phases, that is to say even in the case of irregularities or disturbances of the process sequence, for the entire installation, and thereby ensures, in a particularly simple manner, reliable control and monitoring of the entire installation without causing a possible overload for the operating personnel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel apparatus which is particularly suitable for carrying out the method.
With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of processing data of a technical installation, wherein the data are stored in different data memories in a user-specific manner, and the installation is divided into functional groups relevant to process control and into functional groups relevant to the installation, the method which comprises the following steps:
assigning functional groups for process control and functional groups for the installation to respective selection fields of a common selection mask; representing the selection fields representing the functional groups in a first display level of the common selection mask and displaying relationships between mutually interacting functional groups in connections between the selection fields; and
upon a selection of one of the selection fields, selecting the respective process data relevant to the process control of the installation or installation data relevant to the installation and displaying the process data in a further display level.
The method applies to the processing of data of a technical installation which are stored in different data memories in a user-specific manner, the installation being subdivided into functional groups relevant to process control and into functional groups relevant to the installation. The above-noted objects are achieved according to the invention in that both the functional groups for process control and the functional groups for the installation are each assigned to a selection field of a common selection mask, the selection fields representing the functional groups being represented in a first display level of the selection mask in such a way that the relations between the mutually interacting functional groups are displayed by means of connections between the selection fields, and, by selecting one of the selection fields, the respective process data relevant to the process control of the installation or installation data relevant to the installation being selected and displayed in a further display level.
The invention is thereby based on the consideration that, by means of an operational control system based on a plurality of different hardware and software systems, both present, dynamic process data for the process control and static installation data for the installation can be processed, filtered, compressed and/or structured. A complete overview of the complex installation process and the installation can be displayed easily only when the data or information of the different data processing systems are subdivided into a number of functional groups for the installation process and for the installation structure. Such a complex display encompassing both the functional groups for the process control and the functional groups for the installation can be created more rapidly if these functional groups are filtered, compressed and/or structured in accordance with their relations with one another and also with regard to the stock of data associated with the respective functional group. In this case, the intention is to output the functional groups and, associated therewith, the information or data of different data sources or databases in hierarchically constructed levels of different display depths on an output device, e.g. a computer screen. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the relations between functional groups which interact with one another are also displayed by means of correspondingly visible connections on the output device. Using such display levels constructed from selection fields, fast and reliable selection of individual data or partial areas of data from a number of particularly extensive and, in particular, different stocks of data can then be carried out by selecting the respective selection fields.
Through the joint display of present, dynamic process data and static installation data, not only the instantaneous process state but also resultant measures for maintenance can be identified and possible disturbances eliminated
Kleiner Michael
Röben Uwe
Sturm Adolf
Cabeca John
Framatome ANP GmbH
Greenberg Laurence A.
Locher Ralph E.
Pillai Namitha
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