초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for simultaneously controlling multiple control systems is provided. The resulting hybrid control system provides for sharing of inputs and outputs on a control surface membrane between the multiple distinct control systems. A unified tactile/LED interface for both systems is

A method and apparatus for simultaneously controlling multiple control systems is provided. The resulting hybrid control system provides for sharing of inputs and outputs on a control surface membrane between the multiple distinct control systems. A unified tactile/LED interface for both systems is achieved, allowing for a single hybrid control system experience for operators in industrial, manufacturing and control-room environments.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of controlling at least a first control system and a second control system comprising: providing an operator interface that is communicatively coupled to the first and second control systems; determining if a key-press from said operator interface is shared by the fi

What is claimed is: 1. A method of controlling at least a first control system and a second control system comprising: providing an operator interface that is communicatively coupled to the first and second control systems; determining if a key-press from said operator interface is shared by the first and second control systems and communicating said key-press to the first and second control systems if said key-press is shared, said key-press actuating an operation parameter adjustment of said first and second control systems; and determining which of the first and second control systems owns said key-press if said key-press is not shared by the first and second control systems and communicating said key-press to the first or second control system that owns said key-press. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether each of the first and second control systems are in an active state that allows for acceptance of communication of said key-press, wherein the first control system only accepts said communication of said key-press when in said active state and the second control system only accepts said communication of said key-press when in said active state. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating an annunciation for either or both of the first and second control systems; determining if said annunciation is shared by the first and second control systems and communicating said annunciation to said operator interface if said annunciation is shared; and determining which of the first and second control systems owns said annunciation if said annunciation is not shared by the first and second control systems and communicating said annunciation to an indicator of said operator interface that corresponds to the first or second control system that owns said annunciation. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said annunciation is a first annunciation of the first control system and a second annunciation of the second control system, and wherein communicating said annunciation to said operator interface comprises caching said first and second annunciations and combining said first and second annunciations in a single communication to said operator interface. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein said annunciation is a plurality of annunciations that are cached, wherein one of said plurality of annunciations is determined to be of higher priority than another of said plurality of annunciations, and wherein said one of said plurality of annunciations is communicated to said operator interface based upon said higher priority. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said operator interface is communicatively coupled to a control processing unit having a foreground application and a background application being processed therein, and wherein said key-press is processed by said background application. 7. A method of modifying a first control system comprising: communicatively coupling a control surface membrane to the first control system; communicatively coupling a second control system to said control surface membrane; determining if a key-press from said control surface membrane is shared by said first and second control systems and communicating said key-press to said first and second control systems if said key-press is shared, said key-press actuating an operation parameter adjustment of said first and second control systems; determining which of said first and second control systems owns said key-press if said key-press is not shared by said first and second control systems and communicating said key-press to said first or second control system that owns said key-press; generating an annunciation for either or both of said first and second control systems; determining if said annunciation is shared by said first and second control systems and communicating said annunciation to said control surface membrane if said annunciation is shared; and determining which of said first and second control systems owns said annunciation if said annunciation is not shared by said first and second control systems and communicating said annunciation to an indicator of said control surface membrane that corresponds to said first or second control system that owns said annunciation. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether each of said first and second control systems are in an active state that allows for acceptance of communication of said key-press, wherein the first control system only accepts said communication of said key-press when in said active state and said second control system only accepts said communication of said key-press when in said active state. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said annunciation is a first annunciation of the first control system and a second annunciation of said second control system, and wherein communicating said annunciation to said control surface membrane comprises caching said first and second annunciations and combining said first and second annunciations in a single communication to said control surface membrane. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein said annunciation is a plurality of annunciations that are cached, wherein one of said plurality of annunciations is determined to be of higher priority than another of said plurality of annunciations, and wherein said one of said plurality of annunciations is communicated to said control surface membrane based upon said higher priority. 11. The method of claim 7, wherein said control surface membrane is communicatively coupled to a control processing unit having a foreground application and a background application being processed therein, and wherein said key-press is processed by said background application. 