WO2010140028A1

WO2010140028A1 - Method for communication in a distributed environment, a communication tool thereof and a system therefrom

Info

Publication number: WO2010140028A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/000517
Authority: WO
Inventors: Srijit Kumar Bhadra; Suresh Kumar
Original assignee: ABB Research Ltd Switzerland
Current assignee: ABB Research Ltd Switzerland
Priority date: 2009-06-03
Filing date: 2010-03-12
Publication date: 2010-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-03

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for communication in a distributed environment, the method comprising acquiring process graphics representative of a process, annotating the process graphics by one or more operators, and reflecting the annotated process graphics with the one or more operators. In another aspect, the invention also provides a communication tool that uses the method of the invention. In a further aspect, the invention provides a system that includes the communication tool of the invention. The invention as described herein provides the advantage of being able to reflect a process graphics between the one or more operators and be able to communicate among the one or more operators regarding the process. This is especially useful in situations when the one or more operators are located in different geographic locations relative to each other and need to communicate with each other regarding the process.

Description

METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION IN A DISTRIBUTED ENVIRONMENT, A COMMUNICATION TOOL THEREOF AND A

SYSTEM THEREFROM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to a method for communicating in a distributed environment and more specifically to a method for communication and a communication tool for communicating by annotation over process graphics and reflecting the annotations in the distributed environment.

BACKGROUND

Dynamic processes are quite prevalent in everyday situations, wherein one or more parameters associated with the processes are constantly varying with time. The variations may be regular or irregular in nature. In many processes, it is quite necessary to be constantly monitoring the processes and record one or more of the associated parameters. Some examples of dynamic processes include industrial and manufacturing processes, like cement, oil refineries, pulp and paper, chemical manufacturing facilities, power plants, roads, railways, air traffic, and delivery operations etc.

In many instances, the parameters of the processes may have to be obtained from different locations that may be distributed geographically or from different units within the facility for the industrial or manufacturing processes. Most of the processes generally require the operators be in constant touch with each other. The reasons for being in constant touch are varied, and may include just the need for apprising each other of the parameters and for effective monitoring of the processes. In some instances, the need for communicating with each other may_^be to be able to take informed decisions, so as to avoid any untoward incidents or accidents.

In some instances such as a production facility, operators work in a shift system, wherein a set of operators work between certain times of the day, and they are relieved by another set of operators who work in a different time of the day. The operators working in one shift need to be fully aware of what had transpired during the previous shift, and the actions taken by the previous shift operators. While the actions of the operators are generally recorded and can be monitored even at a later time frame, the reasons for the actions are not usually recorded, and have to be obtained through an interview with the relevant operator. Such information may be very necessary for proper operation of a facility by the operators.

Furthermore, in some situations, especially seen during the operation of a plant facility, some emergency situations may arise wherein one or more of the parameters reaches a value that require emergency response procedures. In such situations, not all the operators may be fully equipped and/or experienced enough to handle the situations. The expertise or experienced operators may be off duty at that point, or in several situations, may also be retired operators. In such cases, the operators need to be gotten in touch on an immediate basis to get their inputs to handle the situations on a priority basis.

Currently, the best way to reach an operator not at the facility is by way of telephone. The operator can then explain the actions taken, and provide all relevant information to the operator on duty then. But this has limitations in that the operator on the telephone does not have access to the current parameter values or system status in real time. Thus, there is every possibility of communication gap between the operator on duty and the operator who is off duty.

The current values and parameters of a process may be reflected with an operator who is not at the facility, but instead at a remote location, such as home, through the use of well-developed process graphics associated with the process. Each process in a facility has a process graphics in place, which each operator is fully familiar in general. These process graphics can be reflected with an operator at a remote location, who is off duty or out of location for other reasons. However, any instructions or comments to be made by the out-of-duty operator still have to be captured through methods such as telephone, emails, or even chats. - These methods of communications are generally disparate from the process related depictions such as process graphics.

Thus, there is a dire need for a method that integrates the process related depictions and a communication mode for dynamic interaction between operators or stakeholders. A tool that facilitates combining these features would be very useful in dealing with the situations described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for communicating in a distributed environment, the method comprising acquiring process graphics representative of a process, annotating the process graphics by one or more operators, and reflecting of the one or more operator annotations between a plurality of operators.

