Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
The action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on 10/19/2023.
Claims 1-14 are pending, where claims 1 and 8 are independent.
This application claims the priority benefit of the provisional application no. 63/418,166 filed on 10/21/2022 incorporated herein.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 03/28/2024 has been filed after the filing date of the application. The submission is in-compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Multiple filed related applications
Applicants have filed multiple related applications. To date, some of the related applications have been allowed or under NOA and it appears that some related applications are stand pending, yet to be examined. There are plurality of co-pending related Applications and double patenting is proper. See MPEP 804 and 1490 (VI) D:
Nonstatutory Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. See MPEP § 804 and 1490 (VI) D.
Claims 1 and 8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting over the claims 1, 10 and 20 of USP No. 11768878 B2 (US Appl. No. 16/577855 and Pub No. 2021/0089535 A1). The subject matter claimed in the instant application and the patent are claiming common/similar subject matter, as follows:
Instant Application No. 18/381957
USP No. 11768878 B2 (US Appl. No. 16/577855 and Pub No. 2021/0089535 A1)
Claim 1. A method for external devices to securely interact with a process control system of a process plant, the method comprising:
receiving, by an edge gateway system of the process control system during runtime of an industrial process being controlled by the process control system, a data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data indicative of relationships between the process content data, the data set being responsive to a query of the knowledge repository, the process content data including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges;
mapping, by the edge gateway system, the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and
presenting, by the edge gateway system, the hierarchy via a user interface.
1. A method for presenting process plant search results in response to a process plant search query, the method comprising:
receiving, at a remote user interface device which does not have authorized access to directly communicate with a process plant, a process plant search query in a natural language format from a user related to one or more process plant entities within the process plant;
obtaining, by the remote user interface device, a set of process plant search results in response to the process plant search query from a knowledge repository at an edge-computing device generated by: (i) creating a duplicate of process plant-related data included in a field-facing component of the process plant, wherein the field-facing component interacts directly with data generated within the process plant and (ii) organizing the duplicate process plant-related data that describes attributes of the process plant entities according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities, wherein the remote user interface device does not directly interact with the process plant-related data generated within the process plant, and wherein the duplicate process plant-related data includes run-time data; and presenting, by the remote user interface device, the set of process plant search results within a process plant search results display, wherein each process plant search result includes a selectable link to the duplicate process plant-related data, such that user interactions with the duplicate of the process plant-related data do not effect run-time operation of the process plant, thereby allowing the remote user interface device to perform a search regarding data in the process plant of the duplicate process plant-related data so that the remote user interface device does not directly interact with the process plant-related data in the field-facing component, and allowing the remote user interface device which does not have authorized access to directly communicate with the process plant to receive the duplicate process plant-related data representing activity in the process plant in a highly secure manner without impacting performance of the process plant.
Claims 2-14 are also obvious to the claims 1-23 of the U.S. Patent No11768878 B2 (US Appl. No. 16/577855 and Pub No. 2021/0089535 A1).
Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other (as shown in the table for comparison) because they are conceptually or inherently similar to the limitations of the patent (as for example the limitation “receiving, by an edge gateway system of the process control system during runtime of an industrial process being controlled by the process control system, a data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data indicative of relationships between the process content data” of the application is equivalent to the limitation “receiving, at a remote user interface device which does not have authorized access to directly communicate with a process plant, a process plant search query in a natural language format from a user related to one or more process plant entities within the process plant;
obtaining, by the remote user interface device, a set of process plant search results in response to the process plant search query from a knowledge repository at an edge-computing device generated by: (i) creating a duplicate of process plant-related data included in a field-facing component of the process plant” of the patent) in scope and they use the similar limitations and produce the similar end result of presenting process plant data query results.
It would be therefore obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made that to modify or to omit the additional elements of claims 1, 10 and 20 of the patent to arrive at the claims 1 and 8 of the instant application, would perform the similar functions as before.
