System and an associated method for operating and monitoring an automation system by means of virtual installation models

Abstract

A system and a method for operating and monitoring an automation system, in which, via virtual installation models ( 1 ), processes of the automation system are, by means of a display unit ( 2 ), displayed or represented as a representation of real installation components ( 7 ). The display unit 2 includes input screen sections ( 4 a, 4 b, 4 c ) in order to allow a user to interactively operate displayed installation components 8 . The method allows the user to navigate in the virtual installation models 8 , which exactly reflect the real conditions and the current conditions of the automation system. By combining 2D and 3D displays or representations, the user can choose the most appropriate form of representation for the individual case at hand. The invention thus facilitates a reality-based representation of the automation system, which makes it possible to intuitively operate and monitor even complex processes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for operating and monitoring real processes of a real installation having real installation components, comprising: 
 a storage device for storing virtual installation models, which represent the real installation components;    a display unit for displaying the virtual installation models;    interactive interfaces that are included in at least one of i) the virtual installation models and ii) the display unit; and    a coupler, comprising: 
 a first connection for coupling the interactive interfaces with process data of the real installation components, wherein the first connection comprises a process coupling forward channel as an output of the display unit; and  
 a second connection for coupling the virtual installation models with the process data of the real installation components, wherein the second connection comprises a process coupling backward channel as an input of the display unit.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the real installation comprises an automation system.  
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the display unit displays the virtual installation models as at least one of i) two-dimensional objects and ii) three-dimensional objects.  
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a virtual camera; and    a control device to control updated displays of the virtual installation models in accordance with a respective current position of the virtual camera.    
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 4 , 
 wherein the control device comprises a controller for controlling displays of the real processes such that an amount of information displayed in the virtual installation models is a function of a viewing distance from the real installation.    
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the virtual installation models include transparent portions allowing a view at component parts that are covered in the real installation components; and    wherein respective outlines of the transparent portions are displayed to ensure spatial orientation within the virtual installation models.    
     
     
         7 . A method for operating and monitoring a real process of a real installation having real installation components, comprising: 
 storing virtual installation models in a storage device, wherein the virtual installation models represent the real installation components;    displaying the virtual installation models by means of a display unit;    operating the real installation via interactive interfaces and via a first connection that is designed as a process coupling forward channel as an output of the display unit, wherein the interactive interfaces are included in at least one of i) the virtual installation models and ii) the display unit; and    feeding the virtual installation models with process data from the real installation components via a second connection that is designed as a process coupling backward channel as an input of the display unit.    
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the virtual installation models are displayed as at least one of i) two-dimensional objects and ii) three-dimensional objects.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the virtual installation models are displayed in accordance with a current position of at least one virtual camera.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein an amount of information displayed in the virtual installation models is a function of a viewing distance from the real installation.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , 
 wherein the virtual installation models include transparent portions allowing a view at component parts that are covered in the real installation components; and    wherein respective outlines of the transparent portions are displayed to ensure spatial orientation within the virtual installation models.