In another aspect, the invention provides a communication tool for use in a distributed environment comprising a receiver for receiving process graphics representative of a process, an annotator for annotating the process graphics by one or more operators, a user interface for displaying the process graphics and the one or more operator annotations, and a networking module for reflecting the one or more operator annotations between a plurality of operators.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a system for managing a process, wherein the system comprises a process graphics generator, a communication tool of the invention, and a operator unit.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a computer program product for a distributed environment comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable code including instructions for acquiring process graphics representative of a process, annotating the process graphics using one or more operator annotations, and reflecting of the one or more operator annotations. DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of exemplary steps of a method used for communicating in a distributed environment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagrammatic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a communication tool according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of an exemplary embodiment of a system for managing a process according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a representation of an exemplary embodiment depicting one exemplary event in a production plant that uses the technique described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a system for process management using collaboration among multiple operators according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Operators, as used herein, are human beings having an assigned task of operating equipment and/or machinery. Operators may also be involved in monitoring the performance of machine, equipment, production facilities, and so on, and to ensure smooth and proper functioning thereof. Operators, as used herein, also include those that are not immediately involved with the operation of equipment and/or machinery, but those with sufficient information, knowledge and expertise in the appropriate technical field. Process as used herein refers to any set of events occurring at a given location. Process as used herein is meant to include various situations such as, but not limited to, a power plant situation, a production plant situation, an electricity distribution situation, a traffic situation, a weather situation, and the like. Process is meant to include a situation controlled entirely by human intervention, or it may be only partially controlled by humans.

Process variables are meant to encompass all the variables that are associated with the process. In one exemplary embodiment for a process involving an electricity distribution situation, process variables may include power load, current, resistance, and the like; in another exemplary embodiment for a process involving a chemical production plant situation, the process variables may include solvent levels, temperature of the reactor, pressure inside the reactor, and the like; while in another exemplary embodiment for a process involving a traffic situation, process variables may include the number of vehicles at an intersection, average speed of vehicles between two given points, and the like; and in yet another exemplary embodiment for a process involving a weather situation, variables may include humidity, temperature, cloud levels, and the like.

Process variables may simply be observed to monitor a particular process. This may be done so as to study a particular situation for different purposes. Such a situation may be the case in a traffic situation, wherein the process variables are studied and monitored to understand the traffic flow better. Similarly, the weather may be monitored to understand the patterns in a given location or area. Process variables may also be used to control a particular process. Some exemplary situations demanding control of process variables may include a chemical production plant, wherein the temperature of the reactor, or the pressure of a reactor may need to be controlled. Similarly, in an electrical distribution plant, the power and current may need to be kept within limits. Process variables may be controlled in an automated manner by the use of intelligent devices. Alternately, process variables may also be controlled by operators by manual intervention. In such instances, the entire process may be considered to be controlled by one or more operators. Process graphics refers to any visual representation of a process that is capable of reflecting any changes in the process in the process graphics within a relevant period of time. The relevant period of time is real time with certain tolerance depending on the network bandwidth. In the current context, generally process graphics are made available in a computer readable form, and visualized on a screen. Process graphics may also be represented on a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional scale model. Process graphics is usually done to provide a facile visual interpretation to any or all of the operators involved in a given process. This is achieved through any number of means available to those skilled in the relevant art. In some instances, the changes in process graphics are in real-time synchronicity with the real situation in question. In these cases, the process graphics may also be referred to as dynamic process graphics. Process graphics may also comprise the values of certain parameters associated with the process.

