United States Patent [19J
`Nigawara
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,914,705
`Apr. 3, 1990
`
`[54] VOICE MESSAGE ANNOUNCING METHOD
`AND SYSTEM FOR PLANT
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Seiitsu Nigawara, Hitachi, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 92,619
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Sep. 3, 1987
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Sep. 3, 1986 [JP]
`Japan ................................ 61-205975
`
`[51] · Int. Cl.4 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• G10L 5/02
`[52] U.S. Cl ................................... 381/51; 340/825.51
`[58] Field of Search ................... 379/67, 88, 157, 217,
`379/374; 381/51, 82
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,359,713 11/1982 Tsunoda ........................... 381/51 X
`4,383,241 5/1983 Kojima et al. .................... 381/51 X
`4,449,232 5/1984 Hashimoto et al. .................. 381/51
`4,489,436 12/1984 Yoshimura et al. .................. 381/51
`4,519,027 5/1985 Vogelsberg ....................... 381/51 X
`4,560,978 12/1985 Lemelson .......................... 381/51 X
`4,723,291 2/1988 Koike .................................... 381/51
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`57-199006 12/1982 Japan.
`59-62913 4/1984 Japan .
`Primary Examiner-William M. Shoop, Jr.
`Assistant Examiner-Marc S. Hoff
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Antonelli, Terry & Wands
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A system for announcing operating conditions of a plant
`includes an identifying unit identifying plant site operat(cid:173)
`ing conditions on the basis of information signals indica(cid:173)
`tive of the operating conditions at plate sites at the plant
`site, a voice message signal generating unit determining
`plant site operating instruction signals on the basis of the
`identified plant operating conditions and converting the
`determined instruction signals into corresponding voice
`message signals, a voice message signal output unit, and
`a voice message announcing order selection unit includ(cid:173)
`ing a memory for temporarily storing the voice message
`signals, an announcing order determining unit for deter(cid:173)
`mining the order of announcement of the stored voice
`message signals, and an output selecting unit for sequen(cid:173)
`tially applying the stored voice message signals to the
`message signal output unit in the determined order.
`
`11 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`..
`
`5
`
`..
`
`5
`
`.. 5
`
`.. 5
`
`FRDI PLANT
`51TEA
`
`FADI PLIMi
`SITEB
`
`FAOI PLAIT
`SITEC
`
`FADI PLANT
`SITEN
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 3, 1990
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`4,914,705
`
`FIG.
`
`4
`
`4
`
`\/OICE MESSAGE
`ANNOUNCING ZONE
`4
`
`··11
`
`4
`
`SPEAKER
`
`SPEAK
`
`SPEAKER
`
`· · ·
`
`SPEAKER
`
`L __ '-------'---.----~-___. 9
`
`__ J
`
`3
`7
`___ __._ _ _ _ _ ANNOUNc. _____ __,
`ING
`ORDER
`SELEClffi
`
`7
`
`7
`
`6
`
`6
`
`2
`
`6
`
`2
`
`6
`
`VOICE
`MESSAGE
`SIGNAL
`
`7
`
`2
`
`VOICE
`MESSAGE
`SIGNAL
`
`8
`
`8
`
`8
`
`8
`
`r!NG
`COODITION
`IDENTIFI(cid:173)
`CATION
`
`OPERATING
`CONDITION
`IDENTIFI(cid:173)
`CATION
`
`OPERATING
`CONDITION
`IDENTIFI(cid:173)
`CATION
`
`<FERArlNG
`CONDITIOO
`IDENTIFI
`CATION
`
`5
`
`5
`
`.. 5
`
`.. 5
`
`FROM PLANT
`SITE A
`
`FROM PLANT
`SITE B
`
`FROM PLANT
`SITE C
`
`FROM PLANT
`SITE N
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 3, 1990
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`4,914,705
`
`FIG. 2
`
`4
`
`4
`
`4
`
`I I
`
`MESSAGE
`ANNOUNCING
`ORDER
`CETERMINATION
`
`6a
`
`--7 .. -3
`
`~ - - -+ - - - - ,
`102
`
`MESSAGE
`OUTPUT
`100
`
`- - - OUTPUT
`SELECT! N
`6a
`100
`MESSAGE
`OUTPUT
`M MORY
`
`IOI
`
`10
`
`+ - -+ - -+ - - - - - - -+ -+--+--- 1-------_j
`6
`7
`
`PLANT
`Pl.ANT A ... Nff Pl.ANT
`SITE SITE · · · SITE
`SITE
`N
`C
`B
`A
`
`Pl.ANT Pl.ANT Pt.ANT
`fl.ANT
`SITE SITE··· SITE
`SITE
`N
`C
`B
`A
`
`PLANT OPERATION
`MODE SIGNAL
`
`MESSAGE
`OUTPUT SIGNAL
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Apr. 3, 1990
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`4,914,705
`
`FIG. 3
`
`START
`
`NO PLURAL DEMANDS FOR
`~ - -< VOICE MESSAGE
`ANNOUNCEMENT ?