This is an obviousness-type double patenting rejection. A terminal disclaimer is required to overcome the obviousness-type double patenting rejection. See MPEP § 804 and 1490 (VI) D:
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception an abstract idea without significantly more.
Independent claim(s) recite(s) a judicial exception: The claim(s) recite(s) “for external devices to securely interact with a process control system of a process plant: receiving - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data - including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; mapping - the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and presenting, - the hierarchy via a user interface”, as explained in detail below.
Claim 1: Ineligible
Step 1: The claim recites a series of steps and, therefore, is a process. Thus, the claim is directed to the same as a process, which is a statutory category of invention (Step 1: Yes).
Next, the claims are analyzed to determine directed to a judicial exception.
Under MPEP § 2106.04(a)(2), whether the claim recites:
any judicial exceptions, including certain groupings of abstract ideas (i.e., mathematical concepts, certain methods of organizing human activity such as a fundamental economic practice, or mental processes) ("Step 2A, Prong One"); and
additional elements that integrate the judicial exception into a practical application ("Step 2A, Prong Two").
Step 2A, Prong One: Claim 1 recites a judicial exception with the step of “receiving - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data - including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; mapping - the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and presenting, - the hierarchy via a user interface”, as explained in detail below.
The limitations “receiving - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data - including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; mapping - the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and presenting, - the hierarchy via a user interface” are observations, and therefore recite a mental process, such as an evaluation and judgement. See MPEP § 2106.04(a)(2), subsection III.
This steps, as drafted, is a process that under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers Mental processes: “receiving - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data - including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; mapping - the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and presenting, - the hierarchy via a user interface” of patent eligibility grouping. Thus, the claim recites in a group of a mental process.
Therefore, claim 1 is directed to an abstract idea of a judicial exception (Step 2A Prong one: Yes).
Step 2A Prong two: The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the claim recites the additional elements of “receiving - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data - including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; mapping - the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and presenting, - the hierarchy via a user interface” based on data/information collection and organizing the data and display that do not add meaningful limitations sufficient amount to significantly more (“inventive concept”) than the judicial exception, that merely further limiting the scope of abstract ideas or stating merely technical environment of these abstract ideas and the claim is directed to the judicial exception.
This exception is not significant into a practical application of the exception and based on the recited additional elements of the claims (Step 2A Prong two: No).
Next, the claim as a whole is analyzed to determine whether any element, or combination of elements, is sufficient to ensure the claim amounts to significantly more than the abstract idea.
Step 2B: In addition to the steps that describe the abstract idea of “for external devices to securely interact with a process control system of a process plant”, the claim recites the additional limitation of “receiving - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data - including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; mapping - the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and presenting, - the hierarchy via a user interface”. This additional element taken individually represents a general-purpose data collection and organizing to present, as evidence discussed in the background [paragraph 0003-07] “measuring process parameters - Smart field devices, such as the field devices conforming to the well-known Fieldbus protocol, may also perform control calculations, alarming functions, - such as HART®, WirelessHART®, and FOUNDATION® Fieldbus field devices - viewing the current state of the process, viewing alarms generated by field devices and - keeping and updating a configuration database - receive data from the controller application via the data highway and display this data to process control system designers, operators, or users using the user interfaces, and may provide any of a number of different views, such as an operator's view, an engineer's view, a technician's view, etc.”. This is also analogous to such concepts identified by the courts as abstract, such as collection, analysis and display information in Electric Power Group, LLC, v. Alstom, (671 F.3d 1317, 101 U.S.P.Q.2d 1785 (Fed. Cir. 2012)) and the “manipulation of data to generate additional datasets” or (“organizing information through mathematical correlations”) in Digitech Image Technologies LLC v. Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (758 F.3d 1344 (Fed. Cir 2014)). The additional elements receiving - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data - including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; mapping - the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes; and presenting, - the hierarchy via a user interface are mainly based on data/information collection and organizing the data set to display that are not sufficient amount to significantly more (“inventive concept”) than the judicial exception. The claim recites generic computer process of collected information. As such, the claim is directed to a judicial exception. Accordingly, the claim is ineligible for patenting. (Step 2B: No)
As to independent Claim 8, reciting substantially similar subject matter as claim 1 for similar reasons as those outlined above, likewise do not amount to significantly more than the above noted abstract idea and accordingly not eligible under 35 USC 101. See MPEP 2106.
