Abstract: An online data driven computerized procedures system that guides an operator through a complex process facility's operating procedures. The system monitors plant data, processes the data and then, based upon this processing, presents the status of the current procedure step and/or substep to the operator. The system supports multiple users and a single procedure definition supports several interface formats that can be tailored to the individual user. Layered security controls access privileges and revisions are version controlled. The procedures run on a server that is platform independent of the user workstations that the server interfaces with and the user interface supports diverse procedural views.

Abstract: An online data driven computerized procedures system that guides an operator through a complex process facility's operating procedures. The system monitors plant data, processes the data and then, based upon this processing, presents the status of the current procedure step and/or substep to the operator. The system supports multiple users and a single procedure definition supports several interface formats that can be tailored to the individual user. Layered security controls access privileges and revisions are version controlled. The procedures run on a server that is platform independent of the user workstations that the server interfaces with and the user interface supports diverse procedural views.

Abstract: A system for controlling a complex process in which a supervisory sequential controller interface provides automatic sequencing of a plurality of sequential steps of a procedure for operating the complex process, and a display in dynamic communication with the supervisory sequential controller interface and responsive thereto, displays an overview of the status of progression through the sequential steps relative to the entire process. The display provides a global view of the status of the procedure identifying the state of substantially each criterion that needs to be satisfied to advance to the next sequential step and providing verification that substantially each command to be given upon satisfaction of the criterion, has been executed.

Abstract: A system for controlling a complex process in which a supervisory sequential controller interface provides automatic sequencing of a plurality of sequential steps of a procedure for operating the complex process, and a display in dynamic communication with the supervisory sequential controller interface and responsive thereto, displays an overview of the status of progression through the sequential steps relative to the entire process. The display provides a global view of the status of the procedure identifying the state of substantially each criterion that needs to be satisfied to advance to the next sequential step and providing verification that substantially each command to be given upon satisfaction of the criterion, has been executed.

Abstract: A Supervisory Sequential Controller Interface (SSCI) provides for automatic and manual sequencing of the sequential steps of multiple procedures simultaneously in a complex process facility while preserving operator supervisory control over each procedure. The SSCI includes an Executive Interface which gives the operator global control over all of the procedures and a Procedure Interface which is arranged such that the operator may ascertain the relevant information about a particular procedure, including the mode (auto/manual), the current step being executed and the relevant states of plant components and parameters for the current step. Multiple Procedure Interface screens may be displayed to monitor/execute multiple procedures running simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for monitoring the operation of a nuclear power facility by generating a composite equation from a relational database which at execution time represents paper procedures. After generating the composite equation, a program stack is compiled on-line from the composite equation. Then, the program stack is executed and sensors are monitored to determine whether an emergency situation has occurred in the facility. When a determined violation has occurred, corrective actions are displayed for a plant operator to execute in order to correct the problem.

Abstract: A system for simulating human performance of a predefined procedure for operating equipment uses operator characteristics defining how human operator performance will be simulated. The operator characteristics include at least one among decision making rules, execution accuracy rules and rules defining operator response speed. The rules are weighted by a probability function having a randomized factor to produce a specified result a given percentage of the time when the simulation is repeated using the same operator characteristics. The results of the simulation are recorded and analyzed to evaluate performance of a human operator having the defined operator characteristics.

Abstract: A system for a process facility monitors the execution of a procedure in which steps are defined with associated conditions. Each condition is one of an initial condition, sequential condition or constraining condition. While constraining conditions are checked for violations during several steps, sequential conditions are checked only during an associated step. The sequential conditions may be transformed into constraining conditions for subsequent steps by setting a transform flag either prior to execution of the procedure or during execution of the procedure in response to an operator request. Once a transformable sequential condition has been met or the step associated therewith has been completed, an enable flag is set making the sequential condition a transformed condition which is checked at the same time as the predefined constraining conditions.

