Industrial automation visualization schemes employing overlays

Abstract

A visualization system utilizing preconfigured overlay models and data models to create overlay displays representing different views of the same data or a single view of different data. The visualization system provides for collecting and sharing overlay displays and data sets with other communicatively connected visualization systems. The overlays can be automatically created by the visualization system and can be presented in different formats such as a three-dimensional or a translucent display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory communicatively coupled to processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions, comprising:
 a data source component configured to receive a first user input of a selection of a plurality of data sources to include in a model for generating one or more overlay display graphics; 
 an overlay component configured to receive a second user input of a selection of a plurality of overlays to include in the model; 
 an overlay rules component configured to receive third user input specifying one or more rules, to include in the model, associated with an overlay display graphic of the one or more overlay display graphics; and 
 an overlay model component configured to create the model based upon the selection of the plurality of data sources, the selection of the plurality of overlays, and the one or more rules. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules defines a combination of overlays, of the plurality of overlays, that are not permitted to be included collectively in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules defines an overlay that must be included with a specified overlay in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules defines one or more graphical display devices that are permitted to display the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more rules further defines when the one or more graphical display devices are permitted to display the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules defines at least one allowable combination of data, from the plurality of data sources, to overlay in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules defines a scaling of data values in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules defines a data source that must be included with a specified data source in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a system including a processor, a first user input of a selection of a plurality of data sources to include in a model for generating one or more overlay display graphics;   receiving, by the system, a second user input of a selection of a plurality of overlays to include in the model;   receiving, by the system, third user input specifying one or more rules, to include in the model, associated with an overlay display graphic of the one or more overlay display graphics; and   creating, by the system, the model based upon the selection of the plurality of data sources, the selection of the plurality of overlays, and the one or more rules.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more rules defines a combination of overlays, of the plurality of overlays, that are not permitted to be included collectively in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more rules defines an overlay that must be included with a specified overlay in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more rules defines one or more graphical display devices that are permitted to display the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more rules further defines when the one or more graphical display devices are permitted to display the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more rules defines at least one allowable combination of data, from the plurality of data sources, to overlay in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more rules defines a scaling of data values in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more rules defines a data source that must be included with a specified data source in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a system including a processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, by a system including a processor, a first user input of a selection of a plurality of data sources to include in a model for generating one or more overlay display graphics;   receiving, by the system, a second user input of a selection of a plurality of overlays to include in the model;   receiving, by the system, third user input specifying one or more rules, to include in the model, associated with an overlay display graphic of the one or more overlay display graphics; and   creating, by the system, the model based upon the selection of the plurality of data sources, the selection of the plurality of overlays, and the one or more rules.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more rules defines a combination of overlays, of the plurality of overlays, that are not permitted to be included collectively in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more rules defines an overlay that must be included with a specified overlay in the overlay display graphic. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more rules defines one or more graphical display devices that are permitted to display the overlay display graphic.