As to the dependent claims, reciting the similar elements, which does not rise to a level of significantly more than the abstract idea, and are accordingly not eligible under 35 USC 101. See MPEP 2106.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
Claims 1-14 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Enver, et al. USPGPub No. 20220300502 A1in view of Thomsen, et al. (USPGPub No. 20200012265 A1).
As to claim 1, Enver discloses A method for external devices to securely interact with a process control system of a process plant (Enver [abstract] “securely and efficiently obtaining data from a process plant and processing data for consumption by one or more external applications or systems includes receiving event data from various data sources in or associated with a plant via various different data formats and data communication structures at a centralized server or gateway, striping off the communication format structure from the data, placing the data, including metadata associated with the data, into an event stream” [0005-11] See Fig. 1-6), the method comprising:
receiving, by an edge gateway system of the process control system during runtime of an industrial process being controlled by the process control system, a data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data indicative of relationships between the process content data, the data set being responsive to a query of the knowledge repository, the process content data including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges; (Enver [0019-113] “edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data (e.g., field data) from a process plant 5 to one or more external, data-consuming applications and/or systems - IT levels of security, such as security levels - includes a field-facing component 10 - collects data from a plant environment - connected to an edge-facing component 12 - comprehensive data collection and processing system - operating to control an industrial process - exposable data system 24A defines names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data types - generated by the process plant 5 and associated lower security level systems - contextual knowledge miner 45 mines the data lake 40 to discover relationships and associations between various field content data stored in the data lake 40, and generates/modifies/updates the contextual knowledge repository 48 - received field content data as well as the discovered relationships and/or associations - contextual knowledge repository 48 stores both process plant-related or field content data (e.g., run-time data, event data, historical data, and/or other types of data provided by the process plant 5” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, collects data from plant environment, comprehensive data collection and processing system, data names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data, security level systems, contextual knowledge, knowledge repository obviously provides receiving, - data set from a knowledge repository storing process content data related to the industrial process and context data indicative of relationships between the process content data, the data set being responsive to a query of the knowledge repository, the process content data including a first set of graph objects represented as nodes, and the context data including a second set of graph objects represented as edges)
mapping, by the edge gateway system, [the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes;] and presenting, by the edge gateway system, the hierarchy via a user interface (Enver [0019-113] “edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data (e.g., field data) from a process plant 5 to one or more external, data-consuming applications and/or systems - IT levels of security, such as security levels - includes a field-facing component 10 - collects data from a plant environment - connected to an edge-facing component 12 - comprehensive data collection and processing system - operating to control an industrial process - exposable data system 24A defines names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data types - generated by the process plant 5 and associated lower security level systems - contextual knowledge miner 45 mines the data lake 40 to discover relationships and associations between various field content data stored in the data lake 40, and generates/modifies/updates the contextual knowledge repository 48 - received field content data as well as the discovered relationships and/or associations - contextual knowledge repository 48 stores both process plant-related or field content data (e.g., run-time data, event data, historical data, and/or other types of data provided by the process plant 5 - configuration application 172A, configuration database 172B, and user interfaces - for control and/or display modules - configuration system 172 are different than the operator workstations 171, as the user interfaces for the configuration system 172 are utilized by configuration and development engineers irrespective of whether or not the plant 100 operating in real-time, whereas the operator workstations 171 are utilized by operators during real-time operations of the process plant 100 ” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, collects data from plant environment, comprehensive data collection and processing system, data names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data, security level systems, contextual knowledge, knowledge repository, user interfaces, display modules, data defines (names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, arrangements), plurality of configurations for operator, engineers and user obviously provides mapping, plurality set of graph objects - presenting, by the edge gateway system, the hierarchy via a user interface).
