JP2004102643A - Maintenance work operation support system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance work operation support system to be used in a business enterprise or related departments for maintaining devices installed in a field especially for supporting management and distribution of measures when emergency condition such as a failure and an alarm is occurred in the described devices. <P>SOLUTION: This maintenance work support system is provided with a communication means 109 for receiving situation data of a plurality of pieces of equipment 103, a database 114 for holding attribute data of the equipments, an information terminal 106 for transmitting the position information or the work information of workers, a communication means 109 for receiving the positional information of the workers, a rule processing means 119 for selecting a worker, who forms a work support guidance by using the attribute data and the condition data of the equipment and the position data of the workers and delivers the work support guidance, and a communication means 109 for transmitting the work support guidance to the information terminal corresponding to the selected worker. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a maintenance work task used by a company that maintains a large number of devices installed on site or related departments, and particularly when an emergency condition such as a failure or an alarm occurs in the device. The present invention relates to a device that supports management and distribution of countermeasure operations.
[Prior art]
In a conventional business management support system, it is realized that guidance is provided to an operator in response to the status of various devices online and in real time. However, the situation of operators has been fixed.
[0003]
For example, in JP-A-11-203352 and JP-A-2001-222621, a function of transmitting information to an operator having a mobile terminal is realized.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above conventional example, a function of transmitting information to an operator having a mobile terminal is realized. However, it is conceivable to adjust work support contents in consideration of the situation where the operator is placed. Not.
[0005]
If the receiving operator cannot respond to the contents of the notification, it will hinder the work. If the notification is sent to a plurality of operators at once, a plurality of human resources may be occupied by the work and wasteful. In order to realize efficient work, it is necessary to accurately grasp the situation on the human resources side. In particular, in the case of a business in which field-installed devices are managed over a wide area, the work related to patrol is greatly restricted.
[0006]
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a mechanism capable of supporting business management by responding not only to the situation on the device side but also to the situation of patrol members in real time online.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The monitoring device on the device side and the portable terminal of the patrol member are provided with an agent function for grasping each situation. For the device, a function for confirming the presence or absence of a failure is provided, and for a patrol member, a function for confirming position information and a work state is provided.
[0008]
Further, in the server that supports management work, the database stores information on arrangement information and information on management responsibilities as properties of the apparatus, and information on duties and work techniques as properties of patrol members.
[0009]
Then, business rules using the online information of the device status and the patrol member status and the properties of the device and the patrol member as input information are managed in a database in the IF / THEN format.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment. Work support for mobile workers (hereinafter referred to as “patients”) performing maintenance and patrols at unspecified locations for maintenance work on monitored devices (hereinafter “site devices”) installed at multiple sites across a wide area (Hereinafter referred to as a support server).
[0011]
The support server 101 can cooperate with a plurality of field devices 103 and a patrol member 104 via the external communication network 102. A monitoring terminal 105 is connected to the site device and has a function of transmitting the status of the site device according to a prescribed communication protocol. The patrol member 104 has an information terminal (in this embodiment, a portable terminal) 106 and is connected to the external communication network 102 via the wireless communication 107. The wireless communication has a function of specifying current position information of a patrol member as a communication partner. The monitoring terminal 105 and the mobile terminal 106 have a function of a computer, and have a calculation processing function of executing the agent program 108 based on an external command.
[0012]
Next, the internal functions of the support server 101 will be outlined. Agent communication means 109 for exchanging with the distributed agent program 108, and storage devices 110 and 111 for storing them. In response to a request from another function, the agent communication means 109 is configured to be able to deliver an agent to the monitoring terminal 105 and the portable terminal 106.
[0013]
As functions to cooperate with the agent communication means 109, there are a patrol member management means 113 and a field device management means 112. These means have a function of using the above-mentioned agent to collect status information about the site equipment and the patrol personnel, which change every moment. The information is stored in the field equipment status database 114 and the patrol personnel status database 115 and stored. I have. In addition, attribute values that do not change on a daily basis in the information on the field device and the patrol member are stored in the field device attribute database 116 and the patrol member attribute database 117.
[0014]
Based on the above status information and attribute information, the business rules established for implementing the work support guidance are executed. The business rules are built in the business rule database 118 in advance. The rule processing unit 119 is configured to execute, from among a large number of described business rules, rules having the same execution conditions (hereinafter, firing rules).
[0015]
Hereinafter, the details of the function of each means will be described based on the actual operation procedure.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is an example of the description content of the business rule database. Here, an example of an individual rule is shown in a GUI format used by a human system at the time of rule construction, and the description contents thereof will be described. In implementation, the business rules are converted into a data format that can be processed mechanically.
[0017]
In the figure, frames (201 and 202) represented by squares without corners indicate "events". Frames (203 to 206) represented by squares having corners indicate "actions".
