System and method for converting data, and system and method for providing warning signals

A method for converting data, comprising:

• performing a MIN/MAX/Low/High/Acceptable detection routine, said MIN/MAX/Low/High/Acceptable detection routine comprising:
• receiving a set of data values for a parameter;
• assigning each data value which is less than a minimum possible value to a first category;
• assigning each data value which is within an acceptable range of values to a second category;
• assigning each data value which is greater than a maximum possible value to a third category;
• assigning each data value which is at least as large as said minimum possible value and less than a lowest value in said acceptable range to a fourth category;
• and
• assigning each data value which is not greater than said maximum possible value and which is greater than the highest value in said acceptable range to a fifth category;
• if a number of data values in said fourth category exceeds a number of data values in said second category and exceeds a number of data values in said fifth category, assigning a first level to a first indicator, assigning a first status to a second indicator and again performing said MIN/MAX/Low/High/Acceptable detection routine;
• if said number of data values in said fifth category exceeds said number of data values in said second category and is at least as large as said number of data values in said fourth category, assigning said first level to said first indicator, assigning a second status to said second indicator and again performing said MIN/MAX/Low/High/Acceptable detection routine;
• if said number of data values in said second category is at least as large as said number of data values in said fourth category and is at least as large as said number of data values in said fifth category, performing a basic record creation routine, said basic record creation routine comprising:
• dividing a range of values within said second category into a plural number of range segments;
• for each of said range segments, determining a quantity of said data values which fall within said range segment;
• characterizing a range segment having a maximum quantity of said data values as Rmax, and assigning said Rmax to a final range category;
• performing a next range segment analysis, said next range segment analysis comprising:
• if a next lower range segment has a greater quantity of data values than a quantity of data values in a next higher range segment, said next lower range segment including a highest range of values which is less than the lowest value in said final range category, said next higher range segment including a lowest range of values which is greater than the highest value in said final range category, and if said next lower range segment has a quantity of data values which is at least a minimum ratio of a quantity of data values in Rmax, adding said next lower range segment to said final range category and again performing said next range segment analysis;
• if said quantity of data values in said next higher range segment is at least as large as said quantity of data values in said next lower range segment and is at least said minimum ratio of said quantity of data values in Rmax, adding said next higher range segment to said final range category and again performing said next range segment analysis;
• if (a) said quantity of data values in said next lower range segment is greater than said quantity of data values in said next higher range segment, and said quantity of data values in said next lower range segment is less than said minimum ratio of said quantity of data values in Rmax, or (b) said quantity of data values in said next higher range segment is at least as large as said quantity of data values in said next lower range segment, and said quantity of data values in said next higher range segment is less than said minimum ratio of said quantity of data values in Rmax, performing a final range comparison routine, said final range comparison routine comprising:
• if at least one range segment has a quantity of data values which is at least said minimum ratio of said quantity of data values in Rmax and is not included in said final range, reducing said number of range segments by one and again performing said basic record creation routine;
• determining a quantity of said data values falling within a Low range, a quantity of said data values falling within an X range, a quantity of said data values falling within a Y range, a quantity of said data values falling within a Z range and a quantity of said data values falling within a High range,
• said Low range including all values which are not less than said minimum possible value and which are less than said lowest value in said acceptable range,
• said X range including all values which are at least as large as said lowest value in said acceptable range and less than a lowest value in said final range,
• said Y range including all values which are within said final range,
• said Z range including all values which are greater than a highest value in said final range and not larger than said highest value in said acceptable range;
• and
• said High range including all values which are not greater than said maximum possible value and which are greater than said highest value in said acceptable range;
• performing a current record creation routine, said current record creation routine comprising:
• receiving a fresh set of data values for said parameter;
• determining a Low value, said Low value being a quantity of data values within said fresh set of data values which fall within said Low range;
• determining an X value, said X value being a quantity of data values within said fresh set of data values which fall within said X range;
• determining a Y value, said Y value being a quantity of data values within said fresh set of data values which fall within said Y range;
• determining a Z value, said Z value being a quantity of data values within said fresh set of data values which fall within said Z range;
• determining a High value, said High value being a quantity of data values within said fresh set of data values which fall within said High range;
• if said Low value is greater than each of said X value, said Y value, said Z value and said High value, assigning said first level to said first indicator, assigning said first status to said second indicator and proceeding to a decreasing current record creation routine;
