Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Utility Patent
1997-03-24
2001-01-02
Hong, Stephen S. (Department: 2776)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Utility Patent
active
06169996
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote observation system for observing the state of a plant from a distant place.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 6
shows a configuration of a conventional remote observation system. In this figure, the reference numeral
101
designates a computer such as a PC (personal computer) or a workstation placed in an office faraway from the observation object. The computer
101
includes a hypertext display unit
102
for displaying a hypertext.
The reference numeral
103
designates a network such as LAN (Local Area Network) for connecting the computer
101
with other computers;
104
designates a plurality of computers like engineering workstations for communicating with the computer
101
through the network
103
; and
105
designates a CRT for displaying data transmitted from the hypertext display unit
102
. These devices
101
-
105
are placed at the office side.
The reference numeral
106
designates a controller for carrying out control and data acquisition at the observation object side;
107
designates an observation control network for connecting the controller
106
with other controllers; and
108
designates an observation control computer for carrying out data collection through the observation control network
107
. The observation control computer
108
has a data collection means
109
.
The reference numeral
110
designates a man-machine computer for controlling a man-machine system for observation control. The man-machine computer
110
includes fixed image data
111
drawn by a builder or the like, and a man-machine display means
113
for generating observation image data from the fixed image data
111
and the data collected by the data collection means
109
to display the observation image data on the CRT
112
. The devices
106
-
113
are placed at the observation object side like a plant.
The operation will be described.
The computer
101
at the office side processes data fed from the plurality of computers
104
through the network
103
, and displays them on the CRT
105
, thereby carrying out the office work.
At the observation object side, on the other hand, the data collection means
109
in the observation control computer
108
collects the data acquired by the controllers
106
through the observation control network
107
. The man-machine display means
113
in the man-machine computer
110
generates the observation image data on the basis of the fixed image data
111
and the data collected by the data collection means
109
, and displays them on the CRT
112
, thereby performing the plant observation job.
Thus, the plant observation job and the office work are carried out independently in the conventional remote observation system with the foregoing configuration, because the observation control network which connects the computers for observing the plant is not directly connected to a LAN which interconnects the offices.
Therefore, in case of emergency, for example, the office side can obtain only insufficient information on the state of the observation object side because a report from the observation object side is the only information on the state. Besides, to monitor the observation object side at the office side, a dedicated system must be constructed between the office side and the observation object side. This, however, has problems in that such a system becomes expensive and cannot be applied to some other purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is accomplished to solve the foregoing problems, and has an object to provide an inexpensive remote observation system which can be applied to some other purpose by utilizing LAN and office automation equipment commonly used.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote observation system which can offer more detailed information on the state of the plant in case of emergency by carrying out plant observation job from the faraway office by using the LAN.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote observation system comprising:
a data transmission line for connecting an observation object side and an office side at a distant place;
data collection means for collecting observation data by observing a plant at the observation object side;
hypertext data transmission means for transmitting hypertext data to the office side through the data transmission line in response to a request for data transmission from the office side, the hypertext consisting of a combination of fixed image data representing the plant: in its entirety and state data of various portions of the plant which are obtained from the data collection means; and
hypertext display means for displaying the hypertext data transmitted to the office side.
Here, the remote observation system may further comprise:
at the observation object side,
variable data transfer means for transferring variable image data obtained from the data collection means to the hypertext data transmission means; and
fixed image transfer means for transferring the fixed image data to the hypertext data transmission means; and
at the office side,
variable image display means for displaying the variable image data transmitted from the hypertext data transmission means;
fixed image display means for displaying the fixed image data transmitted from the hypertext data transmission means; and
periodic update means for periodically requiring the observation object side to transmit data.
The remote observation system may further comprise:
at the observation object side,
image acquisition means for storing a program with a function of displaying a fixed image, a program with a function of displaying a variable image, and a program with a function of periodically transferring data to the office side, and
at the office side,
program storing means for storing the programs transmitted from the observation object side, and for displaying data transmitted from the observation object side in accordance with the programs.
The hypertext transmission means may transmit the fixed image data first, and the state data every time the state data change, and the hypertext display means may display the state data in combination with the fixed image data.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5400246 (1995-03-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 5737560 (1998-04-01), Yohanan
patent: 5748188 (1998-05-01), Hu et al.
patent: 5752023 (1998-05-01), Choucri et al.
patent: 5799292 (1998-08-01), Hekmatpour
Oliver, Netscape 2 Unleashed, Sam.net Publishing, Feb. 1996, pp. 270-273 and 282-284.
Hong Stephen S.
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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