`
`YES
`
`S2
`
`SELECT
`DEMAND
`SIGNAL AS
`FIRST
`MESSAGE
`SIGNAL
`
`DETERMINE PRIORITY
`ORDER ACCORDING TO
`TYPE OF VOICE MESSAGE
`
`YES
`
`SI
`
`S3
`
`YES
`
`PRIORITY ORDER OF
`MESSAGE SIGNALS
`DETERMINED BY CONTENT ?
`
`S4
`
`NO
`
`DETERMINE PRIORITY
`ORDER .accORDING TO
`PLANT OPERATION MODE
`
`S5
`
`END
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Apr. 3, 1990
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`4,914,705
`
`PATTERN OF
`MESSAGE
`ANNOUNCEMENT
`
`~VOICE MESSAGE
`
`. ( I ) ~ 0%1
`r:m
`~
`
`PATTERN FOR
`PLANT SITE A
`
`t;0
`
`PATTERN FOR
`PLANT SITE B
`~ ~ ~ PATTERN FOR
`PLANT SITE C
`
`~
`
`~
`
`PATTERN FOR
`PLANT SITE N
`
`FIG.4A
`PRIOR
`ART
`
`PATTERN OF
`MESSAGE
`ANNOUNCEMENT
`_(_2_) __ =1½j..<:..L-_--1.t½L.....½~½.....c...h.L.....%1a._ _ _ _ PATTERN FOR
`PLANT SITE A
`C
`B
`~ 132! 1-r ~ ~ PATTERN FOR
`_,_l--l___,_,t'---"2.L........IH_,_t_3.L...<...<1___._D"-"'-- PLANT SITE B
`_ _ _ _ _J{:;:]1L.L.L _ _ ...1..,88j~_------1.i_~.J.LL.1-PATTERN FOR
`~l----m,
`~ PLANT SITE C
`. ~ B1/l
`PATTER'N FOR
`_ _ ._T_,_1 '-"-'--~1---------- PLANT SITE N
`
`_
`
`_......."""'--'-'.____ _
`
`FIG.48
`
`TOTAL PATTERN
`FOR ALL THE
`PLANT SITES
`(NO INTE~IXING \
`\.TIME INTERVALS)
`
`- - - TIME
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 5
`
`

`

`1
`
`4,914,705
`
`2
`any mistake or misinterpretation, but also the noise due
`to intermixing of voice messages is prevented, improv(cid:173)
`ing the environment in which the operators work.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a
`preferred embodiment of the automatic voice message
`announcing system of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the function of
`the message announcing order selection unit shown in
`FIG. I.
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a practical example of
`the operation of the message announcing order selec(cid:173)
`tion unit shown in FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4A shows a message announcing pattern ac(cid:173)
`cording to a prior art system, and
`FIG. 4B shows a message announcing pattern ac(cid:173)
`cording to this invention.
`
`VOICE MESSAGE ANNOUNCING METHOD AND
`SYSTEM FOR PLANT
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to a method and system for
`announcing, by voice messages, the operating condi(cid:173)
`tions of a plant such as a thermal power plant, or an(cid:173)
`nouncing a change or changes in the operating condi(cid:173)
`tions of such a plant, and more particularly to an an- 10
`nouncing method and system suitable for application to
`a plant where a plurality of voice message announcing
`devices are provided.
