Patent ID: 6289299
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
A method of computer generation of an interactive virtual reality world for monitoring, controlling, and simulating a process, comprising:constructing a first group of one or more related screen displays associated with the operation of a process, which screen displays, called raw data views, are analog representations or alphanumeric equivalents of outputs from at least two signal interfaces of equipment or of variables in the process that is to be monitored, controlled, and simulated;constructing a second group of one or more related screen displays associated with the operation of a process, which screen displays, called derived views, include graphical representations, called output objects, of one or more processing variables or of one or more units of processing equipment in the process that is to be monitored, controlled, and simulated, which output objects are derived from outputs from analog or digital signal output, or from analog or digital sensor interfaces of equipment or of variables in the process that is to be monitored, controlled, and simulated;constructing in the derived views one or more graphical representations, called input objects, of controllable elements in the process that is to be monitored, controlled, and simulated, which input objects include graphical representations of adjustable parameters, called control elements, associated with an analog or digital signal input interface of a controllable element of a unit of equipment or of a computational module in the process that is to be monitored, controlled, and simulated;interfacing the input objects, including the control elements thereof, with the corresponding inputs of signal interfaces of equipment or of variables in the process that is to be monitored, controlled, and simulated so that changing the control elements through manipulation by mouse, keyboard command, or by other input device associated with the computer displaying a derived view, a value or state of a control element in an input object causes a corresponding change in the analog or digital signal presented at the corresponding signal input interface of a unit of equipment or of a computational module in the process that is to be monitored, controlled, and simulated;controlling a unit of equipment or a computational module in the process through manipulation of the control elements; andinterfacing through communications circuits or network one or more interactive virtual worlds with a user of the one or more interactive virtual worlds.