However, Thomsen discloses the first set of graph objects and the second set of graph objects to a hierarchy having parent and child nodes (Thomsen [0052-202] “defining one or more data tags representing a metric or status of the physical asset and associating each tag with one of the basic information data types - to customize the data tag for a given industrial application - parent-child relationships between data tags, etc. - data tags to respective hierarchical elements of the asset models (e.g., a production facility, a production area or line, and industrial asset, a unit of equipment, an industrial device, etc.) - motor drive, an HMI terminal, a vision system, an industrial optical scanner, or other such device or system - contextualize data generated by industrial applications and facilitate generation of contextualized data presentations - different views represented - customized to the needs of a particular user role - graphical representation - single plant node 1104, below multiple line nodes 1106 (Line 1, Line 2, and Line 3), child nodes relative to plant node 1104 - production model 1102 yields a view of the industrial facility (comprising Lines 1, 2, and 3) suitable for operator or shift manager responsible for daily operation of the lines” [abstract] [0002-06], see Fig. 1-39, plurality of data tags, customize data tag, parent-child relationships between data tags, data tags to respective hierarchical elements obviously provides plurality set of objects and to hierarchy having parent and child nodes).
Enver and Thomsen are analogous arts from the same field of endeavor and contain overlapping structural and functional similarities and both contain industrial process control system.
Therefore, at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above functionalities plurality set of objects and hierarchy parent-child nodes, as taught by Enver, and incorporating plurality of customize data tag, parent-child relationships data tags to respective hierarchical elements, as taught by Thomsen.
As to claim 2, the combination of Enver and Thomsen disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy is an S88 hierarchy (Enver [0019-113] “process plants set up to incorporate various different levels of security depending on the particular part of the plant - Control Hierarchy logical framework standardized by ISA (International Society of Automation) 95.01—IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) - edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data - IT levels of security, such as security levels” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, ISA (International Society of Automation) obviously provides hierarchy is an S88 hierarchy).
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy is an S95 hierarchy (Enver [0019-113] “process plants set up to incorporate various different levels of security depending on the particular part of the plant - Control Hierarchy logical framework standardized by ISA (International Society of Automation) 95.01—IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) - edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data - IT levels of security, such as security levels” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, ISA (International Society of Automation) obviously provides the hierarchy is an S95 hierarchy).
4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the hierarchy via the user interface includes displaying a parent node of the first set of graph objects above one or more child nodes of the first set of graph objects, according to a relationship between the parent node and the one or more child nodes as defined by an edge of the second set of graph objects (Enver [0019-113] “edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data (e.g., field data) from a process plant 5 to one or more external, data-consuming applications and/or systems - IT levels of security, such as security levels - includes a field-facing component 10 - collects data from a plant environment - connected to an edge-facing component 12 - comprehensive data collection and processing system - operating to control an industrial process - exposable data system 24A defines names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data types - generated by the process plant 5 and associated lower security level systems - contextual knowledge miner 45 mines the data lake 40 to discover relationships and associations between various field content data stored in the data lake 40, and generates/modifies/updates the contextual knowledge repository 48 - received field content data as well as the discovered relationships and/or associations - contextual knowledge repository 48 stores both process plant-related or field content data (e.g., run-time data, event data, historical data, and/or other types of data provided by the process plant 5 - configuration application 172A, configuration database 172B, and user interfaces - for control and/or display modules - configuration system 172 are different than the operator workstations 171, as the user interfaces for the configuration system 172 are utilized by configuration and development engineers irrespective of whether or not the plant 100 operating in real-time, whereas the operator workstations 171 are utilized by operators during real-time operations of the process plant 100 ” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, collects data from plant environment, comprehensive data collection and processing system, data names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data, security level systems, contextual knowledge, knowledge repository, user interfaces, display modules, data defines (names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, arrangements), plurality of configurations for operator, engineers and user obviously provides presenting the hierarchy via the user interface includes displaying a parent node of the first set of graph objects above one or more child nodes of the first set of graph objects, according to a relationship between the parent node and the one or more child nodes as defined by an edge of the second set of graph objects).
5. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the hierarchy via the user interface includes one or more of: displaying, by the edge gateway system, the one or more child nodes of the parent node, via the user interface, based on a first interaction of a user with the user interface; or hiding, by the edge gateway system, the one or more child nodes of the parent node, via the user interface, based on a second interaction of a user with the user interface (Enver [0019-113] “edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data (e.g., field data) from a process plant 5 to one or more external, data-consuming applications and/or systems - IT levels of security, such as security levels - includes a field-facing component 10 - collects data from a plant environment - connected to an edge-facing component 12 - comprehensive data collection and processing system - operating to control an industrial process - exposable data system 24A defines names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data types - generated by the process plant 5 and associated lower security level systems - contextual knowledge miner 45 mines the data lake 40 to discover relationships and associations between various field content data stored in the data lake 40, and generates/modifies/updates the contextual knowledge repository 48 - received field content data as well as the discovered relationships and/or associations - contextual knowledge repository 48 stores both process plant-related or field content data (e.g., run-time data, event data, historical data, and/or other types of data provided by the process plant 5 - configuration application 172A, configuration database 172B, and user interfaces - for control and/or display modules - configuration system 172 are different than the operator workstations 171, as the user interfaces for the configuration system 172 are utilized by configuration and development engineers irrespective of whether or not the plant 100 operating in real-time, whereas the operator workstations 171 are utilized by operators during real-time operations of the process plant 100 ” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, collects data from plant environment, comprehensive data collection and processing system, data names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data, security level systems, contextual knowledge, knowledge repository, user interfaces, display modules, data defines (names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, arrangements), plurality of configurations for operator, engineers and user obviously provides presenting the hierarchy via the user interface includes one or more of: displaying, by the edge gateway system, the one or more child nodes of the parent node, via the user interface, based on a first interaction of a user with the user interface; or hiding, by the edge gateway system, the one or more child nodes of the parent node, via the user interface, based on a second interaction of a user with the user interface).
6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: displaying, by the edge gateway system, the parent node of the first set of graph objects and the one or more child nodes of the first set of graph objects, as mapped to a graph view according to the relationship between the parent node and the one or more child nodes as defined by an edge of the second set of graph objects (Enver [0019-113] “edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data (e.g., field data) from a process plant 5 to one or more external, data-consuming applications and/or systems - IT levels of security, such as security levels - includes a field-facing component 10 - collects data from a plant environment - connected to an edge-facing component 12 - comprehensive data collection and processing system - operating to control an industrial process - exposable data system 24A defines names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data types - generated by the process plant 5 and associated lower security level systems - contextual knowledge miner 45 mines the data lake 40 to discover relationships and associations between various field content data stored in the data lake 40, and generates/modifies/updates the contextual knowledge repository 48 - received field content data as well as the discovered relationships and/or associations - contextual knowledge repository 48 stores both process plant-related or field content data (e.g., run-time data, event data, historical data, and/or other types of data provided by the process plant 5 - configuration application 172A, configuration database 172B, and user interfaces - for control and/or display modules - configuration system 172 are different than the operator workstations 171, as the user interfaces for the configuration system 172 are utilized by configuration and development engineers irrespective of whether or not the plant 100 operating in real-time, whereas the operator workstations 171 are utilized by operators during real-time operations of the process plant 100 ” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, collects data from plant environment, comprehensive data collection and processing system, data names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data, security level systems, contextual knowledge, knowledge repository, user interfaces, display modules, data defines (names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, arrangements), plurality of configurations for operator, engineers and user obviously provides displaying, by the edge gateway system, the parent node of the first set of graph objects and the one or more child nodes of the first set of graph objects, as mapped to a graph view according to the relationship between the parent node and the one or more child nodes as defined by an edge of the second set of graph objects).
