Remote diagnosis server

A network-based diagnosis server for monitoring and diagnosing a system having multiple components, said diagnosis server being remote from the system it is observing and comprising:

• 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 said sensor for receiving signals from said sensor;
• an interface connecting said sensor agent to said network;
• a broker module coupled to said network for sending signals to and receiving signals from said sensor agent;
• at least one RT-Agent application initiated by and connected to said broker module for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from said broker module;
• at least one TEAMS-RT reasoner application in communication with and invocable by said RT-Agent application for processing, and responding to signals received from said RT-Agent application;
• said sensor agent, said broker module, said RT-Agent application, and said TEAMS-RT reasoner application operate simultaneously relative to each other;
• said broker module being independent of said RT-Agent application and said TEAMS-RT reasoner application such that said diagnosis server is readily adaptable to various systems;
• and
• wherein said diagnosis server performs continuous monitoring and diagnosing of said components of the system.

A method of remotely monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining a system in real-time, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) generating signals indicative of the state of at least one component of the system via a plurality of sensors;
• b) transmitting said signals to remote applications via a network;
• c) continuously monitoring and diagnosing said signals for indications of component failures and the potential therefor;
• and
• d) generating and transmitting signals to user output devices and controllers of the system.