Patent ID: 7715929

Claim:
A human-machine interface of a control system for monitoring and control of a process, comprising: a three-dimensional computer generated model of equipment, plant, or device for carrying out said process or a part or component of said process, wherein said model maps a point on the computer generated model to data held by said control system about the equipment, plant, or device or at least one part or component of said process, said model comprising graphic information manipulatable by an operator to retrieve, examine and use in direct relation to the equipment, plant, device or process by selecting a point on the model, which point is mappable via setpoints watchpoints or other data points to execute an instruction to retrieve technical information, provide additional information in the form of graphic information manipulatable by an operator to access, examine and carry out control actions for the equipment, plant, device or process, the model comprising a plurality of selectively displayed layers superimposed on the three-dimensional model, the layers comprising information regarding elements of the equipment, plant, device or process, said elements of said layers being displayed in a position in said model corresponding to a physical location of the respective elements, wherein the operator may zoom into and out of the model or alter an orientation of the model.