US5594858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Uniform control template generating system and method for process control programming
Assignee: Fisher Rosemount Systems Inc
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Filing: 1993-07-29
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Granted: 1997-01-14
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Expires: 2013-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A control template represents a selected function of a control process for a control environment and being used to generate a plurality of displayable views of the selected function. The template includes process control information such as algorithms and known control parameters of the control process, attribute information for the process environment such as inputs and outputs, at least one conversation set associated with the process control function information for relating specific control parameters of the control process in terms of a selected control template view and control method instructions that use the attribute information and at least one conversation set to form a process control solution. A system creates or modifies the control template.
Inventors
- 👤 Terrence L. Blevins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:59
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0426; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23255; G05B2219/23258; G05B2219/23261; G05B2219/23291; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25349
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A process control system which performs process control functions in a process environment using control templates, each template representing a selected process control function for a control environment and in which different control template views of a selected process control function may be displayed, the system comprising: A. a central processing unit; B. a plurality of control templates that can be accessed by the central processing unit wherein each control template includes: (1) process control function information; (2) attribute information pertaining to the process environment; (3) a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; and (4) control method instructions which use the attribute information and the conversation set to perform a process control function; C. a user-interface device coupled to the central processing unit which enables a user to select a control template for display, including means for systematically prompting the user to input control template information comprising one of the attribute information, the conversation set and the control method instructions for a control template; and D. a control template generator which includes instructions that automatically generate a control template in response to the control template information input by the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A process control system which performs process control functions in a process environment using control templates, each template representing a selected process control function for a control environment and in which different control template views of a selected process control function may be displayed, the system comprising: A. a central processing unit; B. a plurality of control templates that can be accessed by the central processing unit wherein each control template includes: (1) process control function information; (2) attribute information pertaining to the process environment; (3) a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; and (4) control method instructions which use the attribute information and the conversation set to perform a process control function; C. a user-interface device coupled to the central processing unit which enables a user to select a control template for display, including means for systematically prompting the user to input control template information comprising one of the attribute information, the conversation set and the control method instructions for a control template; and D. a control template generator which includes instructions that automatically generate a control template in response to the control template information input by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process control system of claim 1 wherein each of said control templates includes a plurality of selectable control template views of the selected process control function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process control system of claim 1 wherein each of said control templates has a plurality of conversation sets associated with the process control function information and the attribute information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process control system of claim 1 wherein the control method instructions are created using a programming language.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process control system of claim 1 further comprising a control template library for storing data representing the plurality of control templates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process control system of claim 5 wherein the control template library further comprises: data representing a first set of control templates including predefined control templates; and data representing a second set of control templates created by the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The process control system of claim 1 wherein each control template further includes a control template view and wherein the template generator is interconnected with the central processing unit and the user-interface device, and permits a user to edit existing control templates or create new control templates by accessing and changing the data representing the process control function information, the attribute information, the conversation set, the control method instructions, or the control template view.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process control system of claim 7 wherein said template generator includes a graphics generator for allowing the user to design graphical views to be associated with the selected functions for the created or edited control template.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process control system of claim 1 wherein said control method instructions are selectable by a user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process control system of claim 1 further comprising: a display device forming a part of the user-interface device; and a template generator interface screen viewed on the display device and having a plurality of screen prompts for selection by a user, said user-interface device enabling the user to access the attribute information and the control method instructions so as to edit or create a new control template.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising stored equipment data that can be accessed by a user using the user-interface display for displaying the physical arrangement of equipment associated with one of the control templates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising display means for allowing the user to monitor the operation of the equipment with the user-interface device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the process control information includes one of an algorithm and a known control parameter of the control process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the attribute information includes information regarding one of a process input and a process output.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