`A prior art device for announcing the operating con(cid:173)
`ditions of a plant such as a thermal power plant by voice 15
`messages is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-59-62193 or
`JP-A-57-199006. According to the disclosed device,
`various process variables indicating the operating con(cid:173)
`ditions of the plant are detected, and, when occurrence
`of an abnormal operating condition is detected, it is 20
`automatically announced by a voice message or when a
`change in the operating conditions is detected, it is also
`announced by a voice message, so that operators work(cid:173)
`ing in the plant can be immediately informed of the
`occurrence of the abnormal operating condition or the 25
`change in the operating conditions.
`Practically, it is required to provide an independent
`voice message announcing device for each of individual
`suitably-divided units of the plant. When these voice
`message announcing devices operate independently of 30
`one another, voice messages pertaining to different
`operating conditions are announced simultaneously due
`to the absence of operational harmony among these
`devices. Consequently, a problem has arisen in which
`the announced voice messages mix with one another to 35
`an extent that the individual voice messages cannot be
`distinguished from one another by the operators.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`With a view to solving the prior art problem de- 40
`scribed above, it is a primary object of the present in(cid:173)
`vention to provide an automatic voice message an(cid:173)
`nouncing method and system for use in a plant such as
`a thermal power · plant for sequentially announcing
`voice messages pertaining to different operating condi- 45
`tions without the possibility of intermixing messages
`even when a plurality of voice message announcing
`devices are provided in the plant.
`According to the present invention which attains the
`above object, the priority order of announcement of 50
`voice message signals generated from a plurality of
`independent voice message announcing devices is deter(cid:173)
`mined according to their importance, and the messages
`are serially announced according to the determined
`priority order.
`The voice message signals generated in parallel from
`the plural independent voice message announcing de(cid:173)
`vices are passed through a common message announc(cid:173)
`ing order selection unit in which the parallel voice mes(cid:173)
`sage signals demanding announcement are changed into 60
`serial signals according to the priority order determined
`by their relative importance. Thus, the voice message
`signals generated from the respectively independent
`plural voice message announcing devices do not mix
`together, so that the plural operating condition mes- 65
`sages can be easily distinguished from one another by
`the operators. This is advantageous in that, not only can
`the operators clearly hear the voice messages without
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`A preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`when applied to, for example, a thermal power plant,
`will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
`1, 2 and 3.
`Referring to FIG. 1, the thermal power plant includes
`plant sites A, B, C, ... , N, and the operating conditions
`of each of these plant sites are announced by voice
`messages. The objects operated may be machinery or
`equipments instead of the piants. Information signals S
`indicative of operating conditions of plant site A in- ·
`elude process signals representing the pressure, temper(cid:173)
`ature, flow rate, etc. of various fluids (such as water,
`steam and oil) flowing through plant site A, a voice
`message signal such as an announcement "water data is
`normal" announced by the operator who is observing
`the operating conditions of the plant site A, a machinery
`rotation noise signal generated from the plant site A,
`and a video signal representing the state of combustion
`in the furnace of the boiler of plant site A. Such infor(cid:173)
`mation signals S are applied to a plant operating condi(cid:173)
`tion identification unit 1 identifying the operating con(cid:173)
`ditions of the plant site A on the basis of those informa-
`tion input signals. The operating conditions identified
`by the plant operating condition identification unit 1 are
`as follows: (1) Whether or not the speed of the plant's
`steam turbine has increased up to its rated speed; (2)
`whether or not the pressure of oil lubricating the bear(cid:173)
`ings of Jhe turbine driving the boiler feed water pump
`has decreased to a dangerously low level; (3) whether
`or not the quality (iron content, turbidity, pH value,
`etc.) of boiler feed water has become normal enough to
`end the water clean-up treatment; (4) whether or not
`55 the spare pump for the boiler feed water pump has been
`started; and (5) whether or not an abnormal operating
`state occurs in a part of the boiler control system, and
`the control for that part has been changed over from the
`automatic mode to the manual mode. When announce-
`ment by a voice message of any one operating condition
`message is required as a result of the identification of the
`operating conditions of plant site A by the plant operat(cid:173)
`ing condition identification unit 1, a voice message an(cid:173)
`nouncement instruction signal 8 is applied to a voice
`message signal generating unit 2 from the plant operat(cid:173)
`ing condition identification unit 1. In response to the
`application of the instruction signal 8, the .voice message
`signal generating unit 2 generates a voice message signal
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 6
`
`

`

`4
`3
`message signal generating units 2 of the individual
`consisting of words which can be understood by a
`plants are stored in a voice message signal memory 10.
