Method and system for generating a control system user interface

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing a user interface for an industrial control system comprising a computer and a plurality of process graphics comprising software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, said program contains software code portions to make a computer or processor carry out a method comprising
• displaying on said user interface a designated view of a first said process graphic in a window comprising at least one graphic user interface object comprising a link for navigating to at least one process graphic;
• and
• displaying, on detection of a user input to said user interface relative to one of said at least one graphic user interface object, a thumbnail picture or small-scale representation of a second process graphic to which the tab or link on the window containing the first process graphic is linked,
• wherein the user interface comprises computer program instructions for automatically displaying at least one selected tab arranged for displaying a thumbnail of the destination process graphic of a selected tab, dependent on a task for an operator, the task comprising any from the group of:
• start up, operate, change operation, alarm handling tasks, specific process related tasks, maintenance, shut down.

A user interface for an industrial control system with improved navigation features, the system comprising a computer and a display device said system further comprising a plurality of process graphics comprising software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, said system further comprising a plurality of process graphics comprising at least one of said software objects, arranged such that visible graphic user interface elements of at least one of the software objects may be displayed on an interface displayed on said display device, said user interface comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• a computer program recorded on said medium;
• said computer program comprising:
• computer program instructions for automatically generating on the interface a designated view of a first process graphic in a window arranged with at least one graphic user interface object,
• computer program instructions for automatically displaying at least one selected tab arranged for displaying a thumbnail of the destination process graphic of a selected tab, dependent on a task for an operator, the task comprising any from the group of:
• start up, operate, change operation, alarm handling tasks, specific process related tasks, maintenance, shut down,
• a computer input element arranged for a user to provide input to said user interface relative to said at least one graphic user interface object, and
• a display configured to display a thumbnail or small-scale representation of a second process graphic to which the tab on the first process graphic window is linked.

An industrial control system with improved navigation features, comprising:

• a computer,
• a user interface and
• a display device said control system further including a plurality of process graphics comprising one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, which said software objects arranged such that visible graphic user interface elements of one or more of the software objects may be displayed on an interface displayed on said display device,
• wherein the user interface of the control system comprises
• computer program instructions for automatically generating on the interface a designated view of a first process graphic in a window arranged with at least one graphic user interface object,
• computer program instructions for automatically displaying at least one selected tab arranged for displaying a thumbnail of the destination process graphic of a selected tab, dependent on a task for an operator, the task comprising any from the group of:
• start up, operate, change operation, alarm handling tasks, specific process related tasks, maintenance, shut down,
• a computer input element arranged for a user to provide input to said user interface relative to said at least one graphic user interface object, and
• a display configured to display a thumbnail or small-scale representation of a second process graphic to which the tab on the first process graphic window is linked.

A method for navigating in an industrial control system comprising a computer, and a plurality of process graphics, said control system comprising at least one software object for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by said control system, which said software objects which are arranged in a hierarchical way in at least one of a plurality of functional groups or structures, in which at least one of the software objects may be displayed on an interface displayed on a display device, wherein said interface

• automatically provides on a graphic user interface a designated view of a first process graphic comprising one or more of said software objects in a window arranged with at least one tab and/or link,
• automatically displays at least one selected tab arranged for displaying a thumbnail of the destination process graphic of a selected tab, dependent on a task for an operator, the task comprising any from the group of:
• start up, operate, change operation, alarm handling tasks, specific process related tasks, maintenance, shut down,
• by displaying, on detection of a user input to the graphic user interface relative to one of said at least one tab and/or link, a thumbnail or small-scale representation of a second process graphic that may be navigated to by selecting the one of said at least one tab and/or link on the first process graphic of the interface, and
• includes a computer input element arranged for a user to provide input to said user interface relative to said at least one graphic user interface object.