[0018]
An event is represented by a conditional statement that is satisfied or not satisfied depending on the contents of data inside and outside the support server. When the event is satisfied, it is assumed that the event has “fired”. An action is an operation of operating data inside and outside the support server. It is defined that the operation is performed when all the events at the arrow source input in the action frame are fired or all the actions are completed. In the case of FIG. 2, the firing of the event 201 and the event 202 means that the action 203 is executed.
[0019]
The firing condition of the event is separately defined as shown in FIG. The event name in the definition table corresponds to the name in the event frame in FIG. The event 201 “substation control panel failure code X” in FIG. 2 is referred to by the event name 301 in FIG. At 302 in FIG. 3, a data destination referred to by the event is defined. Although the details will be described later, data indicating the status / attribute of the field device or the status / attribute of the patrol member is acquired according to the definition here. The data is compared with the firing condition 303 to verify the presence or absence of firing. In the example of the figure, when the device ID: xz is in a valid use state and the alarm value of the field device is X1 or X2, the event “substation control board failure code X” is fired. The other events are processed in the same manner, and the presence or absence of each fire is determined.
[0020]
Next, the contents of the action will be described. The action contents of the action are separately defined as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows settings related to the action 203 “Neighborhood patrol express request”. The detailed action of the main action is separately stored in a library, and a desired action can be obtained by designating a designated variable here. In a text box 401, a reference point is specified. This is where the position information to be used as a reference for selecting which patrol member is nearby is specified. As in the example of FIG. 4, it is possible to refer to the position information, which is the attribute value, from the name of the failed device. Next, the text box 402 selects screen information to be delivered to the selected patrol member. In this example, a screen called “call 001” is used as registered screen data.
[0021]
The data on this screen is defined using a page description language or the like, and is displayed to the patrol member by an agent distributed to the patrol member. For example, an output as shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained. In addition to the normal message 501, it is possible to display the caller's variable 502. In addition, a function of inputting a decision and an operation of the patrol member using a GUI such as the button 503 is provided. Although details will be described later, the contents of the input operation here are transferred to the support server via communication by the patrol agent agent.
[0022]
With these functions, in the example of FIG. 4, it is confirmed whether or not the patrol member can express. If the decision not to return is returned, the neighborhood patrol express request action attempts to select the next candidate. The number of trials can be set in the number box 403. If the train can be rushed, the patrol member ID is returned as indicated by a return value 404, and the action ends.
[0023]
According to the business rule of FIG. 2, if a nearby patrol member is able to rush through the determination 204 of the screen return value of “call 001”, the patrol member is required to perform the simple inspection action 205. FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen defined for the simple inspection action. The work guidance is displayed on the portable terminal of the patrol member by the same processing as the screen display of FIG. Here, the radio button 601 is used. As in the case of FIG. 5, the operation here is transferred to the support server. In addition, when the button 602 is applied, it is a mechanism to continue the next screen display action.
[0024]
The continuation of the business rule in FIG. 2 will be described. After the simple inspection is performed as described above, the person in charge contact action 206 is performed. This operation content is defined as in the example of FIG. Basically, it is the same as the action definition in FIG. A report name 701 to be reported and a call screen 702 to be used can be set. According to this setting, as shown in FIG. 8, a screen displaying the output 801 of the simple inspection and information 802 of the patrol member who has performed the inspection is output. In the example shown in the figure, the person in charge can judge the contents of the report and select the action of selecting a work command from the candidates or talking directly on the telephone with the button 803.
[0025]
As described above, by knowing the situation of the human system including the patrol staff and the manager in a timely manner, it is possible to dynamically determine the patrol personnel closest to the facility in question, as shown in the business rule of FIG. And a system that can perform initial response. In addition, the person in charge can be contacted regardless of the position of the person in charge. Furthermore, if business rules are created based on the know-how of equipment managers, when equipment breaks down, work guidance is automatically created and transmitted based on preset business rules, so appropriate instructions are given to workers. It can be given quickly.
[0026]
Hereinafter, details of a method of referring to the situation data and attribute data of the field device and the situation data and attribute data of the patrol member will be described. The above-mentioned embodiment supplements the points that have not been described.
[0027]
First, as a method of referring to the situation data and the attribute data of the field device, an operation centered on the field device management unit 112 in FIG. 1 will be described. When referring to information on site devices as an event description as shown in FIG. 3, the process is an inquiry from the rule processing unit 119 to the site device management unit 112.
[0028]
A specific example of the inquiry will be described using the table 901 in FIG. A character string variable to be treated as a device name Name, a GPS position information character string to be treated as an arrangement location Location, a character string variable to which any of normal operation, standby operation, stopping, unknown, etc. is substituted as an operation status, Inquiries have been made regarding alarm level integer variables and the like handled as alarm Alm01 and severe alarm Alm02.
