Patent Publication Number: US-2013254686-A1

Title: Auto-generation of user interface by mobile terminal and equipment control system using same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0014396, filed on Feb. 18, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A control system which controls most of the industrial equipment is operated by a central operation center for effective management, so the system is operated by communicating with central operation center using a mobile communications device when it is necessary to inspect or operate for the equipments in the field. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A mobile device with multi media interface (MMI) may be operated, however, a portable laptop is used more often since hardware usage environment differs depending on MMI and the system is heavy. 
     Various MMI which may be operated in WEB based small terminal environment are developed, however there is inconvenience of using exclusive tool for development in PC based environment to optimize according to the individual equipment and load in the mobile terminal, and of judging the matching relation between the individual equipment on the field and the equipment on the screen. 
     To compensate this weakness, it is needed to develop a device in which equipment may be operated easily by providing information needed for supervisory control from an individual controller, a control panel, or a lower measuring instrument to the mobile terminal, and by the mobile terminal using this information to automatically generate user interface. 
     In addition, there is an urgent task of developing an application program which may be operated economically without a separate additional hardware by utilizing Smartphone which is commonly used due to the convenience of providing various services such as location based service, or video. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical problem 
     The purpose of the present invention for solving the mentioned problem is to invent a controller with supervisory control information and a communication unit for communication with a mobile terminal, and to construct a service control system for automatically generating a user interface by receiving the supervisory control information from the mobile terminal. 
     In addition, the purpose is to construct an equipment control system with control equipment information terminal in which RFID, BARCODE, QRCODE etc are embodied to generate a user interface among a detection unit of an end of an equipment terminal, final drive equipment and an existed controller as well as the equipment controller. 
     Technical Solution 
     To solve the problem, the equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention include: an equipment controller for controlling various equipments; a control equipment information terminal attached an end measuring instrument driven by an input and output device of the equipment controller; at least one mobile terminal for reading information outputted from the equipment controller or the control equipment information terminal and commanding to inspect or operate a corresponding equipment using a user interface; and a contact server for providing an UI component for the user interface to the mobile terminal depending on information for various protocols and standard UI component, and unique characteristics of the mobile terminal. 
     In addition, the equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal include a control information module for managing a unique identifier for the mobile terminal and the user interface, a code of the standard UI component displayed on the mobile device, a coordinate for displaying the location, a name of the equipment, and an address for controlling a control target equipment; and a communication unit for communicating with the mobile terminal. 
     The communication unit includes a module for supporting WiFi, CDMA, Bluetooth, or Zigbee for performing the user interface of the mobile terminal. 
     The control equipment information terminal further includes RFID or BARCODE, or QRCODE having information for accessing to the equipment controller or/and the equipment controller which is already established. 
     Each control equipment information terminal includes a unique identifier for performing user interface with the mobile terminal, a code of the standard UI component displayed on the mobile device, a coordinate for displaying the location, a name of the equipment, a control information module for managing an address for controlling a control target equipment; and a communication unit for communicating with the mobile terminal. 
     The control information module includes at least one control item information where item information of a plurality of the control target equipment. 
     The control item information includes: a UI standard information for performing an identification function in which the control point for the control target equipment is displayed in some form of the user interface (UI) on the mobile terminal; a common UI information comprising a information value in which all user interface component commonly have regardless of the user interface standard information; a individual UI information for displaying each information to be displayed the control target equipment with other user interface type depending on a classification of the UI standard information; and a control point access information for reading a present value as an address for accessing to each control point of the control target equipment and displaying on the user interface, and forwarding an input information of the user interface of a operator as a control command. 
     The mobile terminal includes a set of the standard component (UI Component) including control properties for the automatic generation of the user interfaces, and a basic template for arranging the set; and reads control information outputted from the equipment controller or the control equipment information terminal, arranges the corresponding standard component onto the basic template according to an order of the standard component after reading the control information of the equipment controller or the control equipment information terminal, and then performs monitoring control for the control target equipment using the arranged a screen of the basic template. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the composition of the present invention, the equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal may perform effective equipment operation since information may be read by using a mobile terminal from a control unit attached with a controller having certain information for performing supervisory control and with medium (RFID, BARCODE, QRCODE) obtained by noncontact service by storing certain information and since a user interface may be automatically generated on the mobile terminal. 
     In addition, additional equipment for equipment inspection and operation is not needed. It is economical since daily, regular business may be perform with common mobile terminal (Smartphone), and also ripple effect is great since the invention may be used by integrating with equipment history, patrol, or location based services. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an equipment controller shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a control information module of an equipment controller shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a control equipment information terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an internal block diagram of a mobile terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a data flow chart of an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary screen displayed on a mobile terminal of an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     
         
           100 : PC for integrated supervisory control,  200 : A contact service server 
           300 : Control equipment information terminal,  301 ,  355 : A unique identifier 
           302 ,  356 : A control information module,  350 : An equipment controller 
           351 : An input and output device,  352 : A central processing unit 
           353 : A communication unit,  354 : A memory unit 
           356   a : Control item information,  356   b : UI standard information 
           356   c : Common UI information,  356   d : Individual UI information 
           356   e : Control point access information,  400 : A mobile terminal 
           401 : UI standard module,  402 : supplementary service interlocking module 
           410 : A control information storage module,  411 : A user designating module 
           412 : A communication module,  420 : A screen display control 
       