`human being. As an example, a voice message signal
`The voice message signals 6 are also applied, together
`announcing that "the rotation speed of the steam tur-
`with the plant operation mode information signals 7, to
`bine has attained its rating" is generated as information
`about the operating condition of the machinery and 5 a message announcing order determination unit 11.
`equipment of the plant site A. As another example, a
`Depending on the character of each voice message
`voice message signal announcing that "the bearings of
`signal 6, that is, whether the voice message signal 6
`relates to, for example, an alarm, informing of the oc-
`the turbine driving the boiler feed water pump are ab-
`normal" is generated as information informing of abnor-
`currence of a serious problem in the corresponding
`mal state of the machinery and equipments of plant site 10 plant, or guidance for plant operation, or depending on
`A. As another example, a voice message signal an-
`whether each plant operation mode information signal 7
`nouncing that "the boiler feed water clean-up treatment
`informs that the corresponding plant is still in its start-
`is to be completed" is generated as an operating instruc-
`ing stage or is not in operation, the message announcing
`order determination unit 11 determines the priority
`tion. As another example, a voice message signal an-
`nouncing that "the spare pump for the boiler feed water 15 .order of announcement of the voice message signals 6.
`pump has been automatically started" is generated as
`According to the priority order determined by the mes-
`information about the operation of the machinery and
`sage announcing order determination unit 11, the voice
`equipment of plant site A. As another example, a voice
`message signals 6a selected by a message signal selec-
`tion unit 101 are sequentially applied to a message out-
`message signal announcing that "the boiler control sys-
`tern has been placed in the manual control mode" is 20 put unit 102. After the received voice message signals
`6a have been announced from the speakers 4, the mes-
`generated as information informing of a change in the
`operation control mode. Such a voice message output
`sage output unit 102 applies to the message signal selec-
`signal 6 is applied from the voice message signal gener-
`tion unit 101 a signal 100 which permits subsequent
`ating unit 2 to a message announcing order selection
`transmission of voice message signals. In response to
`unit 3. The voice message signal is produced by any one 25 this transmission permission signal 100, the message
`of known methods, such as speech synthesis or selective
`signal selection unit 101 selects from the voice message
`output of speeches previously recorded on a magnetic
`signal memory 10 the voice message signal 6a having
`tape or the like. The units 1 and 2 are also provided for
`the highest priority among those stored in the memory
`10 and applies the selected signal 6a to the message
`each of the remaining plant sites B, C, - • • , N.
`As in the case of plant site A, voice message output 30 output unit 102". Such operation is repeated. When,
`while a voice message signal transmitted froin the mes-
`signals 6 from the message signal generating units 2 of
`plant sites B, C, ... , N are also applied to the message
`sage output unit 102 is being announced from the
`announcing order selection unit 3. When a plurality of
`speaker 41 an emergency voice message signal having a
`demands for announcement of voice messages exist
`higher priority is received by the message output unit
`simultaneously, the message announcing order selection 35 102, the announcement of the former signal may be
`interrupted, and the latter signal or emergency signal
`unit 3 determines the priority order of announcement of
`the voice messages according to the contents of the
`may be announced. Such interrupt processing is also
`messages and the relative importance of various pieces
`included in the scope of the present invention.