Abstract: A method of displaying data corresponding to a procedure is provided where all of the data required to follow the procedure is displayed together with abbreviated text corresponding to the procedure. Text and data corresponding to only a portion of the procedure is displayed at any given time. Additional information related to several consecutive steps of the procedure which appear on separate screens is displayed continuously to one side of the screen. Additional data may be selected to displayed prior to returning to the original screen.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that diagnoses plant state in conditions where plant state cannot be precisely determined from sensor signals. If a state is diagnosed with certainty an appropriate plant procedure step display is provided to the operator. If not, the steps corresponding to the likely states are displayed to the operator ranked according to the likelihood of being in that state. The operator can select a step or a time out will result in the highest likelihood step being selected. An appropriate step display is then provided to the operator. The system can also indicate to the operator the consequences of allowing that plant state to continue as well as provide recommendations concerning the currently diagnosed state.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer based system supporting plant operators in caring out nearly routine operations. The computer based system monitors available plant instrumentation signals and processes the gathered information to detect satisfaction of initial conditions to the state change. Once the state change is started, the system then compares the sequence of observed changes in the plant with a preprogrammed sequence and alerts the operators to any undesirable deviations from the preplanned sequence by providing appropriate attention grabbing displays on a system monitor. The system also continuously monitors constraining conditions and alerts the operator when the system moves toward an undesired state. The system requires no input from the operator when the operation underway is following the prescribed sequence and minimal input from the operator when a deviation is detected. The system internally and automatically tracks the evolution of plant states during the nearly routine operations.

Abstract: A display, a display method and an apparatus are disclosed which produce a summary display depicting function states using discrete state bars centered in one window of a two-window display. The other window on the summary display includes meters for the parameters along the active path of the status tree for the most relevant function as determined by the operator. Each meter indicates not only the current value of the parameter being monitored but the ranges of the different function states as they correspond to the parameter being displayed by the meter. Each meter also carries a data quality indicator. A second level display is provided which depicts the status tree with the active path highlighted allowing the operator to review the decision made by the status tree.

Abstract: A display, a display method and an apparatus are disclosed which produce a summary display depicting function states using discrete state bars centered in one window of a two-window display. The status bars represent the states of functions in a process as determined by status decision trees. The discrete states are emphasized by reference lines which indicate the state of each function. Priority among functions is indicated by vertically ranking the bars with the most important function bar appearing at the top. Each bar includes the name of the function, the state of the function and a procedure name for a procedure which can be used to solve the problem identified. The discrete function state is also indicated by the width of the bar and the bar color. On both sides of each bar, a data quality indicator can appear when the quality of the data is less than the best.

Abstract: A hybrid parallel/serial alarm management system in which sensor signals are intelligently processed to produce abnormality indication signals. The abnormality indication signals are divided into groups defined by functions of the system being monitored and are used to generate abnormality messages according to goal violation, process disturbance and process unavailability requirements for each function. Within each goal, process and support category the messages are ranked according to a predetermined local priority and chronologically within the same priority. Each function includes a spatially dedicated parallel display location which displays the highest priority portion of each category of messages associated with each function. The messages not displayed on the parallel display are displayed on a serial display unit in ranked order by category within function.

Abstract: A computer based system aids an operator in proceeding step-by-step through procedures for a complex process facility. At each step, monitored plant parameter values are used to evaluate relevant plant status and recommend action to be taken. The status and recommended action are presented to the operator on a display device together with prompts for generating appropriate responses. The step logic is carried out repetitively to provide the operator with feedback and to verify operator actions. The complete display picture including operator responses, and other plant conditions monitored in parallel with the current step, is logged for later review. An online review feature permits review of plant conditions and operator actions while the operator continues to execute the procedure. High-level textual statements of all steps of a current procedure can be reviewed and prior steps can be executed or re-executed.

Abstract: The operator of a complex process facility is aided in executing step by step procedures by a computer based system which incorporates monitored plant data and interactive plant operator responses to prompts to progress step by step through selected procedures. At each procedure step the plant status is evaluated and a recommended course of action is identified. The results are displayed on a visual display device to provide operator guidance for executing the procedure in effect. Parallel process monitoring visually alerts the user to conditions not considered by the current step of the active procedure, and where the seriousness of the other condition warrants, provides procedure-based recommendations for priority action. The system can be accessed by multiple users at separate locations for coordinated execution of a single procedure or simultaneous execution of two different procedures.