Implementing engineering unit conversions associated with control devices

Abstract

The disclosed subject matter comprises a converter component that can efficiently manage conversion of data associated with a control system from one engineering unit (EU) type to another EU type, and/or conversion of the data from one language to another language, based at least in part on the user. The converter component can identify a user, or can receive a conversion selection(s) from the user, and can automatically select a specified subset of EU conversions and/or language conversions to employ in relation to the user, convert the data associated with the control system in accordance with the subset, and present the converted data to the user via the interface. The converter component can present a pre-populated table of EU conversions associated with the subset, and can allow a user to add or modify an EU conversion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor configured to execute one or more sets of code instructions retained in at least one memory, the one or more sets of code instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, implement a group of components comprising:
 a user interface component configured to present a subset of items of data or a subset of converted items of data associated with a control system; and 
 a converter component configured to identify a subset of conversion functions usable to convert at least a portion of the subset of items of data based at least in part on a subset of user preferences, and convert respective items of data of the subset of items of data to generate respective converted items of data of the subset of converted items of data, in accordance with respective conversion functions of the subset of conversion functions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the converter component is further configured to identify an engineering unit associated with a first item of data of the subset of items of data, wherein the first item of data is associated with metadata associated with an automation device in the control system, and a conversion function associated with the engineering unit, in accordance with the subset of user preferences. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the converter component is further configured to automatically apply the conversion function to the first item of data to convert a data value of the first item of data to a different data value that expresses the first item of data using a different engineering unit associated with the conversion function. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the converter component is further configured to comprise a subset of conversion tables, wherein a first conversion table of the subset of conversion tables comprises at least a first column and a second column, wherein the first column is pre-populated with a subset of engineering units and the second column is pre-populated with the subset of conversion functions that are respectively correlated to the subset of engineering units. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the user interface component is further configured to receive information from a user for at least one of: generation of a new conversion function, modification of a specified conversion function in the subset of conversion functions, or removal of the specified conversion function from the subset of conversion functions, wherein the generation of the new conversion function or modification of the specified conversion function is associated with at least one of conversion of an engineering unit or conversion of a language in relation to an item of data of the subset of items of data, and to provide the information to the converter component, and
 wherein the converter component is further configured to at least one of: generate the new conversion function and add the new conversion function to the subset of conversion functions, modify the specified conversion function, or remove the specified conversion function from the subset of conversion functions.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first conversion table is configured to be presented via the user interface component and comprises a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell of the plurality of cells is associated with a menu comprising a plurality of available conversion functions that are selectable for use in the subset of conversion functions. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first conversion table comprises a cell in the second column that is empty to cause an item of data of the subset of items of data to not be converted from an engineering unit originally associated with the item of data. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the converter component is configured to generate a third column in the first conversion table and a custom subset of conversion functions associated with one or more users of a user class in response to received information that indicates at least one custom conversion function to be included in the custom subset of conversion functions, wherein the converter component is configured to populate the third column with the custom subset of conversion functions, which are respectively correlated to the subset of engineering units. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface component is further configured to be associated with the converter component, and receive information from a user for selection of the subset of conversion functions, wherein the converter component is further configured to select the subset of conversion functions and store the subset of conversion functions in the subset of user preferences associated with the user in response to the information received from the user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the converter component is further configured to associate the subset of user preferences with at least one of a user identifier or authentication credentials, associated with a user, and identifies the subset of conversions to be used to facilitate generation of the subset of converted items of data based at least in part on reception of the at least one of the user identifier or the authentication credentials. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of conversion functions is determined as a function of at least one of a regional industry standard or a language selected for presentation of information associated with the control system via the user interface component. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the converter component is further configured to translate information associated with the subset of items of data from a first language to a second language in accordance with the language selected, wherein the language selected determines at least in part one or more conversions functions that are to be included in the subset of conversion functions. