Process control overview on a supervisory control system display unit

Abstract

A method for enabling supervision of a technical system and a supervisory control system for supervising a technical system are provided. An overview picture of the technical system is shown on a display unit and the overview system receives input signals indicating a selection of at least one object of interest shown in the overview picture. In response to these input signals, a detailed information view is displayed at least partly overlapping the overview picture, where the detailed information view is associated with the object and includes detailed information of the object.

1 . A supervisory control system for supervising a technical system, the supervisory control system comprising:
 a display unit for displaying an overview picture of the technical system or part of the technical system, the overview picture comprising at least one object representing an entity of the technical system;   a display view displaying the overview picture together with a detailed information view at least partly overlapping the overview picture, the detailed information view being associated with the object and comprising detailed information about the entity represented by the object;   means for receiving input signals indicating a selection of the object shown in the overview picture;   means for displaying a graphical symbol indicating the presence of the further information if the object is selected; and   means for displaying, on the display unit, the detailed information view only if input signals are received indicating a selection of the graphical symbol.   
     
     
         2 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the input signals include position data of a pointing and selection tool of the display unit, and
 wherein the supervisory control system comprises means for determining that the object is selected if the position of the pointing and selection tool is in the vicinity of the position of the object.   
     
     
         3 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 2 , wherein the object is determined to be selected without further actuation of a user input unit. 
     
     
         4 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the overview picture is a geographical overview picture of a power transmission system. 
     
     
         5 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 means for displaying the detailed information view in an opaque or transparent manner over the overview picture.   
     
     
         6 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 means for receiving, in the detailed information view, input commands related to a certain action in the technical process, and effectuating the action.   
     
     
         7 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detailed information view comprises a set of other miniaturized selectable overview pictures. 
     
     
         8 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 7 , comprising:
 means for receiving input signals indicating a selection of a miniaturized overview picture; and   means for displaying the selected overview picture as a new overview picture.   
     
     
         9 . A method for enabling supervision of a technical system, the method being implemented in a supervisory control system comprising a display unit showing an overview picture of the technical system, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving input signals indicating a selection of at least one object of interest shown in the overview picture;   displaying a graphical symbol indicating a presence of further information about an entity of the technical system represented by the object, if the object is selected;   receiving input signals indicating a selection of the graphical symbol; and   displaying, in response to receiving the input signals, a detailed information view at least partly overlapping the overview picture, the detailed information view comprising the further information of the object, to enable supervision of the technical system.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the input signals include position data of a pointing and selection tool of the display unit, and
 wherein the method comprises the step of determining that the object is selected if the position of the pointing and selection tool is in the vicinity of the position of the object.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , comprising the step of:
 determining that the object is selected without actuating a user input.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , comprising the steps of:
 receiving, in the detailed information view, input commands related to a certain action; and   effectuating the action.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , comprising the step of:
 displaying the detailed information view in an opaque or transparent manner over the overview picture.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the detailed information view comprises a set of other miniaturized selectable overview pictures, and
 wherein the method comprises the steps of:   receiving input signals indicating a selection of a miniaturized overview picture; and   displaying the selected overview picture as a new overview picture.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon that is loadable by a processor of a computer of a supervisory control system and that causes the processor to carry out operations comprising:
 receiving input signals indicating a selection of at least one object of interest shown in the overview picture;   displaying a graphical symbol indicating a presence of further information about an entity of the technical system represented by the object, if the object is selected;   receiving input signals indicating a selection of the graphical symbol; and   displaying, in response to receiving the input signals, a detailed information view at least partly overlapping the overview picture, the detailed information view comprising the further information of the object, to enable supervision of the technical system.   
     
     
         16 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the input commands related to a certain action in the technical process include commands related to tripping a circuit breaker. 
     
     
         17 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 3 , wherein the overview picture is a geographical overview picture of a power transmission system. 
     
     
         18 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 means for displaying the detailed information view in an opaque or transparent manner over the overview picture.   
     
     
         19 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 means for receiving, in the detailed information view, input commands related to a certain action in the technical process, and effectuating the action.   
     
     
         20 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 3 , wherein the detailed information view comprises a set of other miniaturized selectable overview pictures. 
     
     
         21 . The supervisory control system according to  claim 20 , comprising:
 means for receiving input signals indicating a selection of a miniaturized overview picture; and   means for displaying the selected overview picture as a new overview picture.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of receiving input commands relating to a certain action includes receiving input commands relating to tripping a circuit breaker. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 11 , comprising the steps of:
 receiving, in the detailed information view, input commands related to a certain action; and   effectuating the action.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 11 , comprising the step of:
 displaying the detailed information view in an opaque or transparent manner over the overview picture.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the detailed information view comprises a set of other miniaturized selectable overview pictures, and
 wherein the method comprises the steps of:   receiving input signals indicating a selection of a miniaturized overview picture; and   displaying the selected overview picture as a new overview picture.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the input signals include position data of a pointing and selection tool of the display unit, and
 wherein the program causes the processor to carry out an operation of determining that the object is selected if the position of the pointing and selection tool is in the vicinity of the position of the object.   
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the program causes the processor to carry out an operation of determining that the object is selected without actuating a user input. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the program causes the processor to carry out operations comprising:
 receiving, in the detailed information view, input commands related to a certain action; and   effectuating the action.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the program causes the processor to carry out an operation of displaying the detailed information view in an opaque or transparent manner over the overview picture. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the detailed information view comprises a set of other miniaturized selectable overview pictures, and
 wherein the program causes the processor to carry out operations comprising:   receiving input signals indicating a selection of a miniaturized overview picture; and   displaying the selected overview picture as a new overview picture.