Operator annotations, as used herein, refer to any kind of notes made in way of explanations by one or more operators. The operator annotation is not limited to the built-in annotation tool in the current operator interfaces but includes flexible annotation for example notes may be in the form of textual notes or graphical notes, or a combination thereof. Operator annotations are used in a wide variety of situation for a wide variety of reasons. As way of illustration, operator annotations are used in an electricity distribution plant by operators to inform other operators of any untoward occurrences. This is especially useful during shift changes, when one operator leaves a post to allow the next operator to become fully aware of everything that has transpired until that point. History of operator annotations refers to all the operator annotations made over a time period.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for communicating in a distributed environment. The distributed environment comprises a plurality of operators, at least one process, and at least one process graphics available for the plurality of operators. The distributed environment may be physical space comprising a plurality of operators, at least one process and at least one process graphics. The distributed environment may also be virtual space comprising a plurality of operators located in a wide geographic area connected through virtual means such as but not limited to telephone, video conferencing, internet, and the like. Further, the distributed environment may be a combination of a physical space and a virtual space, wherein at least one of the operators is in one physical space, and at least one operator is in a different physical space, and the two sets of operators are connected through virtual means. It is understood that several sets of operators in multiple physical spaces are connected to each other through virtual means. The distributed environment comprises the capability to allow each of the plurality of operators to interact with at least one or more operators in the environment. In some instances, each operator in the distributed environment is allowed to interact with all the operators. The manner of interaction may be in the form of voice-based, video- based, text-based, graphics-based, and the like.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method of communication in a distributed environment. Referring to the drawings now, an exemplary flowchart to depict the method for communicating between operators in a distributed environment is illustrated in FIG. 1. The method, depicted by numeral 10, comprises acquiring process graphics at step 12, where the process graphics is related to a process, as defined herein above. The process may include performance of machine, equipment, production facilities, and so on, and to ensure smooth and proper functioning thereof. Process may also include processes in power plants, production plants, electricity distribution facilities, traffic management, weather monitoring and forecasting. The method of communication then involves annotating the process graphics at step 14, with one or more operator annotations in an appropriate manner by one or more operators. The operator annotations may then be reflected among the operators in the distributed environment, as shown in the step 16. Reflected as used herein means any annotations made by one operator will become visible to the other operators as well. In one embodiment, the operator annotations are reflected with all of the operators in the distributed environment. In another embodiment, the operator annotations are reflected with a select set of operators from the plurality of operators. The reflecting of operator annotations with only select set of operators may come into effect when some sensitive information is present in the operator annotations which may not be appropriate with all of the operators present in the distributed environment. It may be noted that the steps outlined herein above and in the forthcoming description are not necessarily sequential and the method outlined encompasses the variations in implementation where ordering of the steps is different. For example, in one implementation, the reflecting option is made available to the operators prior to the act of operator annotation.

In one embodiment, the operator annotations may be text-based. Some exemplary text-based operator annotations may include messages comprising information regarding a particular process variable value at a given point, a possible reason for the process variable to have a certain value, a unique method discovered by the operator to control the process variable, and the like. A typical text-based operator annotation tool is part of 80OxA Process Portal A, a proprietary framework from ABB Ltd (head office in Zurich, Switzerland). In other embodiments, the operator annotations may also be graphic-based. As an example, graphics based operator annotations may be used to designate a certain process, or to illustrate a particular location in a plant, and so on. In yet other embodiments, the operator annotations may be a voice-based recording. This may include explicit instructions towards carrying out a task. In further embodiments, the operator annotations may be video- based, examples for which may include a video recording of carrying out a particular task is used as an operator annotation. In some embodiments, the operator annotations may be a combination of any of the above. As way of illustration, a combination of operator annotations may include a graphic based operator annotation is further highlighted with some text in it, which may further include a voice-based recording operator annotation.

The operator annotations provided can then be suitably captured and recorded for any future use. Thus, the history of all operator annotations, which may further include the context of the situation, and the like, is then stored for posterity. Storage is done in an appropriate manner, which may include paper-based hard copy storage which may contain transcripts of all the conversations and action steps, or may be in an appropriate digital form, such as, but not limited to, text-based files, graphics- based files, digital audio record files, digital video record files, and combinations thereof. The operator annotations by one or more operators in a distributed environment on process graphics may then be used to control the process associated with the distributed environment. The control may be effected by the control of some of the parameters associated with the process at hand. Exemplary parameters included in the invention may be temperature of a reactor in a production plant, the current passing through a circuit in an electricity distribution plant, and the like. In some embodiments, the control may be effected through some instructions from one or more operators to one or more operators associated with the controlling the process. In other embodiments, the control may be effected through a previously existing procedure that is part of the standard operating procedures of the process.

