초록 ▼

An interface control for use in a field device management system coupled to a set of smart field devices automatically performs functions related to communication between a device, a database and a user of the management system and functions related to interfacing with a user in a manner which is tr

An interface control for use in a field device management system coupled to a set of smart field devices automatically performs functions related to communication between a device, a database and a user of the management system and functions related to interfacing with a user in a manner which is transparent to the software application running on the management system. The control monitors a device, or a block or a parameter of a device, displays information pertaining to the device, block or parameter to a user, receives information pertaining to such device, block, or parameter from a user and the device, automatically updates the displayed information, and implements changes to the device block or parameter specified by the user. A timeline control specifies a time at which past, present or future configurations of devices, blocks, parameters, or other data associated with one or more devices is to be displayed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An interface control adapted for use with a management system having a user interface, a database and a communication network that communicates with the database, a field device and a device description associated with the field device, wherein the field device, the device descript

[ We claim:] [1.] An interface control adapted for use with a management system having a user interface, a database and a communication network that communicates with the database, a field device and a device description associated with the field device, wherein the field device, the device description and the database store a multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data, the interface control comprising:means for implementing a particular interface control for an indicated group of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data including;means for commanding the communication network to read the items of device data associated with the indicated group from at least one of the field device, the device description, and the database to produce a set of items of retrieved device data for the indicated group, andmeans for displaying the set of items of retrieved device data for the indicated group via the user interface in a predefined format;means for identifying any one of the multiplicity of groups of logically related items of device data as the indicated group; andmeans responsive to the identifying means for invoking the implementing means to create the particular interface control for the indicated group.