`of information described below, and the voice messages
`The rule for determination of the priority order by
`are announced from speakers 4 according to the priority 40 the message announcing order determination unit 11
`order. Plant operation mode information signals 7 are
`will now be described. Voice messages are classified
`into those having a higher degree of importance and
`also applied from the plant operating condition identifi-
`cation units 1 to the message announcing order selection
`those having a lower degree of importance depending
`unit 3 to provide information about the various operat-
`on their contents. A serious problem, such as a problem
`ing conditions on the basis of which the message an- 45 occurring in a main piece of machinery or equipment,
`nouncing order selection unit 3 determines the priority
`for example turbine or a boiler, and resulting in disconti-
`order of announcement of the voice message, in addi-
`nuity of the plant operation must be announced with a
`tion to the contents of the voice messages. Each of the
`priority higher than others. On the other hand, a guid-
`plant operation mode information signals 7 indicates
`ance message issued to the operators as guidance for
`that the corresponding plant is still in its starting stage 50 manual handling of a machine or equipment may not
`adversely affect the operation of other machines, equip-
`and does not still start to transmit electric power, or that
`the plant is under steady operation with a fixed load, or
`ments and plant even if the manual handling is done
`that the plant is not in operation. The expression "a
`with a slight delay, and, in such a case, other messages
`plurality of demands for announcement of voice mes-
`may have a priority higher than that of the guidance
`sages occur simultaneously" has two meanings. One of 55 message. When such a procedure is followed, the prior-
`ity order of announcement of voice messages can be
`the two meanings is that a plurality of demands literally
`occur at the same time. The other meaning is that two
`determined depending on the contents of the messages
`or more demands for announcement of voice messages
`as, for example, tabulated in Table I.
`occur while another voice message is being announced
`from one of the speakers 4. Actually, the possibility of 60 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T_A_B_L_E_l _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
`occurrence of the latter case requiring the control of the
`Example of determination of
`priority order of voice message announcement is higher
`priority order according to
`contents of voice messages
`than the former case. The message announcing order
`(type of message output signals 6)
`selection unit 3 is novel and has not been proposed
`Priority
`hitherto in the art.
`order
`Contents of Message
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the function of
`Voice message announcing serious trouble
`the message announcing order selection unit 3 shown in
`in main machinery and equip-
`FIG. 1. Voice message output signals 6 from the voice
`ments
`
`· 1st
`
`4,914,705
`
`65
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 7
`
`

`

`4,914,705
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`6
`TABLE 2
`Example of determination of
`priority order according to
`plant operation modes provided
`by plant operation mode signals 7
`(secondary determination)
`
`Priority
`order
`
`Isl
`2nd
`3rd
`4th
`5th
`6th
`7th
`
`Operation mode
`Starting stage (after parallel-in)
`Starting stage (before parallel-in)
`Stopping stage (before parallel-off)
`Stopping stage (after parallel-off)
`Steady operation (changing load)
`Steady operation (fixed load)
`Not in operation
`
`Contents of Message
`
`5
`TABLE I-continued
`Example of determination of
`priority order according to
`contents of voice messages
`(type of message output signals 6)
`Priority
`order
`Voice message announcing medium trouble
`in large auxiliary machinery and
`equipment
`Voice message announcing a change in operat(cid:173)
`ing conditions of main machinery and equip(cid:173)
`ment
`Voice message teaching actuation of automat(cid:173)
`ically controlled machinery and equipment
`Voice message announcing slight trouble
`in valves and small auxiliary
`machinery and equipment
`Voice message announcing a change in operating
`conditions of auxiliary machinery and equip(cid:173)
`ment
`Voice message a.nnouncing guidance for actua(cid:173)
`tion of automatically controlled machinery
`and equipment
`
`2nd
`
`3rd
`
`4th
`
`5th
`
`6th
`
`7th
`
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing, by way of example,
`the steps of processing in the voice message announcing
`order determination unit 11 shown in FIG. 2. In re(cid:173)
`sponse to the application of voice message output sig-
`20 nals 6 and plant operation mode information signals 7,
`the following steps of processing are executed.