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, the structure, the operations and the effects of an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal includes a PC for integrated supervisory control  100 , a contact service server  200 , a control equipment information terminal  300 , an equipment controller  350 , and a mobile terminal  400 . 
     The PC for integrated supervisory control  100  may configure a whole network for operating equipment by conventional equipment operation method in the PC for integrated supervisory control and may configure the equipment in a form of remotely operated. 
     The contact service server  200  is a server providing different protocol and UI component type depending on various types of the mobile terminal  400  and the equipment controller  350 . 
     The mobile terminal  400  is configured to be used after accessing to the contact service server  200 , then downloading and installing the corresponding information when using for the first time. 
     The mobile terminal  400  may upgrade new function by accessing to the contact service server  200 , even if it is not the first time, when there is no function which the equipment controller  350  or the control equipment information terminal  300  requires. 
     The control equipment information terminal  300  is detected and operated by an input and output device of the equipment controller  350  and is attached in the end measuring instrument or the equipment. 
     The control equipment information terminal  300  includes RFID, BARCODE or QRCODE having information for accessing to the conventional equipment data and the controller to be used not only when the equipment controller  350  is constructed but also in existing regular controller. The control equipment information terminal further includes information in the same form of the control information module of the memory unit which is built in the equipment controller  350 . 
     The equipment controller  350  networks with the PC for integrated supervisory control, includes a wireless communication module (WiFi, CDMA, Bluetooth, or Zigbee) for wireless communication with a mobile terminal  400 , and includes a control information module having unique identifier information for interface with a mobile terminal  400  and the corresponding equipment information for monitoring the corresponding equipment. The mobile terminal  400  includes the UI information (UI executing after downloading from the contact service server  200 ), an equipment controller  350 , and a wireless device for wireless access (WiFi, CDMA, Bluetooth, or Zigbee). 
     This system (the equipment controller  350  and the control equipment information terminal  300 ) may use the mobile terminal  400  in front of the control target equipment and use the wireless network of the equipment controller  350  to read UI information, configure the screen automatically, and inspect or operate the equipment by using the configured screen. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an equipment controller shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the equipment controller  350  includes an input and output device  351 , a central processing unit  352 , a communication unit  353 , and a memory unit  354 . The communication unit  353  includes ordinary wireless module (Zigbee, WiFi, Bluetooth, CDMA, or RFID) supported by the mobile terminal  400  for noncontact service with the mobile terminal. 
     The memory unit  354  includes a unique identifier  355  and a control information module  356  for interface with the mobile terminal  400 . 
     The wireless module provides unique identifier  355  and control information module  356  to each wireless module standard protocol in text form when communicating with the mobile terminal  400  for screen layout, and the communication for controlling the input and output device  351  after the screen layout uses exclusive protocol of the equipment controller  350 . The equipment controller  350  uses Modbus which is an open industrial protocol. 
     The unique identifier  355  of the memory unit  354  has an IP, a port, and a protocol name for controlling the input and output device  351  of the equipment controller  350 , and this information is used when accessing for control after configuring the auto-screen on the mobile terminal  400 . 
     The control information module  356  includes a module having information for screen layout of the mobile terminal  400 . 
     The memory unit  354  of the equipment controller  350  and the control equipment information terminal  300  has identical function except the different characteristic of record medium, and the configuration of the control equipment information terminal  300  is replaced with the description of the memory unit  354 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a control information module of an equipment controller shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the control information module  356  includes at least one control item information  356   a , and each item information  356   a  includes UI standard information  356   b , common UI information  356   c , individual UI information  356   d , and control point access information  356   e.    
     The control item information  356   a  includes at least one, and a plurality of control item information  356   a  may be configured since there are generally a plurality of control targets (equipment). 
     The control item information  356   a  provides specific information for accessing directly to each input and output information which may be monitored or controlled through the equipment controller  350 . 
     The control item information  356   a  includes “UI standard information  356   b ”, “common UI information  356   c ”, “individual UI information  356   d ”, and “control point access information  356   e ”, and detail description are as follows. 
     Since “the UI standard information  356   b ” is needed to be displayed in different form of UI depending on each control point function and control value within the control target device, “UI standard information  356   b ” may display an identification function in which the control point be displayed with UI of any form on the mobile terminal  400 . 
     “The common UI information  356   c ” includes a information value such as coordinate on the terminal or a name of the equipment in which all UI components commonly have regardless of the user interface standard information  356   b  for performing an identification function in which the control point for the control target equipment is displayed in some form of the UI on the mobile terminal  400 . 
     “Individual UI information  356   d ” is displayed in different form of UI depending on the identifier of the each control point “UI standard information  356   b ” of the mobile terminal  400 , and accordingly separated information is needed. 
     For example, the temperature and the operation current of the control target equipment are included in “individual UI information  356   d ” since these information need range of minimum value or maximum value to increase readability of UI. 
     “Control point access information  356   e ” reads a present value as an address for accessing to each control point of the control target equipment of the equipment controller  350  on the mobile terminal  400  and displays on the UI, and forwards input information of the user interface of a operator as a control command. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a control equipment information terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, the control equipment information terminal  300  includes RFID, BARCODE or QRCODE having information for accessing to conventional equipment data and controller, and includes information in the same form of the memory unit  354  of the equipment controller  350 . 
     The unique identifier  301  and the control information module  302  have the same characteristic with the memory unit  354  of the equipment controller  350 , read information of control equipment information terminal  300  in front of the control target equipment in the mobile terminal  400 , and use the information to communicate with the equipment controller  350  to perform supervisory control. 
       FIG. 5  is an internal block diagram of a mobile terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the mobile terminal  400  includes an UI standard model  401 , a supplementary service interlocking module  402 , a control information storage module  410 , a user designating module  411 , a communication module  412 , and a screen display control  420 . 
     If choosing the corresponding equipment accessed to the mobile terminal  400 , “control information modules  302  and  356 ” may be stored in “control information storage module  410 ” of the mobile terminal  400  through “communication module  412 ”. 
     “The screen display control  420 ” calls corresponding UI from “UI standard module  401 ” by using “control item  356   a ” information with a template of basic structure on screen layout and arranges UI in the template of “screen display control  420 ” in order of “control item information  356   a”.    
     “The user designating module  411 ” omits process of obtaining control information by storing an user basic setup and an user designating equipment name for enhancing screen-readability, also storing “control information storage module” by the choice of the user, and accessing to the initial controller, and immediately performs input and output control of the controller. 
     “The supplementary service interlocking module  402 ” is a module interlocking with the function supported by the mobile terminal, transmits the location of the equipment interlocking with the present GPS and operation condition of the equipment through SMS with GPS, SMS, and video service and uses the real time video call service to receive advice on the equipment from expert in remote distance. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. 
     First, when there is no basic program for screen generation in the mobile terminal  40 , the program is directly installed in the mobile terminal  400  or downloaded the program after accessing the contact service server  100  and filing service request at S 100 . 
     The basic program is generated at S 101 , and then file control information request to the control equipment information terminal  300  or the equipment controller  350  after executing the program at S 102 . 
     In case of filing control information request to the control equipment information terminal  300 , the control information is read using the mobile terminal  400  at S 103 , the control information of device which is read is interpreted, and accordingly the UI is configured at S 104 . 
     In case of filing control information request to the equipment controller  350 , the control information provided from the equipment controller  350  is read using the mobile terminal  400  S 103 , the control information of device which is read is interrupted, and accordingly the UI is configured at S 104 . 
     When UI configuration S 105  is completed UI, the UI access to the equipment controller  350 , reads condition information value of the target device depending of the characteristic of the UI, displays the condition information value on the UI, or perform supervisory control on the target device through UI input of the user at S 106 . 
     The equipment controller  350  provides or operates the input and output value depending on the supervisory control command of the mobile terminal  400  at S 106  and S 107 .  FIG. 7  is an exemplary screen displayed on a mobile terminal of an equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the mobile terminal  400  may display the present value by configuring UI on a plurality of control item by using “control information module  356 ” which is read from the control target device (control equipment information terminal  300 , and equipment controller  350 ), and may be input with UI of the user. 
     For example, example of data on “control item information  356   a ” of top two items on the illustrated screen may be configured as follows. 
     Example of “Device Temperature” Item 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Items 
                 Data Contents 
                 Remarks 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 UI standard information 
                 “progress Bar” 
                   