A memory including a control template representing a selected function of a control process for a process environment, the template being used to generate a plurality of displayable views of the selected function, said template comprising: process control function information; attribute information pertaining to the process environment; a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; control method instructions which use the attribute information and the conversation set to perform a process control function; and a plurality of control template views capable of simultaneously displaying different views of the same process control function wherein each of the control template views uses the conversation set to enable a user to interact with the control process in a different manner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
143 words
A memory including a control template representing a selected function of a control process for a process environment, the template being used to generate a plurality of displayable views of the selected function, said template comprising: process control function information; attribute information pertaining to the process environment; a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; control method instructions which use the attribute information and the conversation set to perform a process control function; and a plurality of control template views capable of simultaneously displaying different views of the same process control function wherein each of the control template views uses the conversation set to enable a user to interact with the control process in a different manner.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control template of claim 15 wherein one of the control template views reflects one of a process control engineer view, a process control operator view, a lab technician view, and a maintenance technician view.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control template of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of conversation sets associated with the process control function information and the attribute information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control template of claim 15 wherein the process control function information includes one of an algorithm and a known control parameter of the control process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control template of claim 15 wherein the attribute information includes information regarding one of a process input and a process output.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of creating or editing control templates for a process control system which performs process control functions in a process environment, each template representing a selected process control function for a control environment in which different control template views of a selected process control function may be displayed, the method comprising the steps of: A. accessing a plurality of control templates with a central processing unit wherein each control template includes: (1) process control function information; (2) attribute information pertaining to the process environment; (3) a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; and (4) control method instructions which use the attribute information and the conversation set to perform a process control function; B. coupling a user-interface device to the central processing unit; C. enabling a user to select a control template for display with the user-interface device; D. systematically prompting the user to enter control template information comprising one of the attribute information, the conversation set and the control method instructions; and E. automatically generating a control template according to instructions in response to the control template information input in step D.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of creating or editing control templates for a process control system which performs process control functions in a process environment, each template representing a selected process control function for a control environment in which different control template views of a selected process control function may be displayed, the method comprising the steps of: A. accessing a plurality of control templates with a central processing unit wherein each control template includes: (1) process control function information; (2) attribute information pertaining to the process environment; (3) a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; and (4) control method instructions which use the attribute information and the conversation set to perform a process control function; B. coupling a user-interface device to the central processing unit; C. enabling a user to select a control template for display with the user-interface device; D. systematically prompting the user to enter control template information comprising one of the attribute information, the conversation set and the control method instructions; and E. automatically generating a control template according to instructions in response to the control template information input in step D.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of selectable control template views of the selected process control function for each of said control templates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of associating a plurality of conversation sets with the process control function information and the attribute information for each of said control templates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of creating said control method instructions using a programming language.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of storing data representing the plurality of control templates in a control template library.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the step of storing data representing the plurality of control templates in a control template library further comprises the steps of: storing data representing a first set of control templates including predefined control templates; and storing data representing a second set of control templates created by the user.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: providing each control template with a control template view; providing a template generator interconnected with the central processing unit and user-interface device; and editing existing control templates or creating new control templates using the template generator by accessing and changing the data representing the process control function, the attribute information, the conversation set, the control method instructions, or the control template view.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of: including a graphics generator with the template generator; and using the graphics generator to design graphical views to be associated with the selected functions for the created or edited control template.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of selecting a predetermined one of said control method instructions for performing the process control function.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: including a display device as a part of the user-interface device; providing a template generator interface screen to be viewed on the display device and having a plurality of screen prompts for selection by a user; and accessing the attribute information and the control method instructions with said user-interface device so as to edit or create a new control template.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: storing equipment dam; and accessing the stored equipment data using the user-interface device for displaying the physical arrangement of equipment associated with a control template.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of monitoring the operation of the equipment with a user-interface display device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of including one of an algorithm and a known control parameter of the control process in the process control information.