JPH0855086A - Graphics display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the operation speed or the system and to share information to improve the extensibility of the system by distributing a data base and processing functions and making them into an object-oriented data base and executing the uniform operation of the data base by a graphic server. CONSTITUTION:An online DB(data base) server 2 manages the online information like the state of a plant. An installation DB server 3 manages information related to equipments like classifications or arrangement of plant equipments. A graphic DB server 4 manages graphics information like symbol colors and color definitions for graphics display of plant equipments or the like. A graphic server 5 relates information related to one another with respect to information managed by three DB servers 2, 3, and 4 and integrates data managed by DB servers 2, 3, and 4 as if they were one information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an online real-time system for monitoring and controlling a plant, such as online facility information such as plant status, static facility information relating to layout and facility type, and graphics information for display. The present invention relates to a real-time graphics display system that visually displays using a computer and receives an operation instruction from an operator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional graphics display system in an online real-time system is shown in FIG. The graphics display system of FIG. 9 includes a host computer 8 including a CPU 81, a data file 82, and the like, which performs processing such as plant monitoring control and graphics processing.
A communication controller 91 for communicating with the host computer 8, a control unit 92 for displaying graphics, a monitor 93, and a keyboard 9
4 and the like, and a graphics terminal 9 and the like, and the host computer 8 and the graphics terminal 9 exchange data via a serial line such as RS422. The calculation of the graphics processing for displaying is performed by the host computer 8, and the data for that is managed as a file in the data file 82.

[0003]

In the prior art system shown in FIG. 9, since the host computer and the terminal are configured, all graphics processing is performed by the host computer. Therefore, the load is concentrated on the host computer, and a communication bottleneck occurs between the host computer 8 and the dedicated graphics terminal 9, which causes a problem that the processing speed is not improved.

Moreover, since all the data is managed by one data file 82, it is difficult to separate the functions, share the data, and reuse, and the system is not expandable. In order to solve these problems, the present invention decentralizes information in consideration of its properties and characteristics, processing functions, and the availability of high-speed technology for database systems, and the like. It makes the database transparent so that related information can be accessed as one piece of information without worrying about which database it is stored in, etc., speeding up the system and effective use of computer resources such as calculation power and file capacity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a graphics display system capable of sharing information and improving system expandability and reliability.

[0005]

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of the present invention corresponding to claim 1 and claims 3 to 5. First, one of the features of the present invention is to disperse a conventional data file into three, an online DB server 2, an equipment DB server 3, and a graphics DB server 4, depending on the nature of the data.

The online DB server 2 fetches data such as a plant state such as a temperature and a current value, which changes every moment when the application body 1 monitors the state of plant equipment, as information necessary for graphic display. The online DB server task 21 performs actual processing such as writing, updating, etc., and stores and manages in the online DB 22.

The equipment DB server 3 uses the equipment DB server task 31 that actually processes static information, such as the layout of a plant and the type of equipment, which is not changed, by the equipment DB 32.
Store and manage.

The graphics DB server 4 is a graphics DB server that actually performs information such as which color and which symbol or figure is used to display information such as the current value and type of the plant to the operator. The task 41 stores and manages in the graphics DB 42.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a graphics server 5 for linking data necessary for speeding up access to the three distributed DB servers.

The graphics server 5 includes the online DB server 2, the equipment DB server 3 and the graphics D.
A configuration in which the information managed by the B server 4 and the related information from the graphics client 6 are handled as one piece of information are actually processed and the graphics server task 51 stores and manages the linked information in the integrated DB 52. Is.

The integrated DB 52 is a database that integrates the databases managed by the above three DB servers. As shown in FIG. 3, by linking links L1 to L3 for each related item, the graphics client 6 uses one database. By operating the (integrated DB 52), it is possible to access the 3 DBs in a unified manner.

The graphics client 6 is a display program, and how the graphics is actually displayed based on the information provided by the graphics server (display area, enlargement, display coordinates, background color, window position, etc.). Calculate. It also interprets the operation instruction from the operator and updates the facility information managed by the facility DB server and the graphics DB 42 managed by the graphics DB server.

A GUI (graphic user interface) displays the result calculated by the graphics client 6. Further, it interprets the operation instruction content from the operator received from the GUI 7.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a system configuration of the present invention corresponding to claim 2. Application body 1, online DB server 2, equipment DB server 3, graphics D
B server 4, graphics client 6, GUI 7
Is the same as claim 1.

The graphics server 5 is composed of a graphics server task 51 which performs actual processing and an API 53 which is an application programming interface.

[0016]

First, the operation of the inventions of claims 1 and 3 to 5 will be described. When the present system is first activated, the graphics server 5 activates the online DB server 2, the equipment DB server 3, and the graphics DB server 4, and secures the respective communication paths. Further, the integrated DB 52 is rebuilt.

When activated, the online DB server 2 secures a communication path with the application main body 1, acquires the current plant status, and updates the online DB 22. When the graphics client 6 starts up, the GUI 7
Is started and the contents of the integrated DB 52 are displayed using the GUI 7.

