Patent ID: 8860728

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a trigger to present a balloon notification on a display of a human-machine interface (HMI), the display comprising a graphical schematic representation of a process control system, the balloon notification associated with an object in the display, the object indicating an equipment control or sensor in the process control system; determining dimensions of the balloon notification; determining a suitable location in the display for the balloon notification, the determined location based on the equipment control or sensor associated with the balloon notification, wherein determining the suitable location comprises: for each of first, second, third, and fourth corners of the object: determining whether the balloon notification if placed proximate to that corner of the object would be presented completely in the display; determining how many other objects in the display would be obstructed by the balloon notification if placed proximate to that corner of the object; and determining how much total area of other objects in the display would be obstructed by the balloon notification if placed proximate to that corner of the object; and selecting the corner that is completely displayed on the screen and that obstructs a fewest number of other objects and a least amount of object area; presenting the balloon notification in the display at the suitable location, the balloon notification comprising a value adjustment icon configured to raise or lower a value of a parameter of the equipment control or sensor in the process control system, an input window configured to accept a text input associated with the equipment control or sensor from an operator, and a confirmation button that can be actuated by the operator to confirm the text input; and changing the parameter of the equipment control or sensor in response to the operator actuating the value adjustment icon or the confirmation button.