Method for a remote supervisory control system

Abstract: The apparatus has a touch panel (4), for a video display (3) controlled by an output control circuit (24), so that, when an operator touches a point on a touch panel (4), a CPU (21) causes the display to display: a representation of, and the current status of, a monitored/controlled device of the corresponding remote station; and a touch point for a control command. When the touch point for the control command is touched, the CPU (21) transmits a control command to the monitored/controlled device of the corresponding one of remote stations (11, 12...,1n) through a line interface (5). When control of the corresponding device is executed, the remote station transmits a signal indicating the operation thereof to the master station apparatus (1). On the basis of the operation indicating signal, the CPU (21) updates the content of a status memory (23), and the status indication displayed on the video display (3) through the output control circuit (24).

Description: This invention relates to a method for a remote supervisory control system for monitoring and controlling the status of a multiplicity of monitored and controlled devices, respective pluralities of which are located at respective remote stations, the control system containing a master station apparatus comprising: a video display; a touch sensitive panel means provided on the display screen of the video display; an input control means responsive to signals output by the touch-sensitive panel means for discriminating the co-ordinates of positions touched on the touch-sensitive panel means; a status memory means for storing the respective current status of each of the devices, which status is to be indicated on the display screen of the video display; pattern memory means storing data for producing on the screen displays for enabling the remote stations to be selected using the touch-sensitive panel means, for enabling the devices at the remote stations when selected to be controlled using the touch sensitive panel means, for providing status information relating to the remote stations, and for providing circuit diagrams of the remote stations each comprising symbols representing the controlled devices and a pattern representing the interconnection and arrangement thereof; display control means responsive to the input control means, the status memory means and the pattern memory means for causing the displays to be produced on the display screen; and line interface means for receiving, from each remote station, a signal signalling the respective current status of each of the controlled devices included therein, which line interface means also is operable for transmitting to each of the remote stations control command signals produced in response to signals output from the touch-sensitive panel means to change the status of respective ones of the controlled devices. Such a supervisory control system is disclosed in EP-A-0043201. The system disclosed is for the control of a complex chemical plant. The control method disclosed in that document involves utilising a multi-page index display on the screen for selecting a variety of further displays. One of the further displays comprises bar chart diagrams which graphically illustrate the conditions in various parts of the system from which it is possible to call up further bar chart diagrams which may be utilised for effecting control operations using the touch sensitive panel means. Another form of display which can be called up from the index display comprises a circuit diagram of a remote system, such diagram comprising symbols representing the controlled devices and a pattern representing the interconnection and arrangement thereof, but control operations cannot be performed utilising that diagram. A third form of display which can be called up from the index display is a multi-page alarm summary which lists both present alarm conditions and such conditions which have arisen in the past, current alarm conditions being highlighted for ease of identification. Although EP-A-0043201 recognises the need for rapid and accurate control in such a system, this object is not fully achieved because the operator must, in at least some situations, memorise the contents of one display whilst seeking or effecting control operations with the aid of another. This is particularly so when dealing with alarm conditions, in which case the operation must call up the alarm summary, locate and remember the identity of the location in the system of the alarm condition, recall the multipage index display and then call up the appropriate bar chart displays for sending control commands for dealing with the alarm. The system is thus complex and slow to operate. As already indicated EP-A-0043201 relates to a system for controlling a complex chemical process. In some systems, however, such as power stations, the control operations to be performed on controllable devices at remote stations may be simpler than the operations disclosed in EP-A-0043201 and may simply involve changing the status of a device from one to another of two possible states. In such systems there is a need for a much simpler control method than that controlled in EP-A-0043201. Proposals for control of such simpler systems have been made in a number of other prior documents, in particular: DE 3231042A1, published in 1983; an article by D.M. Usher entitled "Comparison of a touch sensitive VDU and computer-aided key-pad for plant control" in the journal "Displays", vol. 4, No. 3, July 1983, pages 157-161; an article by Eichner et al entitled "Eldas-komfortable Bedienungseinrichtung fur Leitstellen" published in Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift E.T.Z. 107(1986) Febr., No. 3,Berlin, pages 118-122; and an advertisement published on page 881 of Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift E.T.Z. 106 (1985) Sept., No. 17, Berlin. In DE 3231042A1 the master station apparatus for a remote supervisory control system has a