The method of the invention is quite useful in several situations, wherein the operators are present in varied geographic locations. In particular, on many occasions, an expert very familiar with the process and/or the technology may be in a completely different location altogether. This situation is quite prevalent when an operator, after having spent long years and is quite familiar with the process, has then retired and moved to a remote area. Further, the method of the invention is particularly useful in any process involving process graphics, wherein the parameters involved in the process are constantly varying. It can be seen that when the operators are in varied locations, and the process parameters are varying in a rapid manner, it poses a difficult situation to be able to exploit the expertise of the operator not in the immediate location as the place of operation. Such processes include, but not limited to, a power plant process, wherein the plant is involved in the distribution of electricity; in production plant process that is involved in the production of chemicals and materials; in traffic management system wherein the process graphics shows the movement of traffic in a location; and in a weather observation system, wherein all the weather parameters like the atmospheric conditions are constantly monitored. In such instances, the process graphics may be reflected with the one or more operators, and allow them to annotate and explain the process graphics to the operators who are currently controlling the operations of a process. Process graphics, in many instances is also real-time representation of the process occurring in the distributed environment. Allowing the operators to annotate on the process graphics and thus communicate with other operators would be extremely useful, in that the expertise not immediately available on hand, can be suitably exploited to avoid any untoward incidents, and/or accidents.

In another aspect, the invention provides a communication tool for use in the distributed environment that uses the method of the invention as described herein.

FIG. 2 shows a graphical depiction of the communication tool of the invention. The communication tool, depicted by numeral 18, comprises a receiver, as shown by the numeral 20, for receiving process graphics representative of a process. The process graphics are then displayed using a user-interface, which may be in some instances, a display monitor. The communication tool of the invention further comprises an annotator 22 for annotating the process graphics using one or more operator annotations by one or more operators in the distributed environment. The user interface 24 of the communication tool is also used to display the operator annotations on the process graphics. The communication tool of the invention may further comprise a networking module to effect the communication between one or more operators in the distributed environment. Alternately, the communication tool makes use of a networking module that is available to be used for effecting communication.. Thus, using the communication tool of the invention, a process graphics representative of a process in a distributed environment can be annotated effectively and facilitate real time communications of the operator annotations within the distribution environment. This is especially useful when the process comprises parameters that are rapidly changing, and/or wherein the operators are situated in varying geographic locations.

In another aspect, the invention also provides a system for controlling a process. FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of the system of the invention. The system 28 comprises a process graphics generator 30 for generating process graphics representative of the process. The system also comprises the communication tool 18 of the invention that is used for communicating the process graphics in a distributed environment and for generating one or more operator annotations on the process graphics. As described herein, the communication tool comprises a receiver 20, an annotator 22, and a user interface 24 . The system further comprises an operator unit 32 for controlling the process that is being monitored. The process graphics generator, the communication tool and the operator unit communicate with each other through a communication network. The operator may exercise the control options to control the process based on the exchange between the operators through the communication tool. The control may be effected by the control of some of the parameters associated with the process at hand. Exemplary parameters included in the invention may be temperature of a reactor in a production plant, the current passing through a circuit in an electricity distribution plant, and the like. In some embodiments, the control may be effected through some instructions from one or more operators to one or more operators associated with the controlling the process.

In other embodiments, the control may be effected through a previously existing procedure that is part of the standard operating procedures of the process. Alternately, there may be no need to exercise any control option based on the exchange between the operators. It may be noted a single user interface may be provided for the process graphics, communication tool and the operator unit; alternately two or more user interfaces may be used for ease of use.

An example of the application of the invention in a real-life situation is shown in FIG. 4. Here, a user interface 34 is used to display a process graphics 36. A first operator is shown to have made a graphical operator annotation, depicted by numeral 38, which is a circle to bring the attention of the other operators to that area of the process graphics. A second operator has made a text based operator annotation, depicted by numeral 40, right next to the graphical operator annotation 38 to illustrate the point to be made, and convey a message to all the operators in the distributed environment. Thus the operators can quickly exchange information about a live process and take any corrective actions utilizing the expertise of different operators in the distributed network.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of exemplary implementation of the method and system as described in FIG. 1-3. FIG. 5 depicts a process management system

42 that includes operator stations 44 and 46. Operator station 44 further includes several display items like process graphics 48, alarm list 50, event list 52 and trend display 54. All these displays reflect the operating condition of the concerned process being monitored. It will be clear to one skilled in the art that there may be other display items besides the one mentioned here depending on the process and process parameters or variables being monitored.

The system 42 advantageously includes a communication tool 56 which serves as an operator annotation tool (annotator as described herein above) to provide an interactive means of communication that allows operator annotations or comments to be reflected in a dynamic real-time environment for example an environment in an industrial automation process plant. The operator annotation data is captured by the communication tool 56 and this data is transferred in real-time to the other operator stations, for example operator station 46 via a peer-to-peer communication network 58.

