Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Remote supervisory monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-31
2004-09-21
Assouad, Patrick J (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Remote supervisory monitoring
C702S183000, C706S914000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06795799
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to monitoring framework, and more specifically to a distributed diagnosis architecture for remote monitoring, diagnosis, and maintenance of systems having multiple components, each component having sensors for monitoring and generating signals indicative of a characteristic of the component.
BACKGROUND
High rise buildings, nuclear power plants, manufacturing facilities, etc. generally employ a plurality of highly connected network enabled systems. For example, heating and air conditioning systems, fire prevention systems, alarm systems, security systems and many other systems and subsystems thereof perform various functions in these structures and facilities as well as in many other applications. Often, systems such as those identified above, perform critical functions and need to be closely monitored to ensure the efficient and safe operation of the facility or larger system. Systems such as those identified above, as well as others, could benefit from continuous monitoring for performance and maintenance reasons. Typically, systems such as these consist of embedded sensors and are network enabled allowing for the transmission of data to central (or remote) monitoring stations. Many of these systems are sensor rich, that is they employ numerous sensors for monitoring and generating signals indicative of a characteristic of the system, subsystem or component thereof.
Often, the structure, facility or larger systems lack the capability of monitoring the various systems and subsystems employed thereby. For example, various systems such as elevator systems, copy machines, automobiles, etc. employ many subsystems comprising sensors capable of transmitting signals for the purpose of performance monitoring and maintenance. However, many of these type of systems, or components thereof, as well as others, are usually not monitored and maintained remotely over a network.
Many such systems could benefit from a diagnosis server capable of processing data-streams from multiple components thereof by remote devices for the purpose of diagnosis and prognosis of the system or components thereof. Implementation of such a remote networked enabled device for monitoring the many systems and subsystems employed by facilities or large systems is significantly more cost effective than embedding devices capable of monitoring the performance of these systems within each of the structures or large systems.
In an increasingly connected world, it is not hard to imagine systems ranging from household appliances to sophisticated aircraft systems or large office complexes being continuously monitored or routinely connected to remote devices for services such as evaluation, diagnosis and maintenance of the systems and subsystems employed thereby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a framework and architecture for remotely monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining a system having multiple components or subsystems thereof is disclosed.
The invention, in one aspect, discloses a diagnosis server and method that provides for continuous and remote monitoring and transmittal of sensor generated signals to networked logical reasoner applications which process the signals and provide diagnosis, failure detection, responsive signals and user output for the purpose of monitoring and maintaining systems of various complexity in real-time using applications remote from the system being monitored. The diagnosis server provides user-interactive reasoner applications for user controlled monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining of the system being monitored. Additionally, the present invention is designed to utilize prior art and future diagnostic applications for analysis and modeling of sensor signals providing efficient and accurate diagnosis and prognosis of a systems performance and identifying system failures and the potential therefor. The diagnosis server enhances preventive maintenance programs and reduces the number of unscheduled repairs for systems of various complexity in a wide range of industries.
The present invention network-based diagnosis server comprises an architecture such that the diagnostic reasoner applications and system specific knowledge are clearly separated. The latter includes database stored information comprising specifications and diagnostic information specific to the system being monitored as well as models of the system. Also, the diagnosis server provides signal processing and handling applications independent of the logical and user-interactive reasoner applications. These design features allow the diagnosis server to be truly distributed and readily adaptable to various different systems.
Based on the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for remotely monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining a system having multiple components or subsystem thereof.
One advantage of the invention is to reduce system down time by providing continuous and automatic analysis of the performance of individual components of the system being monitored and to identify and isolate faulty parts immediately upon failure, or before failure, enabling maintenance personnel to reduce or eliminate time spent troubleshooting failures in the system.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a distributed network-based diagnosis server for monitoring and diagnosing a system having logical reasoner applications, signal handler applications and signal broker module each as separate entities which can function on separate and distinct computers. The use of separate and distinct networked applications serves to enhance the scalability of the diagnosis server and the overall performance thereof as well as the convenience and practicality of using a diagnosis server networked for use by multiple users in multiple remote locations using multiple computers.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a diagnosis server for remote continuous monitoring and transmittal of sensor generated signals, to logical reasoner applications which process the signals and provide analysis, diagnosis, detection and isolation of system component failures and maintenance of systems of various complexity in real-time from a network remote to the system.
Thus, the present invention real-time diagnosis server and method promotes safety and efficiency in the operation of systems by providing continuous and accurate monitoring, diagnosing, and maintaining of complex systems. Furthermore, the invention reduces the operation costs of complex systems by identifying failures as they happen or potential failures prior to happening which can greatly reduce the time and expense of manual diagnosis and identification of system failures.
The above and other objects and advantages are satisfied by the invention which is a networked-based diagnosis server and method for monitoring and diagnosing a system having multiple components. The diagnosis server being remote from the system being observed.
The network-based diagnosis server comprises at least one sensor for monitoring and generating signals indicative of at least one characteristic of a component of the system, at least one sensor agent coupled to the sensor for receiving signals or messages therefrom, an interface connecting the sensor agent to the network, and a broker module coupled to the network for sending messages to and receiving messages from the sensor agent. The diagnosis server further comprises at least one handler application initiated by and connected to the broker module for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from the broker module and at least one reasoner application in communication with and invocable by the handler application for processing, and responding to messages received from the handler application. The handler application can include observer applications for monitoring the signals being sent and received by the broker module.
The following applications: sensor agents, broker module, handler and reasoner applications operate simultaneousl
Cavanaugh Kevin F.
Deb Somnath
Ghoshal Sudipto
Kleinman David L.
Malepati Venkata N.
Assouad Patrick J
McCormick Paulding & Huber LLP
Qualtech Systems, Inc.
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