Object-oriented computer program, system, and method for developing control schemes for facilities

Method for developing an object-oriented user-configurable control scheme for facilities in a graphical user interface environment, the method comprising:

• selecting device symbols from an object-oriented repository containing a plurality of device symbols and device objects which represent equipment or control functions used in facilities, wherein certain types of device symbols relate to device objects containing logical instructions and configuration information relating to the represented equipment or control functions, and
• interrelating in a graphical manner the selected device symbols and their corresponding device objects into one or more device diagrams, each of the device diagrams representing both a physical description of the facility or a portion of the facility and a logical definition of the control scheme for the facility or the portion of the facility,
• wherein the physical description of the facility is integrated in a single control system with the definition of the logical instructions which comprise the control scheme in a graphical format, the logical instructions unifying configuration of analog/regulatory control with configuration of discrete/sequential/interlocking control.

An object-oriented development system for developing control schemes for facilities, the system comprising;

• diagramming means for graphically producing one or more device diagrams, each of the device diagrams interrelating a plurality of device objects to provide in a graphical format a physical description of a facility or a portion of the facility integrated with a logical definition of a control scheme for the facility or the portion of the facility, the device objects relating to equipment or control functions used in facilities and including control information relating to control of the equipment or control functions, and
• means for defining, creating, and modifying the control information of the device objects;
• wherein the logical definition of the control scheme unifies configuration of analog/regulatory control with configuration of discrete/sequential/interlocking control.

In a development system for developing control schemes for facilities, the development system operating in a graphical user interface environment, an object-oriented development tool comprising:

• a plurality of device objects relating to equipment or control functions used in facilities, the device objects including physical representations of the equipment or control functions and logical instructions and configuration information relating to the equipment or control functions, the device objects organizing said representations, instructions and information in a consolidated manner to provide unification of the information which defines control for the equipment or control functions;
• and
• diagramming means for graphically producing one or more device diagrams, each of the device diagrams interrelating a plurality of the device objects to provide in a graphical format a physical description of a facility or a portion of the facility integrated with a logical definition of a control scheme for the facility or the portion of the facility, wherein the logical definition of the control scheme unifies configuration of analog/regulatory control with configuration of discrete/sequential/interlocking control.