12. A hybrid control system comprising: a first control system and a second control system; a control processing unit having an operator interface, said control processing unit being in communication with said first and second control systems, wherein said control processing unit determines if a key-press of said operator interface is shared by said first and second control systems and communicates said key-press to said first and second control systems if said key-press is shared, said key-press actuating an operation parameter adjustment of said first and second control systems, and wherein said control processing unit determines which of said first and second control systems owns said key-press if said key-press is not shared by the first and second control systems and communicates said key-press to said first or second control system that owns said key-press. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said control processing unit determines whether each of said first and second control systems are in an active state that allows for acceptance of communication of said key-press, wherein said control processing unit only communicates said key-press to said first control system when said first control system is in said active state, and wherein said control processing unit only communicates said key-press to said second control system when said second control system is in said active state. 14. The system of claim 12, wherein an annunciation is generated for either or both of said first and second control systems, wherein said control processing unit determines if said annunciation is shared by said first and second control systems and communicates said annunciation to said operator interface if said annunciation is shared, and wherein said control processing unit determines which of said first and second control systems owns said annunciation if said annunciation is not shared by said first and second control systems and communicates said annunciation to an indicator of said operator interface that corresponds to said first or second control system that owns said annunciation. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said annunciation is a first annunciation of said first control system and a second annunciation of said second control system, and wherein said control processing unit caches said first and second annunciations and combines said first and second annunciations in a single communication to said operator interface. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein said annunciation is a plurality of annunciations that are cached by said control processing unit, wherein one of said plurality of annunciations is determined by said control processing unit to be of higher priority than another of said plurality of annunciations, and wherein said control processing unit communicates said one of said plurality of annunciations to said operator interface based upon said higher priority. 17. The system of claim 12, wherein said control processing unit has a foreground application and a background application being processed therein, and wherein said key-press is processed by said background application. 18. A computer readable program embodied in an article of manufacture comprising computer readable program instructions for modifying a first control system with a second control system, said program comprising: program instructions for causing a computer to determine if a key-press of an operator interface is shared by the first and second control systems and for causing said computer to communicate said key-press to the first and second control systems if said key-press is shared, said key-press actuating an operation parameter adjustment of said first and second control systems; and program instructions for causing said computer to determine which of the first and second control systems owns said key-press if said key-press is not shared by the first and second control systems and for causing said computer to communicate said key-press to the first or second control system that owns said key-press. 19. The program of claim 18, further comprising: program instructions for causing said computer to determine whether each of the first and second control systems are in an active state that allows for acceptance of communication of said key-press; program instructions for causing said computer to only communicate said key-press to the first control system when the first control system is in said active state; and program instructions for causing said computer to only communicate said key-press to the second control system when the second control system is in said active state. 20. The program of claim 18, further comprising: program instructions for causing said computer to determine if an annunciation that is generated for either or both of the first and second control systems is shared by the first and second control systems and for causing said computer to communicate said annunciation to said operator interface if said annunciation is shared; and program instruction for causing said computer to determine which of the first and second control systems owns said annunciation if said annunciation is not shared by the first and second control systems and for causing said computer to communicate said annunciation to an indicator of said operator interface that corresponds to the first or second control system that owns said annunciation. 21. The program of claim 20, wherein said annunciation is a first annunciation of the first control system and a second annunciation of the second control system, and the program further comprises: program instructions for causing said computer to cache said first and second annunciations; and program instructions for causing said computer to combine said first and second annunciations in a single communication to said operator interface. 22. The program of claim 20, wherein said annunciation is a plurality of annunciations, and the program further comprises: program instructions for causing said computer to cache said plurality of annunciations; program instructions for causing said computer to determine a higher priority for one of said plurality of annunciations; and program instructions for causing said computer to communicate said one of said plurality of annunciations to said operator interface based upon said higher priority. 23. The program of claim 18, wherein said computer has a foreground application and a background application being processed therein, and the program further comprises program instructions for causing said computer to communicate said key-press to said background application for processing.