Method For Computer-Aided Processing Of State Messages In An Automation Installation

A device for computer-aided processing of state messages in an automation installation, comprising:

• a processor including memory;
• wherein the state messages are generated by a plurality of components during performance of an automated process in the automation installation and are detected with generation points in time of the state messages;
• wherein a state message is generated by a respective component upon a change from a preceding state to a new state and indicates the new state;
• wherein a pattern description is provided for a respective component of at least one portion of the components of the automation installation, each pattern description indicating for at least one state in a respective component at least one causative state allocated to a corresponding state in the respective component;
• wherein each causative state belongs to a different component than the respective component and can be a cause of that state in the respective component to which the causative state is allocated;
• wherein the device is configured to perform a method in which for the respective component:
• a) for each state messages plurality of state messages generated by the respective component, based on the pattern description for the current state in the generated state message, those causative states allocated to the current state which are present at the generation point in time of the state message in other components are determined, and those causative states allocated to the current state are also determined from which a change was effected upon a last state change which occurred in another respective component before the generation point in time of the state message, the propagation time between the occurrence of the respective causative state and the generation point in time of the state message being calculated for each causative state;
• b) groups are formed from the causative states which were determined for the respective component in step a), wherein in a respective group all causative states have at least the common feature that they were determined for the same current state in the respective component;
• c) from the propagation times which belong to the causative states of the same group, at least one statistical parameters is determined and stored.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program which, when executed by a processor of a computer, causes computer-aided processing of state messages in an automation installation, the state messages being generated by a multiplicity of components during performance of an automated process in the automation installation and being detected with their generation points in time, a state message being generated by a respective component upon a change from a preceding to a new state and indicating the new state, a pattern description being provided for a respective component of at least one portion of components of the automation installation, said pattern description indicating for at least one state in the respective component in at least one causative state each allocated to a corresponding state in the respective component, each causative state belonging to a different component than the respective component and can be a cause of that state in the respective component to which the causative state is allocated, for the respective component the computer program comprising:

• a) program code for determining each causative state allocated to a current state which is present at a generation point in time of the state message in other components for a multiplicity of state messages generated by the respective component, based on the pattern description for the current state in the generated state message, and determining those causative states allocated to the current state from which a change was effected upon a last state change which occurred in a respective other component before the generation point in time of the state message, a propagation time between an occurrence of a respective causative state and the generation point in time of the state message is calculated for each causative state;
• b) program code for forming groups from the causative states which were determined for the respective component in step a), in a respective group all causative states having at least a common feature which said causative states determined for the same current state in the respective component;
• and
• c) program code for determining at least one statistical parameter from the propagation times which belong to the causative states of the same group and storing said determined at least one statistical parameter.