Selectively presenting timestamped time-series data values for retrieved supervisory control and manufacturing/production parameters

Abstract

A process control and manufacturing information database client application is disclosed for rendering and displaying a filtered set of received time-series data. A client application, such as a trending client that graphically displays a series of data point values for a particular observed parameter of a manufacturing process receives, via a data acquisition interface, a set of timestamped time-series data values for an observed parameter from a process control and manufacturing information database. Thereafter, the client application invokes a time-series data filter that includes/supports at least one filtering operation that is applied to the set of timestamped time-series data values to render a filtered data set for plotting/drawing on the graphical display interface. The filtered data set is thereafter rendered by a display function as a series of plotted points on a time-line graph.

1 . A process control and manufacturing information database client application including a graphical display interface for plotting and presenting received time-series data, the client application comprising:
 a data acquisition interface for obtaining a set of timestamped time-series data values for an observed parameter from a process control and manufacturing information database;   a time-series data filter including at least one filtering operation applied to the set of timestamped time-series data values to render a filtered data set for plotting on the graphical display interface; and   a display function for rendering the filtered data set as a series of plotted points on a time-line graph.   
     
     
         2 . The client application of  claim 1  wherein the at least one filtering operation comprises a filter that selects a set of representative data points, of a grouped set of time-stamped time-series data values associated with a designated time period, according to a value-based selection criterion. 
     
     
         3 . The client application of  claim 2  wherein the value-based selection criterion includes designating for the filtered data set, from the grouped set, at least:
 a data point having a largest value, and 
 a data point having a smallest value. 
 
     
     
         4 . The client application of  claim 3  wherein the value-based selection criterion includes a first data point after an exception. 
     
     
         5 . The client application of  claim 3  wherein the value-based selection criterion includes designating for the filtered data set, from the grouped set, at least:
 a first data point within the designated time period, and 
 a last data point within the designated time period. 
 
     
     
         6 . The client application of  claim 5  wherein the value-based selection criterion includes a first data point after an exception. 
     
     
         7 . The client application of  claim 1  wherein the at least one filtering operation comprises a filter comprising:
 a compression test sequence applied, upon receiving a next time-series data point, to at least the received next time-series data point, a held over data point and a last data point designated for plotting; and 
 a time override that forces designating a candidate data point for plotting without regard to whether the candidate point would be stored as a result of applying the compression test sequence, upon receiving the next time-series data point. 
 
     
     
         8 . The client application of  claim 7  wherein the candidate data point is the held over data point. 
     
     
         9 . The client application of  claim 8  wherein the time override comprises an operation that determines an elapsed time between the last data point designated for plotting and the next time-series data point and designates the held over data point for plotting if the elapsed time exceeds a specified override time period. 
     
     
         10 . The client application of  claim 8  wherein the time override further comprises a real-time window timer that measures an elapsed period after the time stamp of the held over point and designates the held over data point for plotting in response to a specified period, measured by the real-time window timer, expiring. 
     
     
         11 . The client application of  claim 7  wherein the compression test sequence comprises a value deadband test that is applied to the held over data point and the last data point designated for plotting. 
     
     
         12 . The client application of  claim 7  wherein the compression test sequence comprises a rate deadband test that is applied to at least the last data point designated for plotting, the held over data point, and the next time-series data point. 
     
     
         13 . The client application of  claim 12  wherein the rate deadband test comprises determining a change in slope between a first line segment and a second line segment, wherein the first line segment includes at least the last data point designated for plotting, and the second line segment includes the next time-series data point and the held over data point. 
     
     
         14 . The client application of  claim 13  wherein the first line segment further comprises the held over data point. 
     
     
         15 . The client application of  claim 7  further comprising a quality change test wherein the held over data point is designated for plotting if a quality assigned to the held over data point differs from the quality assigned to the last data point designated for plotting. 
     
     
         16 . The client application of  claim 1  wherein the at least one filtering operation comprises a discrete filter including at least a deadband stage. 
     
     
         17 . The client application of  claim 16  wherein the at least one filtering operation comprises a discrete filter including at least a time period-based data point filtering stage. 
     
     
         18 . The client application of  claim 1  wherein the at least one filtering operation comprises a discrete filter including at least a time period-based data point filtering stage. 
     
     
         19 . The client application of  claim 1  wherein a set of filtering operations making up the time-series data filter is extensible. 
     
     
         20 . A method for displaying, by a process control and manufacturing information database client application, received time-series data, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining, via a client data acquisition interface, a set of timestamped time-series data values for an observed parameter from a process control and manufacturing information database;   rendering from the set of timestamped time-series data values, by a time-series data filter including at least one filtering operation invoked by the client application, a filtered data set for plotting on the graphical display interface; and   rendering, by a display function of the client application, the filtered data set as a series of plotted points on a time-line graph.   
     
     
         21 - 29 . (canceled)