When the operator uses the GUI 7 to perform an instruction operation such as switching on / off of the equipment, the graphics client 6 changes the integrated DB 52,
The information managed by each DB server is updated. If necessary, an instruction operation to the plant is performed using the method (procedure) of the integrated DB. This instruction operation is interpreted by the online DB server 2 and causes the application body 1 to execute this instruction.

The contents of the integrated DB are updated by the graphics client 6 by directly connecting to the online D by linking the links L1 and the like spread between the databases.
B22, equipment DB32, and graphics DB42 will be updated. Similarly, for reference, the information of each DB server is directly referred to by arranging the relationship such as the link L1 stretched between DBs.

A signal such as a state change from the plant is processed by the application main body 1 and the result is notified to the online DB server 2. When the online DB server 2 is notified of the state change, the online DB server 2 updates the online DB 22 and notifies the graphics client 6 via the graphics server 5. When the graphics client 6 receives the notification of the state change, the display content is recalculated and the display is updated by the GUI 7.

Next, the operation of the invention of claim 2 will be described. In the second aspect, the graphics server 5 does not construct the integrated DB, and the graphics client 6 operates each database by the API 53. As a result, the graphics client 6 does not directly access the value in the database but refers / updates it through the API 53. Further, the notification of the state change from the online DB server 2 is also made through the API 53.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which claims 1 and claims 3 to 5 are applied to a distribution graphics display system. In addition, a configuration diagram of the graphics client 6 is shown in FIG.
An example corresponding to H / W of a machine is shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 is a network configuration example in which all machines are operated on different machines, and FIG. 6 is a GUI 7 and a graphics client 6, an online DB server 2 and an equipment DB server 3, and a graphics server 5 and a graphics DB server 7 are operated on the same machine. It is an example of a network configuration. Examples of each database and local data are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A plant in the distribution graphic display system is a distribution line, a switch, a telephone pole, a substation, etc., and the application main body 1 monitors the state of equipment such as the switch.

As elements of the online data DB 22, the charging / discharging state, the current value flowing when the distribution line is charged,
The online DB server task 21 accesses the application main body 1 or the graphics server 5 to perform processing such as data update depending on the on / off state of the switch and whether the switch is manually turned on and off.

The elements of the equipment DB 32 are the coordinates (x,
y, z), switch coordinates (x, y, z) and type (automatic switch, etc.), distribution line name and type (ground line, aerial line, etc.), etc. In advance (offline), processing such as data update and storage is performed according to the input from the operator.

The elements of the graphics DB 42 indicate which symbol and in what color to display based on the information such as the type of switch and the state of charging / discharging, and what kind of figure primitive (line segment, circle, etc.) the symbol is. It is configured, which color is displayed when the distribution line is charged, and which color is displayed when the power is cut off, and the like, which is accumulated and updated by the graphics DB server task 41.

By making these databases object-oriented databases using an object-oriented database management system, the target plant can be easily made into a database, and the database access can be speeded up and the database can be distributed.

Each database manages switch data such as switch class and distribution line data such as distribution line class based on the concept of class. Data corresponding to each facility of the plant is stored as an object in each class using an ID such as a unique number as an identifier.

The graphics client task 61 performs the actual processing in the graphics client 6. A part or all of the contents of each database is cached (online DB cache 62, power distribution DB cache 63, graphics DB cache 64, integrated DB cache 65) (high-speed accessible memory, such as RO
RAM for M and R for secondary storage medium
OM. In addition, in order to display the data of each database, data such as coordinate-converted values from world coordinates to device coordinates, the color of the figure, and the corresponding displayed symbols are managed as local data 66. When executing the display processing, the graphics client 6 can perform processing with the contents of each cache and the local data, and can process with the data inside these, thus achieving higher speed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, when this system is started, the graphics server 5
The online DB server 2, the equipment DB server 3, and the graphics DB server 4 are activated to secure the respective communication paths. Furthermore, the graphics server 5 is an online DB2.
2. Open the facility DB 32 and graphics DB 42 so that they can be accessed, and rebuild the integrated DB 52.

When the online DB server 2 is activated, a communication path with the application main body 1 is secured and the online DB 22 is opened. Further, the current plant status is acquired from the application main body 1 and the online DB 22 is updated.

When the graphics client 6 is activated, the GUI 7 is activated and the respective databases are opened so that the online DB 22, the facility DB 32, the graphics DB 42, and the integrated DB 52 can be operated by operating the integrated DB 52. Next, based on this database, coordinate conversion for display and calculation of a symbol to be displayed from the state are performed, and the data etc. are stored in the local data 66. Finally, this result is displayed on the screen by the GUI 7. When accessing the integrated DB 52, if necessary information is not stored in the online DB cache 62, the facility DB cache 63, the graphics DB cache 64, and the integrated DB cache 65, the information is stored in each cache, and the contents of the cache If the values in the original database do not match (that is, the database has been changed but the cache contents have not been updated), the cache contents are updated. After that, this cache is accessed. The operator requests G to scroll or change the magnification.
When instructed through the UI 7, the base value and the magnification of the local data are changed and redrawing is performed.