[0029]
These inquiries to the site device management means 112 are replaced with references to the site device status DB or to the site device attribute DB. First, the device name Name and the placement location Location are processed by substituting the field device attribute DB portion 902 as fixed data. On the other hand, the operating status Status of the device, the low-level alarm Alm01 and the high-level alarm Alm02 refer to the field device status DB portion 903.
[0030]
The on-site device status DB is expected to be updated by the on-site device monitoring agent 904 at any time. In the case of FIG. 9, as shown in the update data 905, all the data of Status, Alm01, and Alm are updated according to a predetermined operation of the field device monitoring agent. In this embodiment, the field device monitoring agent has a function of uploading data to the server program at regular intervals.
[0031]
The data update timing, the update data items, and the processing at the time of the communication error of the field device monitoring agent all depend on the contents of the agent program. Therefore, these monitoring and observing methods can be freely changed by following the procedure for updating the agent program distributed to each device. Specifically, in the field device agent storage unit 110, if a new agent program is replaced and added, it is possible to shift to a new monitoring observation method.
[0032]
Next, as a method of referring to the status data and attribute data of the patrol member, an operation centered on the patrol member management unit 113 in FIG. 1 will be described. Similarly to FIG. 9, when referring to the information about the patrol member, the process is an inquiry from the rule processing unit 119 to the patrol member management unit 113.
[0033]
A specific example of the inquiry will be described using a table 1001 in FIG. A character string variable handled as the patrol member name Name, a character string handled as the superior name Boss, a character string array handled as the technology license License, a GPS position information character string handled as the position information Location, and a work state (Work High) Inquiry is made about a character string variable to which any of "working (low importance)", "waiting", "moving", "resting", "unknown", etc. is substituted, and a time variable handled as a work schedule.
[0034]
The inquiry to the patrol member management means 113 is also replaced with a reference to the patrol member status DB or a reference to the patrol member attribute DB, as in FIG. First, a process of substituting the part 1002 of the member attribute DB into the member name Name, the superior name Boss, and the technology license License is performed. On the other hand, the location information Location, the work status Status, and the work schedule refer to the portion 1003 of the circuit member status DB. It should be noted that the relationship between the situation DB and the attribute DB is different from the case of the field device in FIG.
[0035]
The data of the patrol member status DB is updated by the patrol member monitoring agent 1004 as needed. As shown in the update data 1005, the status and the location are uploaded at regular intervals from the patrol agent monitoring agent to the server program.
[0036]
In addition to the above, in the case of the patrol member management means 113, a means for realizing a screen display function to the patrol member and an input function by the patrol member is provided. This can be inquired by adding a screen ID in the table 1001.
[0037]
The patrol member decision support screen and the input screen are dynamically added to the patrol member status DB. It has a structure in which it is possible to refer to the instance of the screen data table 1006 from the owned screen list stored in the part 1003 of the patrol member status DB and to refer to various values input by the patrol member.
[0038]
The screen display input agent 1007 implements a decision support screen for patrol members and an input screen. The screen display input agent 1007 is distributed to patrol members who need screen input / output. This agent has a function of displaying screen data 1008 expressed in a page description language distributed on demand. For example, it is possible to handle a screen provided with input and output as shown in FIGS. The value input by the patrol member is substituted into a variable according to the description in the page description language, and is uploaded to the server as a data update 1009. The server stores the updated data in the screen data table 1006 as screen information belonging to the circuit member status DB.
[0039]
The patrol agent monitoring agent and the screen display input agent can be switched to a new monitoring observation method and a new screen input / output method by replacing and adding a new agent program to the patrol agent storage unit 111.
[0040]
The use of the above-described work support environment is not limited to maintenance personnel working on site. FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which material processing is performed by linking to failure information. This is a business rule when a failure site and a necessary replacement part are specified from the failure information 1101 of the device. After the emergency response level event 1102 confirms that no emergency has occurred in the entire company, a parts inventory check action 1103 is executed. The action here may be to display a screen as shown in FIG. 5 on the portable terminal of the inventory manager, or use a simulated patrol agent for realizing data exchange with the existing inventory management system. . If there is a stock, a parts dispatch command action 1104 is triggered. If there is no stock, action 1105 for ordering parts is performed. In these cases, the screen display agent can be moved so that the contents of the instruction can be transmitted to the screen of the portable terminal held by the person in charge, or an agent capable of exchanging data with the existing ordering and sending system can be used. Thus, maintenance work can be efficiently performed by automating ordering and shipping work.
