Patent Number: 052531864
Section: claims

1. A method of monitoring operation of a process facility, comprising the steps of: (a) storing in machine readable form a procedure defining steps for operating the process facility with conditions associated with the steps, each of the conditions defined as one of initial conditions, sequential conditions and constraining conditions;  (b) automatically monitoring execution of each of the steps of the procedure by comparing sensor readings in the process facility with the sequential conditions corresponding to an associated step and displaying, during execution of the associated step, indications of whether the sequential conditions are met;  (c) automatically comparing the sensor readings in the process facility with the constraining conditions during execution of the steps in the procedure and generating first warning indications for any violated constraining conditions; and  (d) automatically comparing the sensor readings with transformed conditions, selected from among the sequential conditions, during the steps following the associated step corresponding to each of the transformed conditions and generating second warning indications for any violated transformed conditions.  wherein said storing in step (a) includes storing predefined transform flags prior to execution of the procedure, the predefined transform flags associated with the sequential conditions previously determined to become the transformed conditions, and  wherein said comparing in step (d) includes selecting the transformed conditions in dependence upon the predefined transform flags.  further comprising the step of (e) adding a temporary transform flag during execution of the procedure for a corresponding sequential condition, in dependence upon an operator request, and  wherein said comparing in step (d) includes selecting the transformed conditions in dependence upon both the predefined and temporary transform flags.  further comprising the step of (f) displaying a menu permitting addition of the temporary transform flag for any of the sequential conditions associated with a currently executing step of the procedure, in response to a menu request from an operator, and  wherein said adding in step (e) comprises receiving a selection indication from the operator to indicate the corresponding sequential condition for the temporary transform flag to be added.  further comprising the step of (e) setting, in dependence upon an operator request, a transform flag during execution of the procedure for each of the sequential conditions designated to become one of the transformed conditions, and  wherein said comparing in step (d) includes selecting the transformed conditions in dependence upon whether the transform flag, corresponding to each of the sequential conditions, is set.  means for storing in machine readable form a procedure defining steps for operating the process facility with conditions associated with the steps, each of the conditions defined as one of initial conditions, sequential conditions and constraining conditions;  means for monitoring execution of each of the steps of the procedure by comparing sensor readings in the process facility with the sequential conditions corresponding to an associated step and displaying during execution of the associated step indications of whether the sequential conditions are met;  first comparison means for comparing the sensor readings in the process facility with the constraining conditions during execution of the steps in the procedure and generating first warning indications for any violated constraining conditions; and  second comparison means for comparing the sensor readings with transformed conditions, selected from among the sequential conditions, during the steps following the associated step corresponding to each of the transformed conditions and generating second warning indications for any violated transformed conditions.  further comprising means for setting, in dependence upon an operator request, a transform flag during execution of the procedure for each of the sequential conditions designated to become one of the transformed conditions, and  wherein said second comparison means includes means for selecting the transformed conditions in dependence upon whether the transform flag, corresponding to each of the sequential conditions, is set.  further comprising means for displaying a menu permitting addition of the transform flag for any of the sequential conditions associated with a currently executing step of the procedure, in response to a menu request from an operator, and  wherein said setting means comprises means for receiving a selection indication from the operator to indicate setting of the transform flag for one of the sequential conditions. 2. A method as recited in claim 1, 3. A method as recited in claim 2, 4. A method as recited in claim 3, 5. A method as recited in claim 1, 6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said comparing in step (d) includes selecting each of the transformed conditions only after completion of a corresponding step associated therewith, regardless of whether each of the transformed conditions is met by the completion of the corresponding step. 7. An apparatus for monitoring operation of a process facility, comprising: 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8,