control panel formed by fixed hardware with a general video display and a general card reader, and selection cards corresponding to respective devices are previously prepared for remote supervisory control so that an operator can insert a card in the card reader and confirm the selection of the device by the video display, thereby to control the device. In this master station apparatus for a remote supervisory control system, however, the operator must pick up a card for selecting the corresponding device to insert the same in the card reader for every control operation, leading to complicatedness in handling. No provision is made in the system of DE 3231042 A1 for the rapid and accurate identification of devices whose status has changed automatically. The system proposed in the article by D.M. Usher utilises a touch screen video display in which a circuit diagram having symbols representing the controlled devices and a pattern representing the interconnection and arrangement thereof can be displayed and control effected by touching those symbols, the status of the controlled devices being indicated at the position of the respective symbols. The Usher article does not consider the question of controlling and monitoring a system comprising a number of remote stations each of which would be represented by a respective different circuit diagram to be displayed. Whilst it might be that such circuit diagrams are called up by an index, for example, as disclosed in EP-A-0043201, this would not enable rapid and accurate identification of devices whose status had changed automatically. The article by Eichner describes a system in which a large scale touch tablet carries a fixed circuit diagram showing all of the devices to be controlled and one or more VDU's is provided for providing status information. The operator selects a device to be controlled by touching the symbol of that device on the touch tablet, in response a display of the portion of the circuit diagram containing the selected device appears on the VDU or VDU's together with highlighting indicating the selected device and status information, and control operations are effected by touching predefined portions of the touch tablet. No consideration is given to the rapid identification of devices whose status has changed automatically. The advertisement in E.T.Z. 106 (1985) discloses a control panel formed by a mosaic system and displaying a circuit diagram with symbols such as switches. In this system microswitches, including coloured LEDs are suggested such that the operator: selects and controls a device by touching the symbol of that device on the control panel at the desired point of the circuit diagram. Feedback status information is provided by the LEDs. However the mosaic system is not a fixed hardware system, and the control panel must be modified according to the modification of the actual power system. The object of the invention is to provide a simple method for achieving rapid and error free control and rapid and accurate identification of controlled devices whose status has changed automatically, and that with a fixed hardware system. This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that: (a) each remote station circuit diagram when displayed indicates the status of each controlled device in the corresponding remote station at the position of the symbol corresponding thereto and permits each controlled device to be selected, for the transmission thereto of a control command signal to change the status thereof, by touching the symbol corresponding to the controlled device; (b) data stored in the pattern memory means and the display control means are arranged, for enabling selection of each remote station circuit diagram, to produce on the screen an overview diagram comprising a plurality of symbols each of which represents a respective different one of the remote stations, touching of a symbol representing a remote station causing display of the circuit diagram of the remote station; and (c) the display control means is operable in response to receipt of a signal indicating an automatic change of status of a controlled device: (i) if the circuit diagram of a remote station different from that containing the controlled device whose status has automatically changed is currently being displayed, to change the display to the overview diagram and to flash the symbol therein representing the remote station containing the device whose status has automatically changed; (ii) if the overview diagram is currently being displayed, to flash the symbol therein representing the remote station containing the device whose status has automatically changed; and (iii) if the circuit diagram of the remote station containing the controlled device whose status has automatically changed is currently being displayed or is displayed as a result of selection thereof by touching the corresponding symbol in the overview diagram to flash the symbol in the circuit diagram representing the controlled device whose status has automatically changed. Preferably, in this method data stored in the pattern memory means (22) and the display control means (24) are arranged to produce in the overview diagram a pattern interconnecting the symbols representing the remote stations to represent the interconnection and arrangement of the remote stations. The present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a remote supervisory control system containing a master station for performing the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the structure of a line interface as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates an overview diagram including poke points for selecting remote stations on the video display of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary structure of a touch panel; Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a remote station circuit diagram displayed on the video display of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 illustrates another example of a remote station circuit diagram displayed on the video display of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7A and 7B are flow charts illustrating an example of the method of the present invention. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be detailed. The following description is given by way of example only. Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a master station apparatus 1 is connected with remote stations 11, 12, . ., 1n (where n is the total number of the remote stations) through transmission lines L₁, L₂, ..., L n . The remote stations 11, 12, ..., 1n are connected with monitored/controlled devices 111, ..., 11m(1), 121, ..., 12m(2), ..., 1n1, ., 1nm(n) respectively, where m(n) is the total number of the controlled apparatuses in the n-th remote station. The master station apparatus 1 includes a control circuit 2, a video display 3 and a touch panel 4. The control circuit 2 includes a CPU 21, a pattern memory 22, a status memory 23, an output control circuit 24, an input control circuit 25, a line interface 5 and an alarm circuit 27, which are connected with each other through a data bus 26. The pattern memory 22 is adapted to store symbols of the respective remote stations 11,12,..., 1n and pattern data indicating connection or arrangement of the controlled devices 111, .., 11m(1) , 121, ..., 12m(2), ..., 1n1, ..., 1nm(n) displayed on the video display 3. The status memory 23 is adapted to continuously update and store the content thereof in response to the status of the respective monitored/controlled devices 111, ..., 11m(1), 121, ..., 12m(2), ..., 1n1, ..., 1nm(n) and telemeters. The output control circuit 24 controls the display on the video display 3. The input control circuit 25 analyzes coordinate input signals of positions touched by an operator on the touch panel 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the line interface 5 includes a microprocessor 6, a bus interface 7, line buffers 81, 82, ..., 8n and modems 91, 92, ..., 9n. The modems 91, 92, ..., 9n are connected with the transmission lines L₁, L₂, ..., L n . These modems 91, 92, ..., 9n are adapted to perform frequency shift modulation (for example) of control command signals against noise and for convenience of transmission to transmit the same to the respective remote stations 11, 12, ..., 1n while demodulating codes transmitted from the respective remote stations 11, 12, ..., 1n to rectangular pulses. The line buffers 81, 82, ..., 8n convert bit parallel codes supplied from the microprocessor 6 into bit serial codes and add error checking codes to supply the same to the modems 91, 92, ..., 9n while converting bit serial codes transmitted from the respective remote stations 11, 12, ..., 1n through the modems 91, 92, ..., 9n into bit parallel codes while performing code error checking. The bus interface 7 is adapted to transfer data between the microprocessor 6 and the CPU 21 included in the control circuit 2 through the data bus 26. Description is now briefly made on the operation of the line interface 5. Signals from the respective remote stations 11, 12, ..., 1n are transmitted to the master station 1 through the transmission lines L₁, L₂, ..., L n , to reach the modems 91, 92, ..., 9n of the line interface 5. The modems 91, 92, ..., 9n demodulate the received signals to rectangular pulses, to supply the same to corresponding ones of the line buffers 81, 82, ..., 8n respectively. The line buffers 81, 82, ..., 8n convert bit serial codes of the inputted rectangular pulses into bit parallel codes while checking code errors, to supply interruption signals to the microprocessor 6 upon receiving correct codes. The microprocessor 6 reads the received codes from the line buffers providing the interruption signals, to supply the same to the bus interface 7. The bus interface 7 receiving the codes supplies interruption signals to the CPU 21 through the data bus 26. Upon the receipt of the interruption signals, the CPU 21 receives the codes from the bus interface 7 through the data bus 26 to update the contents of the status memory 23. The data may be directly transmitted from the bus interface 7 to the status memory 23 in case that a direct memory access system is adopted. In order to supply a control command to one of the remote stations 11, 12, ..., 1n, the CPU 21 provides the bus interface 7 with the control content and the number of the target remote station through the data bus 26. Then the bus interface 7 supplies an interruption signal to the microprocessor 6. Receiving the interruption signal, the microprocessor 6 reads the content inputted in the bus interface 7, to supply a code indicating the control content to one of the line buffers 81, 82, ..., 8n on the basis of the number of the target remote station. The line buffer supplied with the code converts the same from a bit parallel one into a bit serial one while adding an error checking code, and supplies the same to the corresponding one of the modems, which in turn performs frequency shift modulation of the code to transmit the same to the target remote station through the corresponding transmission line. The touch panel 4 is a transparent panel which is mounted in proximity to or in close contact with the front surface of the video display 3, so that the position coordinates of a part touched by the operator are supplied to the input control circuit 25 in the control circuit 2. Referring to Fig. 4, description is now made on the exemplary structure of the touch panel 4. A base plate BP of a transparent insulator such as glass is provided thereon with a plurality of transparent conductors H n , H n+1 , ... in the horizontal direction and a plurality of transparent conductors V m , V m+1 , ... in the vertical direction, in the form of a matrix. Transparent insulators I are provided in intersection points between the conductors H n , H n+1 , ..., and V m , V m+1 , ... . Electrodes h n , h n+1 , ... and v m , v m+1 , ... are mounted on edges of the conductors H n , H n+1 , ... and V