[0041]
In the same manner, it is possible to perform a task by linking the change in the state of the device or the change in the state of the worker occurring at the site with the personnel information or the accounting information.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the maintenance work support system according to the present invention, work support can be performed according to the situation where operators and patrol staff are placed. In other words, business management support can be implemented in real-time on-line in response to not only the situation on the device side but also the situation of patrol members. In particular, in the case of a job in which a field-installed type device is managed over a wide area, human input for patrol work can be minimized.
[0043]
Further, it becomes possible to successively provide business support based on the judgment of the patrol member at the site. Therefore, even when a plurality of persons whose positions cannot be determined need to be determined from the occurrence of any abnormality to the solution of the problem, it is possible to quickly perform the processing. Since human approval can be performed regardless of location, it is possible to cooperate with related information management systems, such as ordering replacement parts and requesting work assignment, as well as measures against device failures and alarms.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration of a maintenance work operation support system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a business rule.
FIG. 3 is an example of event data definition.
FIG. 4 is a setting example 1 of action data.
FIG. 5 is an example of a call screen of a patrol officer mobile terminal.
FIG. 6 is an example of an inspection screen of a patrol crew mobile terminal.
FIG. 7 is a setting example 2 of action data.
FIG. 8 is an example of a contact screen for a responsible person.
FIG. 9 is a flow of data management relating to a field device.
FIG. 10 is a flow of data management for patrol members.
FIG. 11 is a business rule linked to material information.
[Explanation of symbols]
101: maintenance work support server, 102: external communication network, 103: field device, 104: patrol officer, 105: monitoring terminal, 106: portable terminal, 107: wireless communication, 108: agent program, 109: agent communication means, 110 111, a storage device, 112, a field device management means, 113, a patrol member management means, 114, 903, a field device status database, 115, a patrol member status database, 116, 902, a field device attribute database, 117, a patrol member attribute Database, 118: business rule database, 119: rule processing means, 201, 202: event,
203 to 206: Action, 301: Event name, 302: Event reference data destination, 303: Fire condition, 401, 402: Text box, 403: Numeric box, 404: Return value, 601: Radio button, 602, 803 ... Button , 701: Report name, 702: Call screen, 801: Output, 802: Tournament information, 901, 1001 Table, 904: Field device monitoring agent, 905, 1005: Update data, 1003: Tournament database, 1004 ... Patrol monitoring agent, 1006: screen data table, 1007: screen display input agent, 1008: screen data, 1009: data update, 1101: device failure information, 1102: emergency level event, 1103: inventory check action, 1104: parts Shipping ® emissions, 1105 ... parts ordering action.

Claims (9)

In a system that supports maintenance management of multiple facilities,
Communication means for receiving status data of the equipment;
Communication means for receiving worker status data;
A database holding attribute data of the equipment,
A database that holds attribute data of the worker,
A maintenance work support system for executing a work rule described using the equipment status data and attribute data and the worker status data and attribute data as input conditions. In claim 1,
A maintenance work operation support system, wherein position information and the presence or absence of a worker are used as the situation data of the worker. In claim 1,
A maintenance work operation support system, wherein a response to decision support information notified to the worker is used as the situation data of the worker. Communication means for receiving status data of a plurality of facilities;
A database holding attribute data of the equipment,
An information terminal for transmitting worker position information or work status;
Communication means for receiving the position information;
Rule processing means for creating work support guidance using the attribute data of the equipment, status data and the position information of the worker, and selecting a worker to distribute the work support guidance;
Communication means for transmitting the work support guidance to an information terminal corresponding to the selected worker. In claim 1 or 4,
The maintenance work operation support system, wherein the attribute data of the worker is information on a department to which the worker belongs or a technology license held by the worker. In claim 1 or 4,
A maintenance work support system, wherein the equipment status data is an alarm, a failure occurrence signal or an output of a self-monitoring function transmitted from the equipment. In claim 1 or 4,
The maintenance work operation support system, wherein the attribute data of the equipment is position information of the equipment, an operation suspension state, or a department in charge of management. In claim 4,
An information terminal corresponding to the selected worker, display means for displaying options related to the intention or work status of the worker based on the work support guidance,
Input means for inputting the worker's selection for the displayed option,
Communication means for transmitting the selection to the rule processing means when the selection of the worker is input to the input means,
The maintenance work support system, wherein the rule processing means uses the input selection to create work support guidance and to select a worker who distributes the work support guidance. Communication means for receiving status data of a plurality of facilities;
A database holding attribute data of the equipment,
Means for identifying parts that require replacement of the equipment based on the status data of the equipment,
An inventory management database that holds information about parts inventory,
Inventory checking means for checking the inventory status of the parts requiring replacement in the inventory management database,
A maintenance work support system comprising a communication unit that outputs a shipping signal or an order signal relating to the part requiring replacement based on the confirmed stock status.

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