# US 2014/0195015 A1 · Method for monitoring and controlling field devices, control device, program elements and machine-readable medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195015 A1 - Document ID: US20140195015A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/143,693 - Filed: 2013-12-30 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Applicants: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Inventors: Fridolin FAIST; Martin WETTLIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195015A1 ## CPC - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 23/0216: {Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration} - G05B 2219/25428: Field device - 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) ## Abstract A method to control and manage field devices, a control device, a program element and a machine-readable medium are proposed. The method includes a first step of importing field device data comprising several subgroups of field device data. In a second step the points in time are detected at which the respective subgroup of imported field device data is created. In a third step each subgroup of imported field device data is assigned to a respective field device. Furthermore, in a fourth step a first group of subgroups of imported field device data is assigned to a first data type and in a fifth step a second group of subgroups of imported field device data is assigned to a second data type. Finally, the subgroups of imported field device data are displayed graphically in a diagram as a function of the points in time at which they were created and as a function of their data type. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring and controlling field devices in an area of industrial measuring value acquisition, comprising the steps: importing field device data comprising a plurality of subgroups of field device data; determining points in time at which various subgroups of the imported field device data were generated; assigning each of the subgroups of the imported field device data to a respective field device; assigning a first group of the subgroups of the imported field device data to a first data type; assigning a second group of the subgroups of the imported field device data to a second data type; and displaying graphically the subgroups of the imported field device data in a diagram as a function of the points in time at which they were generated and as a function of their data type. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps: selecting a subgroup of the imported field device data in the graphical display; and displaying graphically the field device data of the selected subgroup of the imported field device data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagram comprises a coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis; wherein the subgroups of the imported field device data are represented in the diagram by a symbol; wherein the symbol is positioned at a first coordinate on the first axis and at a second coordinate on the second axis; wherein the first coordinate corresponds to the points in time at which the respective subgroup of the imported field device data was generated; and wherein the second coordinate corresponds to the data type to which the subgroup of the imported field device data was assigned. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein subgroups of the imported field device data that are determined over a period of time are represented by a bar; wherein the bar extends along the first axis from a third coordinate to a fourth coordinate; wherein the bar is positioned on the second axis at a fifth coordinate; wherein the third coordinate corresponds to the start of the generation of the subgroup of the imported field device data; wherein the fourth coordinate corresponds to the end of the generation of the subgroup of the imported field device data; wherein the fifth coordinate corresponds to the data type of the subgroup of the imported field device data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein a measurement is represented in the coordinate system by a symbol; wherein the symbol is positioned on the first axis at a sixth coordinate and on the second axis at a seventh coordinate; wherein the sixth coordinate corresponds to the point in time at which the measurement was made, and the seventh coordinate corresponds to the measuring value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first group of the subgroups of the imported field device data and the second group of the subgroups of the imported field device data are each assigned to a data type from the group comprising echo curves, DTM measurements, measurements, events detected by the field device, DTM files and documents. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein subgroups of the imported field device data from a field device are displayed in the diagram. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a first diagram containing subgroups of the imported field device data from a first field device, and a second diagram containing subgroups of the imported field device data from a second field device are simultaneously displayed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the field device data is imported in the form of files, and a data record is created for each file in a database. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein for the purpose of displaying the field device data, the associated file is read out and the data stored in the file is displayed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the field device data is imported via an element from the group comprising device interface and email account. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A control device for monitoring and controlling field devices in an area of industrial measuring value acquisition, the control device is designed to perform a method according to claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A program element for monitoring and controlling field devices in an area of industrial measuring value acquisition, the program element, when implemented in a processor of a control device, instructs the control device to perform a method according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A machine-readable medium on which is stored a program element for monitoring and controlling field devices in an area of industrial measuring value acquisition, which medium, when implemented in a processor of a control device, instructs the control device to perform a method according to claim 1.