m , V m+1 , ... . The electrodes h n , h n+1 , ... are externally provided with sequential control voltage to perform scanning for checking voltage developed on the electrodes v m , v m+1 , ... so that a potential is caused by contact resistance through finger touch to enable detection of the coordinates of the touched position by scanning timing, although the electrodes are normally not in conduction. The video display 3 may be formed by a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, a projection type television display or the like. The video display 3 displays poke points for selecting the remote stations as shown in Fig. 3 so that, when the operator touches the poke point NORTH S/S for example, the touch panel 4 inputs the coordinates of the position displaying the poke point NORTH S/S in the input control circuit 25. The CPU 21 confirms selection of NORTH S/S from the position coordinates detected by the input control circuit 25 to read the pattern data of connection or arrangement of NORTH S/S from the pattern memory 22 and supply the same to the output control circuit 24, while reading the current status of the controlled devices of NORTH S/S from the status memory 23 to supply the same to the output control circuit 24. The output control circuit 24 displays the connection or arrangement of NORTH S/S superposing the status of the controlled devices (e.g., red in closed status and green in open status) on the video display 3. Fig. 5 illustrates examples of a remote station diagram and device status displayed on the video display 3 as shown in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 5, symbols 52R1 and 52R2 indicate receiving breakers, symbols 52P1 and 52P2 indicate transformer primary breakers, symbols 52S1 and 52S2 indicate transformer secondary breakers, symbol 52T indicates a bus tie breaker and symbols 52F1, 52F2, ..., 52F6 indicate feeder breakers. The symbols are displayed in red when the corresponding devices are in closed status while being displayed in green when the same are in open status. Poke points OP and CL are adapted to supply commands for switch control as hereinafter described, and a reset poke point RS is adapted to regularly return the display to the poke points for selecting the remote stations. The preferred method of operation will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, 7A, 7B and 7C. At a step SP1, the CPU 21 determines whether or not an interruption signal is supplied from the input control circuit 25. If no interruption signal is supplied from the input control circuit 25, the process is advanced to a step SP2, to determine whether or not an interruption indicating some change of status is transmitted from any of the remote stations 11, 12, ..., ln to the line interface 5. When no such code indicating status change is received, the process is returned to the step SP1. When neither the input control circuit 25 nor the line interface 5 outputs an interruption signal, the CPU 21 repeats the operation of the steps SP1 and SP2. When the video display 3 displays the poke points as shown in Fig. 3 and the operator touches a position of the touch panel 4, the input control circuit 25 discriminates the input coordinates of the touched position to supply the discrimination output to the CPU 21 with an interruption signal. The CPU 21 judges that the interruption signal is supplied from the input control circuit 25 at the step SP1, and the process is advanced to a step SP3. At the step SP3, a check is made as to whether or not the image displayed on the video display 3 through the output control circuit 24 is that of the poke points for selecting the remote stations. This check is made referring to the memory of a command precedingly supplied from the CPU 21 to the output control circuit 24. When the CPU 21 has confirmed at the step SP3 that the poke points for selecting the remote stations as shown in Fig. 3 are displayed, the process is advanced to a step SP4. At the step SP4, the CPU 21 discriminates the selected remote station from the coordinates of the position touched by the operator on the touch panel 4 on the basis of the output from the input control circuit 25, and stores the selection of the remote station in a memory (not shown) within the CPU 21. At a step SP5, the CPU 21 supplies pattern data on connection or arrangement of the remote station stored in the pattern memory 22 to the output control circuit 24, to display the pattern data on the video display 3. At a step SP6, the CPU 21 provides the status of the corresponding devices of the remote station stored in the status memory 23, to display the status of the devices in superposed on the pattern display of the connection or arrangement of the remote station displayed on the video display 3 at the step SP4. Then, at a step SP7, the CPU 21 makes a check on presence/non-presence of registration for automatic status change of the controlled devices. Such registration is made when automatic status change of the controlled devices is caused as hereinafter described. Since no such registration is present in this case, the process is returned to the step SP1. As the result of the aforementioned operation, the video display 3 displays the pattern data on connection or arrangement of the selected remote station and the status of the monitored/controlled devices corresponding to the remote station. The display picture when the remote station NORTH S/S is selected, for example, is as shown in Fig. 5. When, for example, the operator touches the device symbol of the receiving breaker 52R1 as shown in Fig. 5, a corresponding position coordinate signal is inputted from the touch panel 4 to the input control circuit 25, which in turn discriminates the position coordinates to supply a discrimination output signal to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 responsively judges that the output signal is supplied from the input control circuit 25 at the step SP1, and the process is advanced to the step SP3. At the step SP3, the CPU 21 judges that the pattern of connection or arrangement of the remote station is already displayed, and the process is advanced to a step SP9. At the step SP9, the CPU 21 judges that the operator touches the device symbol 52R1, and the process is advanced to a step SP10. At the step SP10, a check is made as to whether or not registration of automatic status change of the device is made, similarly to the aforementioned step SP7. Since no automatic status change currently takes place, the process is advanced to a step SP13, at which the CPU 21 discriminates the selected device 52R1 from the position coordinates of the inputted device symbol, and registers the selection of the device 52R1 in the memory within the CPU 21. At a step SP14, the CPU 21 supplies a command signal to the output control circuit 24 for flashing the corresponding device symbol in order to inform the operator that the selection is registered. Then the process is again returned to the step SP1. Then, when the operator touches the poke point CL as shown in Fig. 5, the CPU 21 executes the processing of the steps SP1, SP3 and SP9 similarly to the above, while the same judges that the operator touches no device symbol at the step SP9, and the process is advanced to a step SP15 as shown in Fig. 7. At the step SP15, the CPU 21 judges that the operator touches the poke point CL, and the process is advanced to a step SP16. At the step SP16, the CPU 21 supplies the line interface 5 with a control command for closing the corresponding device of the registered remote station. The line interface 5 transmits the control command signal to the corresponding remote station. Then the process is advanced to a step SP17, at which the CPU 21 flashes the control poke point, i.e., the poke point CL in this case, to inform the operator of that the control command is transmitted to the remote station. Then the process is again returned to the step SP1, so that the CPU 21 repeats the operation of the steps SP1 and SP2. When the control command is transmitted to the corresponding remote station and the monitored/controlled device responds to the control command, the result is transmitted as a status change signal from the remote station to the master station 1, so that the line interface 5 receives the status change signal. Receiving the status change signal, the line interface 5 supplies an interruption signal to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 responsively judges that the interruption signal is supplied at the step SP2, and the process is advanced to a steps SP20 as shown in Fig. 7C. At the step SP20, the CPU 21 supplies the status change signal received by the line interface 5 to the status memory 23, to update its content. Then the process is advanced to a step SP21. Since the target monitored/controlled device is currently under selection, the process is further advanced to a step SP22, at which the CPU 21 supplies the updated content of the status memory 23 to the output control circuit 24. At a step SP23, the CPU 21 stops flashing of the corresponding device symbol 52R1 and the control poke point CL. The selection of the remote station and the monitored/controlled device, control of the device and the result of the responsive operation thereof are confirmed by such operation. The CPU 21 is again returned to its initial state, to repeat the operation of the steps SP1 and SP2. When the operator confirms the responsive operation of the monitored/controlled device and touches the reset poke point RS as shown in Fig. 5, the process is advanced to the steps SP1, SP3, SP9 and SP15, at which the CPU 21 judges that the poke points CL and OP are not touched and the process is advanced to a step SP18. At the step SP18, the CPU 21 cancels the registration of selection of the remote station and the monitored/controlled device. Then the CPU 21 reads data for displaying the image of the poke points for selecting the remote stations from the pattern memory 22 at a step SP19, to supply the data to the output control circuit 24 for making the video display 3 display the image of the poke points for selecting the remote stations. Then the CPU 21 is returned to its initial state. The aforementioned operation is adapted to select and control a target device of a remote station. Description is now made on the case where automatic status change has occurred in a remote station. The CPU 21 generally repeats the operation of the steps SP1 and SP2. When status change has occurred in a remote station and an automatic status change signal is transmitted to the master station 1, the line interface 5 receives the automatic status change signal and the CPU 21 judges that an interruption signal is supplied from the line interface 5 at the step SP2, and the process is advanced to the step SP20 as shown in Fig. 7C. At the step SP20, the CPU 21 supplies the content received by the line interface 5 to the status memory 23, to update its content. Then the process is advanced to the step SP21 to check whether or not registration of device selection is made. When the result of the check is "No," the process is advanced to a step SP24. At the step SP24, the CPU 21 registers the situation that the status change of the corresponding monitored/controlled device occurred without a control command from the master station 1, i.e., that the device status is automatically changed in the memory of the CPU 21. Then the process is advanced to a step SP25 to check whether or not the pattern of connection or arrangement of the corresponding remote station is currently displayed. When the pattern of the corresponding remote station is displayed by chance, the process is advanced to a step SP26. At the step SP26, the CPU 21 supplies the output control circuit 24 with data indicating a new status stored in the status memory 23, and then the process is advanced to a step SP27, to supply the output control circuit 24 with a command for flashing the symbol of the corresponding device. However, such automatic status change of the monitored/controlled device rather rarely take place in the remote station whose pattern of connection or arrangement is currently displayed. In this case, the result of the check at the step 25 is "No," and the process is advanced to a step SP28. At the step SP28, the CPU 21 checks whether or not another remote station is displayed, and when no such display is made, i.e., when the poke points for selecting the remote stations are displayed, the process is advanced to a step SP30. At the step SP30, the CPU 21 flashes the poke point of the remote station causing the automatic status change. If another remote station is displayed by chance, the process is advanced to a step SP29, at which corresponding data are read from the pattern memory 22 to be supplied to the output control circuit 24 in order to display the poke points for selecting the remote stations on the video display 3, and then the process is advanced to the step SP30. At the step SP30, the poke points for selecting the remote stations are flashed and a sound is generated from the alarm circuit 27 at this time. Then CPU 21 is returned to its initial state. The process is again returned to the step SP1 in the aforementioned manner, and in this exemplary case, the video display 3 displays the poke points for selecting the remote stations as shown in Fig. 3 and the poke point for NORTH S/S having the automatic status change is flashed. When the operator touches the flashed poke point NORTH S/S, an interruption signal is supplied from the input control circuit 25 to the CPU 21, which in turn discriminates the interruption signal at the step SP1, and the process is advanced to the step SP3. At the step SP3, the CPU 21 judges that the remote station selecting poke points are displayed, and the process is advanced to the steps SP4, SP5 and SP6. At the steps SP4, SP5 and SP6, the CPU 21 registers the remote station selection and reads pattern data from the area of the corresponding remote station in the pattern memory 22 to supply the same to the output control circuit 24. The CPU 21 further reads data indicating the status of the corresponding monitored/controlled device from the status memory 23 to supply the same to the output control circuit 24. Then the process is advanced to the step SP7, at which the CPU 21 judges that the automatic status change is registered through the step SP24 as hereinabove described with reference to Fig. 7C, and the process is advanced to the step SP8 where the CPU 21 supplies the output control circuit 24 with a command signal for flashing the symbol of the corresponding device. Through the aforementioned operation, the video display 3 displays the pattern of connection or arrangement of the remote station having the automatic status change as shown in Fig. 5 for example, to flash the symbol of the corresponding monitored/controlled device. If, for example, the circuit breaker 52R2 in NORTH S/S has tripped, the symbol 52R2 in Fig. 5 will be changed to green display with flashing to indicate the switched status. When the operator touches the flashed symbol 52R2, the CPU 21 discriminates an interruption signal from the input control circuit 25 at the step SP1 as shown in Fig. 7A and performs the operation of the steps SP3 and SP9, and the process is advanced to the step SP10. At the step SP10, the CPU 21 judges that the automatic status change is registered, and then cancels the registration of the automatic status change at the step SP11. Then the CPU 21 supplies the output control circuit 25 with a command signal to stop flashing of the symbol of the corresponding monitored/controlled device at the step SP12. The operator completes confirmation of the automatic status change of the corresponding monitored/controlled device 52R2 by the stoppage of flashing of the symbol. When the operator touches the reset poke point RS as shown in Fig. 5, the CPU 21 executes the operation of the steps SP1, SP3 and SP9 and the process is advanced to the step SP15. At the step SP15, the CPU 21 judges that the poke points CL and OP are not touched, and cancels registration of remote station selection at the step SP18. The CPU 21 further reads data for displaying the remote station selecting poke points from the pattern memory 22 to supply the same to the output control circuit 24 for display on the video display 3, and is returned to its normal state. A dedicated poke point may be independently provided to commonly confirm status change with respect to all of the controlled devices displayed on the screen to stop flashing thereof. Although a control command is immediately transmitted to the corresponding device of the corresponding remote station when the operator touches the poke point CL or OP for switch control as above, it is also possible to execute control operation to be performed upon confirmation thereof in consideration of importance of the control operation. This will be described below. The structure of Fig. 6 is different from that of Fig. 5 in that a poke point EX for indicating execution is provided under switch control poke points CL and OP. Further, no control code is transmitted immediately upon touch on the switch control poke point CL or OP but the poke point CL or OP is flashed to confirm control operation, and then the execution command poke point EX is touched to transmit a control command signal for the confirmed control operation. Although, in the apparatus described, selection of the remote station and the device is confirmed only through the control circuit 2 of the master station 1, it is possible instead to transmit a selection code to the corresponding remote station and confirm selection by an answer-back code. The switch control can be expanded to include control of halfway operation stoppage, such as voltage increase/decrease etc., as a matter of course. In this case, a third poke point SP (stop) may be added in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, and the telemetering of the voltage etc. may be added for the reference of the operations.

Claims: A method for a remote supervisory control system for monitoring and controlling the status of a multiplicity of monitored and controlled devices (111 to 1nm(n)), respective pluralities (111 to 11m(1), 121 to 12m(2),...,1n1 to 1nm(n)) of which are located at respective remote stations (11,12,...,1n), said system containing a master station comprising: a video display (3); a touch sensitive panel means (4) provided on the display screen of said video display (3); an input control means (25) responsive to signals output by said touch-sensitive panel means (4) for discriminating the co-ordinates of positions touched on the touch-sensitive panel means (4); a status memory means (23) for storing the respective current status of each of said devices (111 to 1nm(n)), which status is to be indicated on the display screen of said video display (3); pattern memory means (22) storing data for producing on said screen displays for enabling said remote stations (11 to 1n) to be selected using said touch-sensitive panel means (4), for enabling said devices at said remote stations when selected to be controlled using said touch sensitive panel means, for providing status information relating to said remote stations, and for providing circuit diagrams (Fig. 5 or 6) of said remote stations each comprising symbols representing said controlled devices and a pattern representing the interconnection and arrangement thereof; display control means (24) responsive to said input control means (25), said status memory means (23) and said pattern memory means (22) for causing said displays to be produced on said display screen; and line interface means (5) for receiving, from each remote station (11 to 1n), a signal signalling the respective current status of each of said controlled devices included therein, which line interface means (5) also is operable for transmitting to each of said remote stations control command signals produced in response to signals output from said touch-sensitive panel means (4) to change the status of respective ones of said controlled devices (111 to 1nm(n)); such method being characterised in that: (a) each said remote station circuit diagram (Fig. 5 or 6) when displayed indicates the status of each said controlled device in the corresponding remote station at the position of the symbol corresponding thereto and permits each said controlled device to be selected, for the transmission thereto of a said control command signal to change the status thereof, by touching the symbol corresponding to said controlled device; (b) said data stored in said pattern memory means and said display control means (24) are arranged, for enabling selection of each said remote station circuit diagram (Fig. 5 or 6), to produce on said screen an overview diagram (Fig. 3) comprising a plurality of symbols each of which represents a respective different one of said remote stations, touching of a said symbol representing a remote station causing display of the circuit diagram (Fig. 5 or 6) of said remote station; and (c) said display control means is operable in response to receipt of a signal indicating an automatic change of status of a said controlled device: (i) if the circuit diagram (Fig. 5 or 6) of a remote station different from that containing the controlled device whose status has automatically changed is currently being displayed, to change the display to said overview diagram (Fig. 3) and to flash the symbol therein representing the remote station containing the device whose status has automatically changed; (ii) if said overview diagram (Fig. 3) is currently being displayed, to flash the symbol therein representing the remote station containing the device whose status has automatically changed; and (iii) if the circuit diagram (Fig. 5 or 6) of the remote station containing the controlled device whose status has automatically changed is currently being displayed or is displayed as a result of selection thereof by touching the corresponding symbol in the overview diagram (Fig. 3), to flash the symbol in said circuit diagram (Fig. 5 or 6) representing the controlled device whose status has automatically changed. A method according to claim 1, wherein said data stored in said pattern memory means (22) and said display control means (24) are arranged to produce in said overview diagram (Fig. 3) a pattern interconnecting the symbols representing said remote stations to represent the interconnection and arrangement of the remote stations.

Inventors: YAMANAKA TORAO MITSUBISHI DENK, YAMANAKA, TORAO MITSUBISHI DENKI K.K. SEIGYO
Applicants: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP, MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: H02J13
IPC codes: H04Q9, H02J13