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of including information regarding one of a process input and a process output as the attribute information.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for creating a process control solution using a control template which represents a selected function of a control process for a process environment to generate a plurality of displayable views of the selected function, said method comprising the steps of: providing process control function information; providing attribute information pertaining to the process environment; providing a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; generating a plurality of simultaneously displayable views of the selected function wherein each displayable view uses the conversation set to allow a user to interact with the attribute information in a different manner; and using control method instructions to form the process control solution with the attribute information, the conversation set and the plurality of displayable views.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for creating a process control solution using a control template which represents a selected function of a control process for a process environment to generate a plurality of displayable views of the selected function, said method comprising the steps of: providing process control function information; providing attribute information pertaining to the process environment; providing a conversation set associated with the process control function information and the attribute information which enables a user to interact with the attribute information in a manner specified by a selected control template view; generating a plurality of simultaneously displayable views of the selected function wherein each displayable view uses the conversation set to allow a user to interact with the attribute information in a different manner; and using control method instructions to form the process control solution with the attribute information, the conversation set and the plurality of displayable views.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of relating the conversation set to control parameters of the control process in terms of a selected one of the displayable views.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of using the displayable views to reflect one of a process control engineer view, a process control operator view, a lab technician view, and a maintenance technician view.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of including one of an algorithm and a known control parameter of the control process in the process control function information.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of including information regarding one of a process input and a process output as the attribute information.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of associating a plurality of conversation sets with the process control function information and the attribute information.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
174 words
A computer system for generating control templates used in designing control solutions for a process controller in a process control environment, said system comprising: means for systematically prompting a user to specify a control attribute, control software for processing said attribute and a graphic representation for the unique control template; generator means for generating a unique control template by automatically grouping the control attribute, the control software selected by the user for processing said attribute, and the graphic representation of said unique control template in a manner useable by the process controller; a display for providing a visual interface between a user and said generator means to view said unique template; means for allowing the user to communicate with said generator means including software which allows a user to change said control attributes, said control software, or said graphic representation of said unique control template; and storage means for storing said unique control template to allow the user to thereafter select and recall the unique template for designing a control solution on said display.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
174 words
A computer system for generating control templates used in designing control solutions for a process controller in a process control environment, said system comprising: means for systematically prompting a user to specify a control attribute, control software for processing said attribute and a graphic representation for the unique control template; generator means for generating a unique control template by automatically grouping the control attribute, the control software selected by the user for processing said attribute, and the graphic representation of said unique control template in a manner useable by the process controller; a display for providing a visual interface between a user and said generator means to view said unique template; means for allowing the user to communicate with said generator means including software which allows a user to change said control attributes, said control software, or said graphic representation of said unique control template; and storage means for storing said unique control template to allow the user to thereafter select and recall the unique template for designing a control solution on said display.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for generating control templates used in designing control solutions in a process control environment using a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: systematically prompting a user to specify a control attribute, control software for processing said attribute and a graphic representation for a unique control template; generating a unique control template by grouping the control attribute, control software selected by the user for processing said attribute, and the graphic representation of said unique control template; providing a visual interface between a user and said generator means to view said unique template; providing an interface device including software which allows the user to communicate with said generator means to change said control attributes, said control software, or said graphic representation of said unique control template; and storing said unique control template to allow the user to thereafter select and recall the unique template for designing a control solution on said display.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for generating control templates used in designing control solutions in a process control environment using a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: systematically prompting a user to specify a control attribute, control software for processing said attribute and a graphic representation for a unique control template; generating a unique control template by grouping the control attribute, control software selected by the user for processing said attribute, and the graphic representation of said unique control template; providing a visual interface between a user and said generator means to view said unique template; providing an interface device including software which allows the user to communicate with said generator means to change said control attributes, said control software, or said graphic representation of said unique control template; and storing said unique control template to allow the user to thereafter select and recall the unique template for designing a control solution on said display.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-14 | 2000-07-15 | 2001-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-14 | 2004-07-15 | 2005-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-14 | 2008-07-15 | 2009-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |