EP2359200A1

EP2359200A1 - System and method for visualising of an address space

Info

Publication number: EP2359200A1
Application number: EP09809058A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan H. Leitner; Jens Doppelhamer; Wolfgang Mahnke
Original assignee: ABB AG Germany
Current assignee: ABB AG Germany
Priority date: 2008-12-19
Filing date: 2009-12-15
Publication date: 2011-08-24
Also published as: US9059931B2; CN102257445B; US20110307793A1; CN102257445A; DE102008063944A1; WO2010069544A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to corresponding systems for visualizing an address space and for organizing automation-related data, wherein according to a first method variant the user interface (1) of a display device of a computer system is divided into a plurality of configurable address space display regions (2, 3, 4). Each address space display region (2, 3, 4) is divided into a first partial region (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) and into a second partial region (6.2, 6.3, 6.4), wherein the address space display regions (2, 3, 4) all represent the same address space that can be chosen by a user. In the first partial regions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4), the node network of the address space is visualized in different display modes (7, 8, 9), in the second partial regions (6.2, 6.3, 6.4) details of a node chosen by the user are displayed. When the user navigates in one of the first partial regions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) and carries out a change to the node network, the structure of the node network and relations between the nodes in all first partial regions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) are automatically synchronized.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VISUALIZING AN ADDRESS ROOM

description

The invention relates to a method and a system for visualizing a single address space on the user interface of a display system, in particular an automation system. The method and the device are suitable for different applications, in particular for the visualization of a large address space with a meshed network of nodes for the purpose of organizing automation-related data.

Address spaces (address spaces or name spaces), which generally consist of related nodes, are used to represent information models. Such information models may be products of individual manufacturers, such as ABB's "ABB Aspect Object Model", or standardized information models that define information presentation for particular applications, such as the OPC UA information model OPC UA is one specified by the OPC Foundation Standard protocol for vendor-independent communication, especially in process automation The ABB Aspect Object Model is a model that presents the data and characteristics (aspects) of a real object as software components, and the integration of different devices using a single integrated architecture and systems easier.

Graphical User Interface (GUI) using such models requires powerful mechanisms for representing address spaces in a manner convenient for the user. In principle, there are many different paradigms and approaches for the visualization of address spaces, such as trees, lists and graphs. In particular, the use of a tree structure for different purposes, often in conjunction with lists or tables. Although in some cases other paradigms have advantages, the tree structure is used in many applications. Especially in the field of industrial automation, the tree representation for the visualization of address spaces is the first choice because of its simplicity. But this advantage can be detrimental when working with large address spaces with a meshed network of nodes, such as the OPC UA information model or the ABB Aspect Object Model. In such a case, for some tasks, visualization paradigms that show more detail than trees would make working with the model and understanding easier.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a solution for the visualization of automation-related data, which makes it possible to present many details, avoiding the disadvantages of known visualizations.

This object is achieved by methods for visualizing an address space and for organizing automation-related data having the features specified in claim 1 or 2 features. Advantageous embodiments and corresponding systems are specified in further claims.

With the invention, it is therefore proposed, depending on the variant, to create a plurality of configurable display areas on a user interface, all of which show the same address space in different display modes. During a navigation through an address space and changes made in the node network for the organization of automation-related data, in the case of a first variant, the representation in the other display areas is automatically synchronized. In a second variant, after dragging a node from one ad area to another ad area, all relationships between the existing nodes and the newly added node in the destination area are automatically displayed.

A further explanation of the invention and its advantages, as well as a further explanation of the differences from the prior art will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawing figures. Show it:

1 shows an example of a visualization of an address space according to the prior art,

2 shows a representation according to the invention of an address space in a plurality of display areas,

3 shows an example of different representations of a single address space in three display areas,

4 shows a navigation option according to a first variant of the method,

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a possibility of shifting nodes into another display area according to a second method variant, and FIGS

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of relationships between servers.

For the visualization of data treated in an automation system, such as current measured values or configuration data, two solutions are known in the prior art: either there is a specific, tailored to a particular system graphical user interface (process graphics), or it general mechanisms are used. In the solution according to the invention, general mechanisms for representing automation-related data are used. For use in automation systems, known visualization systems usually provide a fixed display type, for example in the case of the OPC UA information model. Mostly a tree-based representation is used, more advanced tools use a graph or table based representation. In such applications, a first portion of the graphical user interface is defined for interactive navigation through the address space that organizes automation data, and a second portion for presenting details of a currently selected node. Fig. 1 shows such a known example with a tree structure-based representation (on the left side of Fig. 1), and details of a selected node are shown in a table-related view (on the right side of Fig. 1) , The display options are limited in such a solution in that the graphical user interface the address space by means of only one predefined way of showing. The visualization of a mesh network of nodes representing the address space by means of a display component based on a tree structure leads to a simplified representation of the address space. Although this is advantageous for fast navigation through the address space, it is disadvantageous if the structure and node dependencies are to be examined because the tree structure does not show all the available information. A visualization of a meshed node network by means of a tree structure also leads to recursions of underlying tree structures, and a multiple representation of the same node in several parts of the tree structure. Although another known type of visualization, namely a graphics-based visualization of the address space has the advantage of a vivid representation of the meshed node network with all its details, but disadvantages if you want to navigate through an address space with a variety of nodes to overview the overall structure receive. Other known visualization types, such as so-called globe-like views (see H3Viewer, T. Munzner, http://graphics.stanford.edu/~munzner/h3/) or radial views (see Animated Exploration of Dynamic Graphs with Radial Layout, http://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/courses/lnfoVis/HallOfFame/2006/BucheticsFilie/) may be more advantageous in such a case, but have disadvantages in other respects. Thus, all known visualization solutions have specific advantages, but the use of only one type of visualization for a user interface limits the possibilities of the user to work with the address space.

With the method or systems according to the invention, in contrast, a plurality of configurable visualizations of a single address space are provided on a user interface 1 for the organization of automation-related data. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the graphical user interface 1 is subdivided into a plurality of address space display areas 2, 3, 4. Each area 2, 3, 4 visualizes the address space by means of a user-configured special display component (as shown in FIG. 3). Each area 2, 3, 4 has a first part 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 that allows it to navigate through the address space, and a second part 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 that shows details of a selected node. The aforesaid user interface 1 of a display device of a computer system can, for example, be part of an automation system, in particular of a process control system.

To further illustrate the solution according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows an exemplary representation of different views of a specific address space in the first subregions 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 of the visualization areas 2, 3, 4. Three configured visualization components 7, 8, 9 are shown, namely displays are based on a graphic 7, a tree structure 8 and a 3D representation 9, all representing the same address space.

In addition to displaying a current constellation of the address space in the display areas 2, 3, 4, it is also possible to navigate back to previous constellations. In each case, the representation in all three visualization areas 2, 3, 4 changes. Such a navigation back into the history can be done, for example, by means of a first button 10, which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively in the upper left corner of the user interface 1 is. From an earlier constellation, it is possible to navigate forward to newer constellations again by means of a second button 11 arranged next to the first button 10.

For navigation through the address space, two optional method variants are proposed:

Process variant 1:

The first variant of the method will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. In all visualization areas 2, 3, 4 of the user interface 1, the same node structure of the address space with its nodes and their relationships with each other is visualized. In this case, all representations in the visualization areas 2, 3, 4 are automatically synchronized when a user navigates through the address space and makes changes in one of the visualization areas 2, 3, 4, eg. B. adds or removes nodes. A change in the address space can be effected for example by means of a mouse or a keyboard. To facilitate the work is a within one of the visualization areas 2, 3, 4, z. In the tree structure in area 3 selected node automatically marked, for example by means of a conspicuous, z. B. red frame 12. Also in the other two representations in the areas 2 and 4, the selected node, which is the same in all areas, automatically marked in the same way.

When navigating back in the navigation history, previous constellations of the nodes are shown in all visualization areas 2, 3, 4, correspondingly also in the forward navigation.

Apart from the different representations in the individual visualization areas 2, 3, 4, some other parameters can also be advantageously configured by the user in one of the areas 2, 3, 4, which has an effect on all visualization components 7, 8, 9 due to the synchronization. Such parameters may be, for example:

Start node, that is the node with which the navigation starts;

Relationship Type, representing only the selected specific type of relationships between nodes;

- node type, whereby only selected node types are displayed;

Maximum number of nodes shown in the visualization areas 2, 3, 4.

Process variant 2:

The second variant of the method will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Unlike in the case of the first variant, here the configured visualization components 7, 8, 9 are independent of each other when navigating through the address space. This means that the visualization components 7, 8, 9 can have different selected nodes, as well as different sets of reduced or extended nodes, and can also show different types of relationships. Different selected nodes in the visualization components 7, 8, 9 are identified in different ways, for example by means of boxes of different colors. In FIG. 5, for example, a node selected there is identified with a dashed box 14 in the display area 5.4 in order to distinguish it from a node 13 that does not match it in the display area 5.3. When using the well-known drag-and-drop method in one of the visualization components, e.g. B. 8, a node 13, for example by means of a mouse button, is detected and dragged (drag), as shown in Fig. 5, and in another visualization component, eg. For example, if 7 is dropped, in the target representation, here component 7, all relationships between the existing nodes and the newly added node 13 are shown, for example, by arrows, as shown in FIG.

When navigating back in the navigation history, previous node constellations are only shown in the currently active visualization component. Active is, for example, the last identified by mouse-click visualization component 7, 8, or 9. Accordingly, newer constellations are shown in the forward navigation.