               
               
                 Common UI information 
                 (x = 10, Y = 30), Tag=” 
               
               
                   
                 Equipment Temperature” 
               
               
                 Individual UI information 
                 Barwidth = 100, 
                 Min/Max Value 
               
               
                   
                 Color = Blue/White 
               
               
                 Control point access 
                 PointAddr = 0x3004, 
               
               
                 information 
                 Length = 1 Byte 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Example of “Center Light of Hallway” Item“ 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Items 
                 Data Contents 
                 Remarks 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 UI standard information 
                 “On/Off Button” 
                   
               
               
                 Common UI information 
                 (x = 10, Y = 30), Tag=” Center 
               
               
                   
                 Light of Hallway” 
               
               
                 Individual UI information 
                 ButtonStyl = Plain 
               
               
                 Control point access 
                 PointAddr = 0x1104, 
               
               
                 information 
                 Length = 1 Bit 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     According to the present invention, the equipment control system using a user interface automatic generator of a mobile terminal may perform effective equipment operation since information may be read by using the mobile terminal from the control unit attached with the controller having certain information for performing supervisory control and with medium (RFID, BARCODE, QRCODE) obtained by noncontact service by storing certain information and since a user interface may be automatically generated on the mobile terminal. 
     Although exemplary aspects of the present disclosure have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from essential characteristics of the disclosure. Therefore, exemplary aspects of the present disclosure have not been described for limiting purposes. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure is not to be limited by the above aspects but by the claims and the equivalents thereof.