`The flow shown in FIG. 3 starts in response to the
`application of a voice message signal 6 to the voice
`message announcing order determination unit 11. First,
`in step Sl, a determination is made as to whe.~her or not
`there are a plurality of demands for voice message an(cid:173)
`nouncement (voice message signals 6). When the in step
`Sl proves that there is only one demand, that is, only
`one voice message signal 6, this voice message signal 6
`is applied in step S2 as a first message signal to the
`message signal selection unit 101 shown in FIG. 2. The
`message signal selection unit 101 selects this first mes(cid:173)
`sage signal 6, and the message signal 6 is applied
`through the message output unit 102 to the correspond(cid:173)
`ing speaker 4 which announces the voice message. On
`the other hand, when plural, for example two, voice
`message signals 6 are simultaneously applied, the prior(cid:173)
`ity order and the type of voice message signals 6 shown
`in Table 1 are referenced in step S3 to classify them into
`a first message signal and a second message signal ac(cid:173)
`cording to the predetermined priority order. When
`these two voice message signals 6 do not have same
`priority as determined in step S4, and the result is
`"NO", the first and second message signals are an(cid:173)
`nounced in that order. On the other hand, when these
`voice message signals 6 have the same priority, the plant
`operation mode information signals 7 are utilized to
`determine the priority order in step S5 according to the
`rule shown in Table 2. After determination of the prior(cid:173)
`ity order in the manner described above, the first mes-
`sage signal is selected in the message signal selection
`unit 101 and is announced from the corresponding
`speaker 4. At the end of announcement of the first mes(cid:173)
`sage signal, the message announcing order determina(cid:173)
`tion unit 11 may have received one or more voice mes-
`sage signals 6, and the priority order is determined again
`according to the flow shown in FIG. 3. Therefore,
`when no demand for message announcement is applied
`during announcement of the first message signal or even
`when one or more voice message signals 6, having pri-
`ority lower than that of the second message signal, are
`applied during announcement of the first message sig(cid:173)
`nal, the second message signal selected in the step S5 is
`announced now as a new first message signal. On the
`other hand, when a voice message signal having prior-
`ity higher than that of the second message signal is
`applied during announcement of the first message sig-
`
`Needless to mention, it is previously set forth that the
`voice message provided by any one of the voice mes- 25
`sage output signals 6 corresponds to one of the seven
`kinds of voice messages described above. Therefore, the
`priority order of the individual voice message output
`signals 6 can be easily identified. However, there may
`be a case where a plurality of voice messages having the 30
`same priority appear simultaneously. For example,
`there may be a case where voice message signals having
`the second priority are generated simultaneously from
`the voice message signal generating units 2 associated
`with plant sites A and N. To deal with such a case, the 35
`priority order is determined on the basis of the plant
`operation mode information signals 7 applied to the
`announcing order determination unit 11. That is, the
`priority order is determined depending on whether the
`specific plant is in operation or is not in operation or in 40
`a starting stage or in a stopping stage. The relative
`importance of voice messages under various operation
`modes of a specific plant is such that a voice message
`signal generated from the message signal generating 45
`unit 2 of a plant when the plant is in operation has a
`priority over a voice message signal generated when the
`plant is not in operation. Also, when the plant is in
`operation, a voice message signal generated in a starting
`stage has a priority over that generated in a stopping 50
`stage, and the voice message signal generated in the
`stopping stage has a priority over that generated during
`the steady operation. Also, in the case of parallel opera(cid:173)
`tion of the plant with other plants for power generation,
`a voice message signal generated in a starting stage after 55
`the plant is placed in the parallel operation mode has a
`priority over that generated before the plant is placed in
`the parallel operation mode. On the other hand, in the
`case of the parallel-off mode of the plant, a voice mes(cid:173)
`sage signal generated in a stopping stage before the 60
`plant is released from the parallel operation mode has a
`priority over that generated after the plant is released
`from the parallel operation mode. Table 2 summarizes
`the priority order of such voice messages appearing in
`the various operation modes. It will be seen from Table 65
`2 that the priority order of those voice messages can be
`easily determined even when voice messages having the
`same priority appear in an overlapping relation.
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 8
`
`

`

`4,914,705
`
`7
`nal, such a message signal is announced earlier than the
`second message signal.
`It will be seen from the above description that voice
`message signals are necessarily announced in the order
`determined according to their relative importance, so S
`that really important information required for the oper(cid:173)
`ators can be immediately announced without the possi(cid:173)
`bility of operators' mishearing because of intermixture
`of announced messages.
`The meritorious effects of the present invention will 10
`be described with reference to FIG. 4B. FIG. 4A shows
`a prior art pattern of voice message announcements in
`each of plant sites A, B, C, ... , N. It will be seen that
`the prior art patterns of voice message announcement
`are independent of one another, and the voice messages 1S
`overlap each other in time intervals t1, t2, t3 and t4.
`Therefore, an operator hears the intermixed messages in
`those time intervals and finds it difficult to clearly dis(cid:173)
`tinguish the contents of the announced messages.