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the converter component is further configured to comprise a subset of conversion tables, wherein a conversion table of the subset of conversion tables is configured to facilitate conversion of the subset of items of data in accordance with the language selected, wherein the conversion table comprises at least a first column and a second column, wherein the first column is pre-populated with a subset of engineering units and the second column is pre-populated with the subset of conversion functions that are respectively correlated to the subset of engineering units and are in accordance with the language selected. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first column comprises a first subset of cells and the second column comprises a second subset of cells that are respectively correlated to the first subset of cells, wherein a cell in the second column is empty to facilitate translation of an item of data of the subset of items of data from a first language to a second language without conversion of the item of data from an engineering unit originally associated with the item of data. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 employing at least one processor to execute code instructions retained in a memory, the code instructions when executed by the at least one processor perform acts, comprising:
 identifying a subset of conversion functions for use with a subset of items of data associated with a control system based at least in part on a subset of user preferences; and 
 automatically converting respective items of data of the subset of items of data to generate respective converted items of data of a subset of converted items of data, in accordance with respective conversion functions of the subset of conversion functions. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the acts further comprising:
 receiving at least one of a user identifier or authentication credentials associated with a user;   identifying the subset of user preferences corresponding to the at least one of a user identifier or authentication credentials associated with a user;   identifying the subset of conversion functions associated with the subset of user preferences; and   utilizing at least a portion of the subset of conversion functions to convert the respective items of data of the subset of items of data to generate the respective converted items of data of the subset of converted items of data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , the acts further comprising:
 receiving a first item of data of the subset of items of data;   identifying a first engineering unit associated with the first item of data based at least in part on a first tag associated with the first item of data;   analyzing a conversion table to locate the first engineering unit;   identifying the subset of conversion functions based at least in part on the subset of user preferences;   identifying a first conversion function of the subset of conversion functions that is associated with the first engineering unit; and   automatically applying the first conversion function to the first item of data to convert a first data value of the first item of data to a second data value corresponding to a second engineering unit associated with the first conversion function to generate a first converted item of data of the subset of converted items of data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , the acts further comprising:
 creating a conversion table;   inserting a subset of engineering units in respective cells of a first column of the conversion table;   selecting the subset of conversion functions;   inserting respective conversion functions of the subset of conversion functions into respective cells of a second column of the conversion table, wherein the respective conversions functions are correlated with respective engineering units of the subset of engineering units; and   storing the conversion table.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , the acts further comprising:
 creating a conversion table that facilitates converting the subset of items of data in accordance with at least one of a selected language or a selected regional industry standard;   inserting a subset of engineering units in respective cells of a first column of the conversion table;   selecting at least one of a subset of disparate engineering units or the subset of conversion functions, wherein the at least one of the subset of disparate engineering units or the subset of conversion functions corresponds to the at least one of the selected language or the selected regional industry standard;   inserting at least one of respective disparate engineering units of the subset of disparate engineering units or respective conversion functions of the subset of conversion functions into respective cells of a second column of the conversion table, wherein the respective disparate engineering units or the respective conversions functions are correlated with respective engineering units of the subset of engineering units; and   storing the conversion table.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , the acts further comprising:
 translating information associated with the subset of items of data from a first language to a second language to generate translated information, in accordance with the subset of conversion functions;   associating the translated information with the subset of converted items of data; and   presenting the subset of converted items of data with the translated information.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , the acts further comprising:
 receiving a command to at least one of generate a new conversion function or modify a specified conversion function in the subset of conversion functions;   receiving selection of a conversion function;   associating the conversion function with an engineering unit; and   storing the subset of conversion functions comprising the conversion function.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , the acts further comprising:
 generating a mapping associated with the subset of user preferences, the generating the mapping comprising:
 generating a mapping of the subset of user preferences to the subset of conversion functions, and 
 generating a mapping of the subset of user preferences to at least one of a user identifier or authentication credentials associated with a user; and 
   identifying the subset of conversion functions based at least in part on the at least one of the user identifier or the authentication credentials associated with the user and the mapping associated with the subset of user preferences.   
     
     
         23 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium that retains computer-readable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a device to perform operations, comprising:
 identifying a subset of conversion functions for use with a subset of items of data associated with a control system based at least in part on a subset of user preferences; and   converting respective items of data of the subset of items of data to generate respective converted items of data of a subset of converted items of data, in accordance with respective conversion functions of the subset of conversion functions.