In addition to the visualization type selectable for each of the visualization areas 2, 3, 4, some other parameters may also be configured by the user. Such parameters may be, for example:

Start node, that is the node with which the navigation starts;

Relationship Type, which represents only selected specific types of relationships between nodes;

- node type, which shows only selected node types;

Maximum number of nodes shown in the visualization areas 2, 3, 4.

For the two process variants 1 and 2 applies together:

When a user navigates through an address space that extends over several servers, the server boundaries are visualized in a geometrically form in the differently configured visualization areas. In 2D or 3D representation, depending on the visualization type in the individual visualization areas. Fig. 7 shows an address space extending over three servers A, B, and C, the relationships between the servers being indicated by arrows. Fig. 8 shows an example of an address space which also extends over three servers A, B, C and the relations between the servers A, B, C, and node 15 are also indicated by arrows 16, wherein a graphics-based representation is given.

Claims

claims

1. A method for visualizing an address space and for organizing automation-related data, wherein

the user interface (1) of a display device of a computer system is subdivided into a plurality of configurable address space display areas (2, 3, 4),

each address space display area (2, 3, 4) is divided into a first subarea (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) and a second subarea (6.2, 6.3, 6.4), the address space display areas (2, 3, 4) all represent the same user-selectable address space,

- In the first sub-areas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) in different visualization components in different visualization components (7, 8, 9), the node network of the address space is visualized, and in the second sub-areas (6.2, 6.3, 6.4) details of a node selected by the user and when the user navigates in one of the first subregions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) and makes a change to the node network,

- The structure of the node network and relationships between the nodes in all first sub-areas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) are synchronized automatically.

2. A method for visualizing an address space and for organizing automation-related data, wherein

- Each address space display area (2, 3, 4) in a first sub-area (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) and in a second sub-area (6.2, 6.3, 6.4) divided with the address space display areas (2, 3, 4) all representing the same user-selectable address space,

- In each of the first sub-areas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) in different visualization in different visualization components (7, 8, 9) the node network of the address spaces is visualized, and in the second sub-areas (6.2, 6.3, 6.4) each detail of the user selected node, whereby the visualization components (7, 8, 9) are independent during a navigation,

and if, after the drag-and-drop method, the user moves a node from one of the first subareas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4, eg 5.3) into another first subarea (5.2, 5.3, 5.4, z. B. 5.2), automates all relationships between the existing nodes and the newly added node in the target representation (eg, 5.2).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the event that the user navigates back in the navigation history, former node constellations are automatically shown in all display areas (2, 3, 4), and correspondingly also in a forward navigation, the respective node constellations.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a node selected by the user in one of the first subregions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4, eg 5.2) is in all first subregions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4 ) is marked conspicuously.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in a case in which is navigated in an address space which extends over a plurality of servers (A, B, C), the respective server boundaries are visualized in a geometric shape.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the address space is visualized by means of a graphics-based representation, wherein relationships between nodes (15) and also servers (A, B, C) are represented by means of arrows (16).

7. System for visualizing an address space and for organizing automation-related data, wherein a display device of a computer system is present, whose user interface (1) is subdivided into a plurality of configurable address space display areas (2, 3, 4),

the node network of the address space is visualized in the first partial areas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) in different display mode (7, 8, 9), and details of a node selected by the user can be displayed in the second partial areas (6.2, 6.3, 6.4), and where

the system is set up to automatically synchronize the representation of the structure of the node network, as well as the relationships between the nodes in all first sub-areas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4), if the user in one of the first sub-areas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) navigates and makes a change to the node network.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the display device is adapted, in a case in which the user navigates back in the navigation history, automatically show in all display areas (2, 3, 4) previous node constellations, and accordingly also in a forward navigation, the respective younger node constellations.

9. System for visualizing an address space and for organizing automation-related data, wherein

a display device of a computer system is present, whose user interface (1) is subdivided into a plurality of configurable address space display areas (2, 3, 4),

each address space display area (2, 3, 4) is divided into a first subarea (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) and a second subarea (6.2, 6.3, 6.4), the address space display areas (2, 3, 4) all represent the same address space,

- In the first sub-areas (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) in different representation in different visualization components (7, 8, 9) the Node network of the address space can be visualized, and in the second sub-areas (6.2, 6.3, 6.4) each detail of a user-selected node can be displayed, and wherein

the system is set up to automatically display all relationships between the existing nodes and the newly added node in the target representation (eg 5.2) if the user drags and drops from one of the first subregions (5.2 , 5.3, 5.4, eg 5.3) draws a node into another first subsection (5.2, 5.3, 5.4, eg 5.2).

10. System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the system is adapted to a node selected by the user in one of the first subregions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4, eg 5.2) in all first subregions (5.2, 5.3, 5.4) should be marked conspicuously.