Presentation of graphical visualizations and control mechanisms in-line with programming logic

Abstract

Techniques to facilitate programming industrial control systems to operate machinery in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, a user interface is displayed for a control program comprising programming logic associated with at least one machine system. Operational data associated with operating the at least one machine system controlled by an industrial controller executing the programming logic is received. The programming logic and the operational data are processed to determine contextual associations between the programming logic and the operational data. In the user interface for the control program, the operational data is displayed in context with the programming logic associated therewith based on the contextual associations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing apparatus comprising:
 one or more computer readable storage media;   one or more processors operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media; and   an industrial automation program for viewing programming logic employed by one or more controllers in an industrial automation environment, wherein the industrial automation program comprises program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media that, when executed by the one or more processors, direct the computing apparatus to at least:   display a graphical representation of the programming logic in a user interface to the industrial automation program;   receive operational data associated with an industrial process controlled by the one or more controllers; and   display a graphical representation of the operational data in the user interface to the industrial automation program.   
     
     
         2 . The computing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the program instructions direct the computing apparatus to display the graphical representation of the operational data at a location in the user interface proximate to a portion of the graphical representation of the programming logic that affects the operational data. 
     
     
         3 . The computing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the program instructions further direct the computing apparatus to determine which portion of the programming logic affects the operational data. 
     
     
         4 . The computing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the program instructions further direct the computing apparatus to display a graphical representation of a push button in the user interface to the industrial automation program. 
     
     
         5 . The computing apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the graphical representation of the push button includes a capability to receive user input and communicate an indication of the user input to at least a portion of the programming logic. 
     
     
         6 . The computing apparatus of  claim 5  wherein:
 the indication of the user input initiates a state change of the portion of the programming logic that receives the indication of the user input; and 
 the state change causes a physical state change of a machine in the industrial process controlled by at least the portion of the programming logic that receives the indication of the user input. 
 
     
     
         7 . The computing apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the program instructions direct the computing apparatus to display the graphical representation of the push button at a location in the user interface proximate to a portion of the graphical representation of the programming logic affected by the push button. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a computing device comprising:
 in the computing device, hosting an industrial automation program for viewing programming logic employed by one or more controllers in an industrial automation environment;   in the computing device, displaying a graphical representation of the programming logic in a user interface to the industrial automation program;   in the computing device, receiving operational data associated with an industrial process controlled by the one or more controllers; and   in the computing device, displaying a graphical representation of the operational data in the user interface to the industrial automation program.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  comprising displaying the graphical representation of the operational data at a location in the user interface proximate to a portion of the graphical representation of the programming logic that affects the operational data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising determining which portion of the programming logic affects the operational data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising displaying a graphical representation of a push button in the user interface to the industrial automation program. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the graphical representation of the push button includes a capability to receive user input and communicate an indication of the user input to at least a portion of the programming logic. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the indication of the user input initiates a state change of the portion of the programming logic that receives the indication of the user input, and wherein the state change causes a physical state change of a machine in the industrial process controlled by at least the portion of the programming logic that receives the indication of the user input. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  comprising displaying the graphical representation of the push button at a location in the user interface proximate to a portion of the graphical representation of the programming logic affected by the push button. 
     
     
         15 . One or more computer readable storage media having program instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, direct the computing device to at least:
 display a graphical representation of a programming logic in a user interface to a control program editor;   receive operational data associated with an industrial process controlled by one or more controllers programmed with the programming logic; and   display a graphical representation of the operational data in the user interface to the control program editor.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 15  wherein the program instructions direct the computing apparatus to display the graphical representation of the operational data at a location in the user interface proximate to a portion of the graphical representation of the programming logic that affects the operational data. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 15  wherein the program instructions further direct the computing apparatus to display a graphical representation of a push button in the user interface to the control program editor. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 17  wherein the graphical representation of the push button includes a capability to receive user input and communicate an indication of the user input to at least a portion of the programming logic. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 18  wherein:
 the indication of the user input initiates a state change of the portion of the programming logic that receives the indication of the user input; and 
 the state change causes a physical state change of a machine in the industrial process controlled by at least the portion of the programming logic that receives the indication of the user input. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computing apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the program instructions direct the computing apparatus to display the graphical representation of the push button at a location in the user interface proximate to a portion of the graphical representation of the programming logic affected by the push button.