7. The method of claim 4, further comprising: displaying, by the edge gateway system, the parent node of the first set of graph objects and the one or more child nodes of the first set of graph objects, as mapped to a sequential view of the industrial process as a product is produced, according to the relationship between the parent node and the one or more child nodes as defined by an edge of the second set of graph objects (Enver [0019-113] “edge gateway system 1 which securely delivers process plant-related data (e.g., field data) from a process plant 5 to one or more external, data-consuming applications and/or systems - IT levels of security, such as security levels - includes a field-facing component 10 - collects data from a plant environment - connected to an edge-facing component 12 - comprehensive data collection and processing system - operating to control an industrial process - exposable data system 24A defines names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data types - generated by the process plant 5 and associated lower security level systems - contextual knowledge miner 45 mines the data lake 40 to discover relationships and associations between various field content data stored in the data lake 40, and generates/modifies/updates the contextual knowledge repository 48 - received field content data as well as the discovered relationships and/or associations - contextual knowledge repository 48 stores both process plant-related or field content data (e.g., run-time data, event data, historical data, and/or other types of data provided by the process plant 5 - configuration application 172A, configuration database 172B, and user interfaces - for control and/or display modules - configuration system 172 are different than the operator workstations 171, as the user interfaces for the configuration system 172 are utilized by configuration and development engineers irrespective of whether or not the plant 100 operating in real-time, whereas the operator workstations 171 are utilized by operators during real-time operations of the process plant 100 ” [abstract] see Fig. 1-6, edge gateway system 1, securely delivers process plant-related data, collects data from plant environment, comprehensive data collection and processing system, data names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, and/or other arrangements of process plant-related or field data, security level systems, contextual knowledge, knowledge repository, user interfaces, display modules, data defines (names, mappings, conversions, groupings, value assignments, arrangements), plurality of configurations for operator, engineers and user obviously provides displaying, by the edge gateway system, the parent node of the first set of graph objects and the one or more child nodes of the first set of graph objects, as mapped to a sequential view of the industrial process as a product is produced, according to the relationship between the parent node and the one or more child nodes as defined by an edge of the second set of graph objects).
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2141.02 VI. PRIOR ART MUST BE CONSIDERED IN ITS ENTIRETY, i.e., as a whole and 2123.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art made of record:
Nixon, et al. USPGPub No. 2021/0089542 A1 discloses a process control system for conducting search queries of process plant-related data in process plants/process control systems and presenting the process plant-related data on devices from the process plants.
Nixon, et al. USPGPub No. 2021/ 0089593 A1 discloses a process control system providing search capabilities for conducting search queries of process plant-related data in process plants/process control systems for presenting the process plant-related data on devices remote from process plants.
Strinden, et al. USPGPub No. 20190101882 A1 discloses a process control system for configuring graphics utilized by operators to view and respond to real-time conditions within and operations of an on-line, industrial process plant.
Pohlan, USPGPub No. 2012/0226377 A1 discloses a system automation for operating plurality of automation units and a plurality of automation programs intended to control and/or monitor a technical process.
Nixon, et al. USPGPub No. 2014/278312 A1 discloses a process plants and control systems to create and execute data processing models in process plants and/or in process control systems and particularly in process control systems that implement big data architectures.
Pohlan, USPGPub No. 2005/0015391 A1 discloses a method for visualizing comparison result of data structures organized in comparison trees on a graphic display unit formed by like hierarchical arrangement to evaluate structural and/or content differences.
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/Md Azad/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119