# US 11,307,551 B1 · Methods, systems and computer program products for generating implementable sequential function charts codes for process control systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,551 B1 - Document ID: US11307551B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/177,707 - Filed: 2021-02-17 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-17 - Assignees: Yokogawa Electric Corporation - Applicants: Yokogawa Electric Corporation - Inventors: Daisuke Yasunami; Yi Ee Loke; Maricel Mercurio Bacacao; Archie Sambitan Orido; Max Jisong Zhang; Wilfred Woon Yew Teo; Hiroyuki Nakamura; Tadateru Ohkawara; Keiko Yuasa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307551B1 ## CPC - G05B 19/0426: {Programming the control sequence} - G06F 8/30: Creation or generation of source code - G06F 8/33: Intelligent editors - G06F 8/34: Graphical or visual programming - G06F 9/44505: {Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files} - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The invention provides, methods, systems and computer program products that enable generation of executable sequential function charts, for subsequent retrieval and implementation by a process control system. In an embodiment, generating an executable sequential function chart comprises (i) receiving equipment selection data representing a selected equipment for implementing operating functions within a sequence flow, (ii) receiving operation data representing a set of operating functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment, (iii) assigning values to one or more configuration parameters, (iv) receiving control statement data representing a set of control statements intended to be implemented for process flow control during implementation of the set of operating functions, (v) assigning values to one or more control statement configuration parameters, and generating machine readable SEBOL program code for implementing the set of operating functions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A processor implemented method for generating program code within a sequential function chart for process control within a process control system, the method comprising: receiving equipment selection data representing a selected equipment for implementing a sequence flow; receiving operation data representing a set of operating functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment; assigning values to one or more operating function configuration parameters corresponding to one or more operating functions within the set of operating functions; receiving control statement data representing a set of control statements intended to be implemented for process flow control during implementation of the set of operating functions; assigning values to one or more control statement configuration parameters corresponding to one or more control statements within the set of control statements; and generating machine readable program code for implementing the set of operating functions, based on one or more of the received operation data, the received control statement data, the assigned operating function configuration parameters and the assigned control statement configuration parameters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving equipment selection data comprises: receiving within a display interface, input comprising an equipment selective user input; rendering on a display, a visual representation of an equipment selected based on the equipment selective user input; and receiving function block identifier data and function block type data associated with the selected equipment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving operation data representing a set of operating functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment, comprises: responding to receiving a user input, displaying a list of operating functions performable on the selected equipment; receiving, through another user input, a selected operating function from the displayed list of operating functions; identifying an operating function type associated with the selected operating function; retrieving a set of configuration parameters associated with the identified operating function type; and initiating a display of the selected operating function within a display interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of assigning values to one or more operating function configuration parameters corresponding to one or more operating functions within the set of operating functions comprises: associating a set of selected operating function configuration parameters with a selected operating function; retrieving default operating function configuration parameter values for one or more operating function configuration parameters within the set of selected operating function configuration parameters; assigning the default operating function configuration parameter values to corresponding operating function configuration parameters associated with the selected operating function; receiving user input identifying one or more user specified parameter values for assignment to the one or more operating function configuration parameters within the set of selected operating function configuration parameters; and assigning the user specified parameter values to the corresponding operating function configuration parameters associated with the selected operating function. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving control statement data representing a set of control statements intended to be implemented for process flow control during implementation of the set of operating functions comprises: displaying a list of selectable control statements for process flow control corresponding to the one or more operating functions within the set of operation functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment; selecting based on a user input, a control statement from the list of selectable control statements; retrieving a set of configuration parameters associated with the selected control statement; and initiating display of the selected control statement within a display interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of assigning values to one or more control statement configuration parameters corresponding to one or more control statements within the set of control statements comprises: identifying a set of control statement configuration parameters corresponding to a control statement within the set of control statements; retrieving default configuration parameter values corresponding to one or more control statement configuration parameters within the identified set of control statement configuration parameters; assigning the default configuration parameter values to corresponding control statement configuration parameters; receiving user input identifying one or more user specified parameter values for assignment to the one or more of the control statement configuration parameters; and assigning the user specified parameter values to the corresponding control statement configuration parameters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of generating machine readable program code for implementing the set of operating functions comprises: retrieving a set of machine code generation rules corresponding to (i) a set of operating functions selected for implementation on the selected equipment, and (ii) a set of control statements selected for process flow control corresponding to one or more operating functions within the set of operating functions; and generating machine readable program code for implementing the set of operating functions on the selected equipment, wherein the generated machine readable program code is based on (i) a retrieved set of machine code generation rules, (ii) a set of operating functions and one or more operating function configuration parameter values assigned to one or more operating function configuration parameters associated with the set of operating functions, (iii) a set of control statements