Methods and structure for batch processing event history processing and viewing

An event historian system for batch processing, said event historian system comprising:

• a user interface system having a processor;
• a history executive element receiving process event information from one or more input sources operating in physical elements of a process and batch procedure event information that includes batch subprocedure event information from a batch control device, wherein the batch control device is separate from the physical elements of the process, and automatically deriving relationships among portions of said process event information and batch subprocedure event information based on generated event messages;
• a storage element coupled to said history executive element persistently storing said process event information and said batch procedure event information and said derived relationships in response to requests from said history executive element;
• and
• an event information retrieval element retrieving said process event information and said batch procedure event information in accordance with said derived relationships in response to requests from an application process;
• a batch event generator coupled to said history executive element as a first input source wherein said batch event generator generates events indicative of execution of procedural elements of a batch process;
• a process event generator coupled to said history executive element as a second input source wherein said process event generator generates events indicative of elements performed within equipment used in the control of said batch process;
• and
• a continuous data collection element gathering continuous data in real time wherein said continuous data relates to at least one procedural element of a batch process, wherein
• said process event generator comprises an event log generated by said continuous data collection element;
• and
• said history executive element includes a history correlation element for relating said batch events and said process events and said continuous data.

A batch history view client system for batch processing, comprising:

• a user interface system having a computer processor including;
• means for retrieving batch procedure event information that includes batch subprocedure event information from a batch control device and process event information from one or more sources operating separate from the batch control device in physical elements of a process corresponding to an identified batch;
• and
• means for visually presenting to a user said batch procedure event information and process event information, and automatically deriving relationships among portions of said batch subprocedure event information and process event information to illustrate particular process event information as being associated with one or more particular batch subprocedures.

A batch history view client system for batch processing, comprising:

• a user interface system having a computer processor including:
• means for retrieving batch procedure event information from a batch control device and process event information from one or more sources operating separate from the batch control device in physical elements of a process corresponding to an identified batch;
• and
• means for visually presenting to a user said batch procedure event information and process event information and automatically deriving relationships among portions of said batch procedure event information and process event information;
• and
• means for presenting said batch procedure event information and process event information and said derived relationships as a Gantt chart wherein said Gantt chart is representative of procedural elements of the batch procedure.

A batch history view client system for batch processing, comprising:

• a user interface system having a computer processor including;
• means for retrieving batch procedure event information that includes batch subprocedure event information from a batch control device and process event information from one or more sources operating separate from the batch control device in physical elements of a process corresponding to an identified batch;
• means for visually presenting to a user said batch procedure event information and process event information and automatically deriving relationships among portions of said batch subprocedure event information and process event information;
• means for retrieving other batch procedure event information corresponding to a second identified batch;
• means for presenting to a user said other batch procedure event information and relationships among portions of said other batch procedure event information;
• and
• continuous data collection means for gathering continuous data in real time;
• wherein said continuous data relates to at least one data point of a batch process;
• wherein said means for presenting said other batch procedure event information includes means for indicating differences between said batch procedure event information and said other batch procedure event information and said means for visually presenting includes means for presenting said batch procedure event information and said relationships in real time as said batch procedure event information is generated, and wherein said means for presenting said batch procedure event information in real time includes means for presenting said continuous data in real time as said continuous data is gathered.

A batch history viewer for batch processing, comprising:

• a data access device that retrieves batch procedure event information that includes batch subprocedure event information from a batch control device and that retrieves process event information from one or more sources operating separate from the batch control device in physical elements of a process corresponding to an identified batch process;
• a display device that visually presents to a user indications of said batch procedure event information and process event information;
• and
• a routine that automatically derives relationships among portions of said batch subprocedure event information and process event information to be displayed to the user on the display device and to associate particular process event information with one or more particular batch subprocedures.