The operator stations 44 and 46 are also connected through a plant network 60 to a connectivity server 62 and further through a control network 64 to controllers 66, 68, 70 and 72 through a communication link 74. The real-time control data is sent to the operator stations 44, 46 through the communication link 76, and similarly the operator stations communicate with the connectivity server 62 via the communication link 78. It may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the communication links referred here may all be combined into one and may not need separate links based on network connectivity and bandwidth requirements. It would also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the communication link may be an ordinary link or a dedicated communication link for real-time data exchange.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the operator stations 44, 46 are also connected to a configuration data server 80 for transmitting configuration data (configuration data may relate to a particular device or process that is being monitored) to the operator stations 44, 46 via a communication link 82. The configuration data server also received data from the operator stations 44, 46 via a link 84. The data received from the operator stations may include for example, operator annotation data for persistence storage as an attribute of the process graphics objects for later retrieval and use. As described herein above the process graphics has an independent dynamic behavior that is being monitored and controlled by the operator stations via the plant network.

In an alternate implementation of aspects of the present invention, the system 42 additionally includes a thin-client operator station 88 in one exemplary embodiment.

The thin-client operator station may be used in remote locations for accessing dynamic plant operation data. Thus now the operator annotation data may be reflected between any number of operator stations irrespective of their location via the connectivity server as described hereinabove. The thin-client operator station 88 may have a firewall 90 that checks the information flow to and from the thin-client operator station 88 via the communication links 92 and 94.

It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the method and process steps and algorithms described herein can be executed by means of software running on a suitable processor, or by any suitable combination of hardware and software. When software is used, the software can be accessed by a processor using any suitable reader device which can read the medium on which the software is stored. The computer readable storage medium can include, for example, magnetic storage media such as magnetic disc or magnetic tape; optical storage media such as optical disc, optical tape, or machine readable bar code; solid state electronic storage devices such as random access memory (RAM) or read only memory (ROM); or any other physical device or medium employed to store a computer program. The software carries program code which, when read by the computer, causes the computer to execute any or all of the steps of the methods disclosed in this application.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

IAVE CLAIM:

1. A method for communicating (10) in a distributed environment, the method comprising:

acquiring process graphics (12) representative of a process; annotating the process graphics (14) using one or more operator annotations by one or more operators; and reflecting of the one or more operator annotations (16) between a plurality of operators, wherein the distributed environment comprises the plurality of operators, each operator from the plurality of operators having an access to the process graphics, and wherein the one or more operator annotations are initiated by the one or more operators from the plurality of operators.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing a history of the one or more operator annotations.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more operator annotation is selected from the group consisting of graphic-based, text-based, voice-based, video-based, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the reflecting is between a select set of operators from the plurality of operators.

5. A communication tool (18) for a distributed environment, comprising:

a receiver (20) for receiving process graphics representative of a process; an annotator (22) for annotating the process graphics using one or more operator annotations by one or more operators; a user interface (24) for displaying the process graphics and the one or more operator annotations; a networking module (26) for reflecting the one or more operator annotations between a plurality of operators, wherein the distributed environment comprises the plurality of operators, each operator from the plurality of operators having an access to the process graphics, and wherein the one or more operator annotations are initiated by the one or more operators from the plurality of operators.

6. The communication tool of claim 5, further comprising a storage module for storing a history of the one or more operator annotations.

7. The communication tool of claim 5, wherein the one or more operator annotation is selected from the group consisting of graphic-based, text-based, voice-based, video-based, or combinations thereof.

8. The communication tool of claim 5, wherein the networking module allows reflecting between a select set of operators from the plurality of operators.

9. A process management system (28), the system comprising:

a process graphics generator (30) for generating a process graphics representative of a process;

a communication tool (18) for communicating the process graphics in a distributed environment and for generating one or more operator annotations to manage the process; and

a control (32) unit for controlling the process, wherein the distributed environment comprises the plurality of operators, each operator from the plurality of operators having an access to the dynamic process graphics, and wherein the one or more operator annotations are initiated by the one or more operators from the plurality of operators.

10. The process management system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communication in the distributed environment is a real time communication enabled through dedicated communication network.