and one or more control statement configuration parameter values assigned to one or more control statement configuration parameters associated with the set of control statements, and (iv) a function block type data associated with the selected equipment. ### Claim 8 A system for generating program code within a sequential function chart for process control within a process control system, the system comprising: a memory; and a processor configured for: receiving equipment selection data representing a selected equipment for implementing a sequence flow; receiving operation data representing a set of operating functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment; assigning values to one or more operating function configuration parameters corresponding to one or more operating functions within the set of operating functions; receiving control statement data representing a set of control statements intended to be implemented for process flow control during implementation of the set of operating functions; assigning values to one or more control statement configuration parameters corresponding to one or more control statements within the set of control statements; and generating machine readable program code for implementing the set of operating functions, based on one or more of the received operation data, the received control statement data, the assigned operating function configuration parameters and the assigned control statement configuration parameters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, configured such that the step of receiving equipment selection data comprises: receiving within a display interface, input comprising an equipment selective user input; rendering on a display, a visual representation of an equipment selected based on the equipment selective user input; and receiving function block identifier data and function block type data associated with the selected equipment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, configured such that the step of receiving data representing a set of operating functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment, comprises: responding to receiving a user input, displaying a list of operating functions performable on the selected equipment; receiving, through another user input, a selected operating function from the displayed list of operating functions; identifying an operating function type associated with the selected operating function; retrieving a set of configuration parameters associated with the identified operating function type; and initiating display of the selected operating function within a display interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, configured such that the step of assigning values to one or more operating function configuration parameters corresponding to one or more operating functions within the set of operating functions comprises: associating a set of selected operating function configuration parameters with a selected operating function; retrieving default operating function configuration parameter values for one or more operating function configuration parameters within the set of selected operating function configuration parameters; assigning the default operating function configuration parameter values to corresponding operating function configuration parameters associated with the selected operating function; receiving user input identifying one or more user specified parameter values for assignment to one or more operating function configuration parameters within the set of selected operating function configuration parameters; and assigning the user specified parameter values to the corresponding operating function configuration parameters associated with the selected operating function. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, configured such that the step of receiving control statement data representing a set of control statements intended to be implemented for process flow control during implementation of the set of operating functions comprises: displaying a list of selectable control statements for process flow control corresponding to the one or more operating functions within the set of operation functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment; selecting based on a user input, a control statement from the list of selectable control statements; retrieving a set of configuration parameters associated with the selected control statement; and initiating display of the selected control statement within a display interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, configured such that the step of assigning values to one or more control statement configuration parameters corresponding to one or more control statements within the set of control statements comprises: identifying a set of control statement configuration parameters corresponding to a control statement within the set of control statements; retrieving default configuration parameter values corresponding to one or more control statement configuration parameters within the identified set of control statement configuration parameters; assigning the default configuration parameter values to corresponding control statement configuration parameters; receiving user input identifying one or more user specified parameter values for assignment to one or more of the control statement configuration parameters; and assigning the user specified parameter values to the corresponding control statement configuration parameters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, configured such that the step of generating machine readable program code for implementing the set of operating functions comprises: retrieving a set of machine code generation rules corresponding to (i) a set of operating functions selected for implementation on the selected equipment, and (ii) a set of control statements selected for process flow control corresponding to one or more operating functions within the set of operating functions; and generating machine readable program code for implementing the set of operating functions on the selected equipment, wherein the generated machine readable program code is based on (i) a retrieved set of machine code generation rules, (ii) a set of operating functions and one or more operating function configuration parameter values assigned to one or more operating function configuration parameters associated with the set of operating functions, (iii) a set of control statements and one or more control statement configuration parameter values assigned to one or more control statement configuration parameters associated with the set of control statements, and (iv) a function block type data associated with the selected equipment. ### Claim 15 A computer program product for generating program code within a sequential function chart for process control within a process control system, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising instructions for implementing within a processor based computing system, the steps of: receiving equipment selection data representing a selected equipment for implementing a sequence flow; receiving data representing a set of operating functions intended to be implemented by the selected equipment; assigning values to one or more operating function configuration parameters corresponding to one or more operating functions within the set of operating functions; receiving control statement data representing a set of control statements intended to be implemented for process flow control during implementation of the set of operating functions; assigning values to one or more control statement configuration parameters corresponding to one or more control statements within the set of control statements; and generating machine readable program code for implementing the set of operating functions, based on one or more of the received operation data, the received control statement data, the assigned operating function configuration parameters and the assigned control statement configuration parameters.