Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2001-11-27
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C700S083000, C345S960000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06323882
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to systems and methods for providing a real time task scheduler for material processing systems. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods and systems for a graphical task scheduler for a manufacturing plant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Process industries, including but not limited to refining, chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical processing, have experienced a need to operate ever more efficiently in order to remain competitive. This need has resulted in the development and deployment of process modeling systems. A process engineer uses these modeling systems to build a process model, or flowsheet, of an entire processing plant using equipment models provided by the modeling system. These flowsheet models are used to design and evaluate new processes, redesign and retrofit existing process plants, and optimize the operation of existing process plants. Typically, the process engineer must first build the flowsheet model, compile the model, and perform model checking before any model errors are detected.
Conventional modeling systems typically provide simulation, data reconciliation, and optimization of plant processes using corresponding separate programs and separate models. Ongoing computer and software technology advances have enhanced the modeling systems capabilities. The process engineer is now able to model larger and more complex processes with greater detail and precision.
Conventional modeling systems are complex and require a user to program the plant model into a computer. However, typically the process engineers associated with the design and optimization of a plant do not possess computer programming skills, while computer programmers do not possess the knowledge of the plant. The amount of time and energy lost in interfacing the process engineer with the computer programmers is substantial.
Once a plant is fully designed and optimized, it is often desirable to automate many of the features of the plant. To automate the plant, the process engineer would again interface with the computer programmer to develop a second software package. What is needed is a system where the modeling, optimization, and automation processes can be performed from a single software package. Further, applications should be simple and intuitive to construct without an in-depth knowledge of computer programming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a real time, on-line, optimization tool for refineries and plants, typically petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants. The present invention provides a unified modeling environment for both on-line and off-line applications, as well as a rigorous data reconciliation capability.
The present invention includes a graphical user interface allowing a user to construct real time sequences through a point-and-click interface. The user selects a task from a list and inserts the task into the appropriate location in the sequence. The user continues to add tasks to the sequence until the sequence is complete.
Each real time sequence is associated with a list of tasks whose execution can be scheduled or invoked on demand. In one embodiment, the tasks in the sequence are executed synchronously in a predefined order. For scheduled sequences, the user defines the schedule of execution. In another embodiment, there are two kinds of schedules that the user may choose from: schedules whose frequency is less than a day and those whose frequency is more than or equal to a day.
For schedules having a frequency of less than a day, the user enters a start time and a delta time. The delta time is the amount of time between scheduled execution and can be any amount of time less than 24 hours. The start time gives the basis from which the schedule is generated.
In one embodiment, for schedules having a frequency of more than a day, the user can choose a daily, weekly, or monthly based schedule. In any case, the user generally enters a start time, which specifies the time of day each execution is to begin, and effective date. For a daily schedule, the user also specifies the number of days between executions. For a weekly schedule, the user specifies the day of the week and the number of weeks between repetitions of the schedule. For a monthly schedule, the user specifies the day of the month and the number of months between executions.
Real time sequences are registered with a scheduler to be executed on a designated schedule. On-line sequences which are scheduled are initiated by the scheduler according to the defined on-line sequence schedule. On-line sequences which are unscheduled will not be scheduled but may be executed on demand. For example, a task in a scheduled sequence may demand the execution of an unscheduled sequence.
In one embodiment, on-line sequences have a limit time, which is the maximum amount of time that the sequence can take to execute. On-line sequences which continue to execute past the limit time are halted or killed by the scheduler.
A sequence may be designated as a model sequence for performing on-line optimization. These sequences are used to model the plant and perform optimization analysis. Once a model is optimized, the sequences may be used to control the plant operation.
The tasks of each sequence may include branching logic. This allows any task to have more than one exit branch. The user can define which exit branch is to be used based on a variety of factors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5826236 (1998-10-01), Narimatsu et al.
patent: 5850221 (1998-12-01), Macrae et al.
patent: 5902352 (1999-03-01), Chou et al.
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Jerry Banks, “Software for Simulation”, Proceedings of the 1996 Winter Simulation Conference, pp. 31-38, Dec. 1996.*
Deborah Benson, “Simulation Modeling and Optimization Using Promodel”, Proceeding of the 1996 Winter Simulation Conference, pp. 447-452, Dec. 1996.
Jerome David H.
Linn Richard Eugene
Bayerl Raymond J.
Hailu Tadesse
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Simulation Sciences, Inc.
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