`In contrast, FIG. 4B shows the pattern of voice mes- 20
`sage announcement in each of plant sites A, B, C, ... ,
`N when using the present invention. It will be seen that
`in time intervals ti, t2, t3 and t4, where announced mes(cid:173)
`sages overlap each other, those voice message signals
`having priority lower than the others are announced 2S
`with a suitable delay according to the priority order, so
`as to solve the problem of intermixture of announced
`messages.
`The present invention in which voice messages can
`be serially announced is advantageous in ·that no inter- 30
`mixture of announced messages occurs regardless of the
`number of independent voice message announcing de(cid:173)
`vices.
`We claim:
`1. A voice message announcing method for a plural- 3S
`ity of plant sites, said method comprising the steps of:
`(a) identifying the state of an operating condition at
`... ·each of•a:pJurality of plant sites;
`(b) for each pfant site selecting from among a plural(cid:173)
`ity of voice message signals a voice message signal 40
`indicative of the identified state at the plant site;
`(c) determining an order of announcement for the
`selected voice message signals in accordance with
`a predetermined priority order; and
`(d) announcing the selected voice message signals in 4S
`accordance with the determined order of an(cid:173)
`nouncement.
`2. A voice message announcing method as claimed in
`claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises:
`preparing for each plant site a plant operating instruc- so
`tion in accordance with the identified state at the
`plant site; and
`selecting a voice message signal for each plant operat(cid:173)
`ing instruction.
`3. A voice message announcing method as claimed in ss
`claim 1, further comprising:
`temporarily storing the selected voice message sig(cid:173)
`nals.
`4. A voice message announcing method according to
`claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the state of the operating condi- 60
`tion at each of said plurality of plant sites is identified by
`analyzing plant condition information, a process signal,
`or another voice message signal indicating the state of
`the operating condition at said each plant.
`5. A voice message announcing method according to 6S
`claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the order of announcement of
`
`8
`the voice message signals is determined by analyzing
`the seriousness of problems occurring at each plant site
`or the operation mode at each plant site.
`6. A voice message announcing method according to
`claim 1, 2, or 3 further comprising the steps of:
`assigning a level of urgency to each voice message
`signal;
`stopping the announcement of the selected voice
`message signal when a voice message signal is pre(cid:173)
`pared having a level of urgency higher than the
`level of urgency of the selected voice message
`signal; and
`announcing the voice message signal having the
`higher level of urgency.
`7. A voice message announcing system for a. plurality
`of plant sites, said system comprising:
`a plurality of identifying means, one identifying
`means at each of a like plurality of plant sites for
`identifying the state of an operating condition at
`the associated plant site;
`a like plurality of voice message signal generating
`means, one voice signal generating means being
`provided at each plant site for generating a voice
`message signal indicative of the identified state at
`the associated plant site;
`announcing order selecting means common to said
`plurality of plant sites for selecting an order of
`announcement for the generated voice message
`signals; and
`voice message signal announcing output means for
`annonncing the voice message signals in the se(cid:173)
`lected order of announcement.
`8. A voice message announcing system as claimed in
`claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of voice signal
`generating means comprises:
`an operation instruction preparing means for prepar(cid:173)
`ing an operation instruction in accordance with the
`identified state at the associated plant site; and
`a VQice message signal generating device for generat(cid:173)
`ing a voice message signal indicative of the opera(cid:173)
`tion instruction for the associated plant site.
`9. A voice message announcing system according to
`claim 7 or 8, wherein each of said identifying means
`includes means for identifying the state of the operating
`condition of the associated plant by analyzing plant
`condition information, a process signal, or another
`voice signal message indicating the state of the operat(cid:173)
`ing condition at the associated plant site.
`10. A voice message announcing system according to
`claim 7 or 8, wherein said announcing order selecting
`means includes means for determining the order of
`announcement based on the seriousness of problems
`occurring at each plant site or on the operation mode at
`each plant site.
`11. A voice message announcing system according to
`claim 7 or 8, further comprising:
`urgency level assigning means common to said plu(cid:173)
`rality of plant sites for assigning a level of urgency
`to the voice message signals; and
`message interrupt means responsive to preparation of
`a voice message assigned a higher priority level
`during announcing of a voice message signal of a
`lower priority level for interrupting the announc(cid:173)
`ing of the lower priority level message and an(cid:173)
`nouncing the higher priority voice message signal.
`• • • • •
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1007, p. 9
`
`