Engineering System and Computer-Implemented Method for Generating a Plant Image Hierarchy for Operating and Observing a Process Plant

A computer-implemented method for generating a plant image hierarchy, in which plant images for operating and observing a process engineering plant to be controlled are stored in a structured manner with regard to hierarchy and sequence and which is selected and opened by an operator during the runtime of the plant, wherein in the structured storage:

• the plant image hierarchy comprises at least a first and a second hierarchy level,
• plant images of the second hierarchy level are assigned to a plant image of the first hierarchy level,
• plant images of the second hierarchy level each assigned to the same plant image of the first hierarchy level are assigned to a sequence forming a sequence with regard to a process engineering structure of the plant, the method comprising:
• a) assigning to at least some of the plant images of the second hierarchy level in each case:
• hierarchy information with regard to a plant image of the first hierarchy level, and
• sequence information with regard to a sequence with regard to other plant images of the second hierarchy level which are assigned to the same plant image of the first hierarchy level, in particular to a sequence with regard to a process engineering structure of the plant, said assignment occurring prior to the structured storage of the plant images;
• b) outputting the plant images for selection;
• c) recording selection information with regard to a selection of the plant images output in step b) for their subsequent structured interconnection with each other with regard to hierarchy and sequence;
• and
• d) outputting the plant images selected in step c) for subsequent structured interconnection;
• wherein plant images with assigned hierarchy information and sequence information are automatically pre-structured according to a respective assigned hierarchy information and sequence information.

An engineering system for generating a plant image hierarchy, in which plant images for operating and observing a process engineering plant to be controlled are stored in a structured manner with regard to hierarchy and sequence and which is selected and opened by an operator during the runtime of the plant, wherein in the structured storage:

• the plant image hierarchy comprises at least a first and a second hierarchy level,
• plant images of the second hierarchy level are assigned to a plant image of the first hierarchy level,
• plant images of the second hierarchy level each assigned to the same plant image of the first hierarchy level are assigned to a sequence, in particular to a sequence with regard to a process engineering structure of the plant, the engineering system comprising:
• at least one processor which is connected to a storage device;
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• a) assign to at least some of the plant images of the second hierarchy level in each case:
• hierarchy information with regard to a plant image of the first hierarchy level, and
• sequence information with regard to a sequence with regard to other plant images of the second hierarchy level which are assigned to the same plant image of the first hierarchy level, in particular to a sequence with regard to a process engineering structure of the plant, said assignment occurring prior to the structured storage of the plant images;
• b) output the plant images for selection;
• c) record selection information with regard to a selection of the plant images output in step b) for their subsequent structured interconnection with each other with regard to hierarchy and sequence;
• and
• d) output the plant images selected in step c) for subsequent structured interconnection;
• wherein plant images with assigned hierarchy information and sequence information are automatically pre-structured according to a respective assigned hierarchy information and sequence information.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with comprising commands which, when executed by a computer cause the computer to generate a plant image hierarchy, in which plant images for operating and observing a process engineering plant to be controlled are stored in a structured manner with regard to hierarchy and sequence and which is selected and opened by an operator during the runtime of the plant, wherein in the structured storage:

• the plant image hierarchy comprises at least a first and a second hierarchy level,
• plant images of the second hierarchy level are assigned to a plant image of the first hierarchy level,
• plant images of the second hierarchy level each assigned to the same plant image of the first hierarchy level are assigned to a sequence forming a sequence with regard to a process engineering structure of the plant, the method comprising:
• a) assigning to at least some of the plant images of the second hierarchy level in each case:
• hierarchy information with regard to a plant image of the first hierarchy level, and
• sequence information with regard to a sequence with regard to other plant images of the second hierarchy level which are assigned to the same plant image of the first hierarchy level, in particular to a sequence with regard to a process engineering structure of the plant, said assignment occurring prior to the structured storage of the plant images;
• b) outputting the plant images for selection;
• c) recording selection information with regard to a selection of the plant images output in step b) for their subsequent structured interconnection with each other with regard to hierarchy and sequence;
• and
• d) outputting the plant images selected in step c) for subsequent structured interconnection;
• wherein plant images with assigned hierarchy information and sequence information are automatically pre-structured according to a respective assigned hierarchy information and sequence information.