When the state conversion occurs in the plant and the contents of the database are changed, the application main body 1 notifies the online DB server 2 of information about which equipment is in which state, and the online DB server 2
Changes the information in the online DB 22 and also notifies the graphics server 5. Graphics server 5
Inserts data indicating that there is a change as the contents of the integrated DB 52. The graphics client 6 periodically, or when changing the display content (changing the magnification, scrolling, redisplaying, etc.),
It is checked whether the contents of the database have been changed due to a state change or the like, and if so, the local data 66 is changed and the display contents are changed.

When the operator uses the GUI 7 to perform operations such as switching on / off of the plant, the graphics client 6 changes the integrated DB 52 and, if necessary, uses the method (procedure) of the integrated DB to change the plant. Do the operation. This operation is online DB server task 21
And is notified to the application body 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
By decentralizing the database and processing functions, making it an object-oriented database, and introducing an integrated DB using a graphics server, this database acceleration technology can be maximized and data transparency can be realized. High-speed processing, effective use of computer resources, system scalability, information sharing,
It has the effect of improving reliability.

Next, another embodiment will be described. The configuration of the second embodiment of the power distribution graphics system is shown in FIG.
Except for the graphics server 5 and the graphics client 6, they are the same as in the above embodiment.

The graphics server 5 defines a graphics server task 51 for performing actual processing, an interface for the graphics client 6 to access the database, and an interface for the online DB server to notify the status change. It is composed of API 53 and.

The graphics client 6 is composed of a graphics client task 61, an online DB cache 62, an equipment DB cache 63, a graphics DB cache 64, and local data 66.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the API. When the graphics client 6 is activated, the online DB22,
These databases are opened so that the facility DB 32 and the graphics DB 42 can be accessed, and the local data 66 is constructed from the contents of the databases using the API 53.

As a result, by decentralizing the database and processing functions and converting it into an object-oriented database, and by introducing the API by the graphics server,
This database speed-up technology maximizes, and
Since data transparency can be realized, processing speed can be increased and computer resources can be effectively used, and there is system scalability.
It is effective in sharing information and improving reliability.

[0041]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The database and processing functions are decentralized and made into an object-oriented database, and the database server can realize the unified operation of the database. Since it is possible to realize transparency, there are effects such as faster processing and effective use of computer resources, system scalability, information sharing, and improved reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a detailed configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the graphics client shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a relationship between the integrated DB shown in FIG. 2 and each DB.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of local data of the graphics client shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example in which each server / client in FIG. 1 is realized on a network.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which each server / client in FIG. 1 is realized on a network.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an API.

FIG. 9 Diagram of conventional system

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Application main body 2 ... Online DB server 3 ... Equipment DB server 4 ... Graphics DB server 5 ... Graphics server 6 ... Graphics client 7 ... GUI 8 ... Host computer 9 ... Graphics terminal 21 ... Online DB server task 22 ... Online DB 31 ... Equipment DB Server Task 32 ... Equipment DB 41 ... Graphics DB Server Task 42 ... Graphics DB 51 ... Graphics Server Task 52 ... Integrated DB 53 ... API 61 ... Graphics Client Task 62 ... Online DB Cache 63 ... Equipment DB cache 64… Graphics DB cache 65… Integrated DB cache 66… Local data 81… CPU 82… Data file 91… Communication controller 92… Control unit 93… Monitor 94… Keyboard

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A graphics display system that visually displays plant information to an operator or the like in an online real-time system that monitors and controls the plant, and manages online information such as the plant status in a graphics display system that accepts operations from the operator. Online DB server that manages, equipment DB server that manages information about equipment such as plant equipment type and layout, and graphic that manages graphic information such as symbols and color definitions for displaying the status of plant equipment, etc. Database server and a graphics server that correlates information related to the information managed by the three DB servers and integrates the data managed by each DB server so that the data can be viewed as one piece of information. Specially equipped with Graphics display system to be. 2. A graphics display system that visually displays plant information to an operator or the like in an online real-time system that monitors and controls the plant and accepts operations from the operator, and manages online information such as plant status Online DB server that manages, equipment DB server that manages information about equipment such as plant equipment type and layout, and graphic that manages graphic information such as symbols and color definitions for displaying the status of plant equipment, etc. And a graphics server that provides an application programming interface for accessing information managed by the three DB servers. 3. The graphics server according to claim 1, wherein the graphics server has an integrated DB that manages an identifier assigned to each target plant equipment class, and each DB server assigns an identifier to a class of a database to be managed. A graphics display system characterized by being assigned and managed and linking each server based on this identifier. 4. The graphics server according to claim 3, wherein the graphics server accesses one or more desired DB servers among the online DB server, equipment DB server, or graphics DB server based on the identifier. Characteristic graphics display system. 5. The online DB according to claim 3, wherein the integrated DB of the graphics server is provided with an item for managing operation contents of an operator for the corresponding facility.
A graphics display system characterized in that the server detects that this operation item has been updated and notifies the main application that monitors and controls the plant.