• if said High value is at least as large as said Low value, and greater than each of said X value, said Y value and said Z value, assigning said first level to said first indicator, assigning said second status to said second indicator and proceeding to an increasing current record creation routine;
• if said X value is at least as large as said Low value and at least as large as said High value, and greater than each of said Y value and said Z value, assigning a second level to said first indicator, assigning said first status to said second indicator and proceeding to said decreasing current record creation routine;
• if said Z value is at least as large as said Low value, at least as large as said High value, at least as large as said X value and greater than said Y value, assigning said second level to said first indicator, assigning said second status to said second indicator and proceeding to said increasing current record creation routine;
• and
• if said Y value is at least as large as each of said Low value, said X value, said Z value and said High value, assigning a third level to said first indicator, assigning a third status to said second indicator and again performing said current record creation routine;
• said decreasing current record creation routine comprising:
• receiving a new fresh set of data values for said parameter;
• determining a new Low value, said new Low value being a quantity of data values within said new fresh set of data values which fall within said Low range;
• determining an X1 value, said X1 value being a quantity of data values within said new fresh set of data values which fall within a first portion of said X range;
• determining an X2 value, said X2 value being a quantity of data values within said new fresh set of data values which fall within a second portion of said X range, said second portion of said X range including values which are greater than values in said first portion of said X range;
• determining an X3 value, said X3 value being a quantity of data values within said new fresh set of data values which fall within a third portion of said X range, said third portion of said X range including values which are greater than values in said second portion of said X range;
• determining a new Y value, said new Y value being a quantity of data values within said new fresh set of data values which fall within said Y range;
• determining a new Z value, said new Z value being a quantity of data values within said new fresh set of data values which fall within said Z range;
• determining a new High value, said new High value being a quantity of data values within said new fresh set of data values which fall within said High range;
• if said new High value is greater than each of said new Low value, said X1 value, said X2 value, said X3 value, said new Y value and said new Z value, assigning said first level to said first indicator, assigning said second status to said second indicator and proceeding to said increasing current record creation routine;
• if said new Low value is at least as large as said new High value, and greater than each of said X1 value, said X2 value, said X3 value, said new Y value and said new Z value, assigning said first level to said first indicator, assigning said first status to said second indicator and again performing said decreasing current record creation routine;
• if said new Z value is at least as large as said new High value, at least as large as said new Low value, and greater than each of said X1 value, said X2 value, said X3 value and said new Y value, assigning said second level to said first indicator, assigning said second status to said second indicator and proceeding to said increasing current record creation routine;
• if said X1 value is at least as large as said new Low value, at least as large as said new High value, at least as large as said new Z value, and greater than each of said X2 value, said X3 value and said new Y value, assigning said first status to said second indicator, modifying said third portion of said X range to include all values which were within said second portion of said X range as well as all values which were within said third portion of said X range, dividing said first portion of said X range into a first X1 part and a second X1 part, said first X1 part having values lower than said second X1 part, said first X1 part becoming said first portion of said X range, said second X1 part becoming said second portion of said X range, and again performing said decreasing current record creation routine;
• if said X2 value is at least as large as said new Low value, at least as large as said new High value, at least as large as said new Z value, at least as large as said X1 value, and greater than each of said X3 value and said new Y value, assigning said first status to said second indicator, modifying said third portion of said X range to include all values which were within said second portion of said X range as well as all values which were within said third portion of said X range, dividing said first portion of said X range into a first X2 part and a second X2 part, said first X2 part having values lower than said second X2 part, said first X2 part becoming said first portion of said X range, said second X2 part becoming said second portion of said X range, and again performing said decreasing current record creation routine;
• if said X3 value is at least as large as said new Low value, at least as large as said new High value, at least as large as said new Z value, at least as large as said X1 value, at least as large as said X2 value, and greater than said new Y value, assigning said first status to said second indicator, modifying said first portion of said X range to include all values which were within said second portion of said X range as well as all values which were within said first portion of said X range, dividing said third portion of said X range into a first X3 part and a second X3 part, said first X3 part having values lower than said second X3 part, said first X3 part becoming said second portion of said X range, said second X3 part becoming said third portion of said X range, and again performing said decreasing current record creation routine;
• and
• if said new Y value is at least as large as each of said new Low value, said X1 value, said X2 value, said X3 value, said new Z value and said new High value, assigning said third level to said first indicator, assigning said third status to said second indicator and again performing said current record creation routine;
• said increasing current record creation routine comprising:
• receiving a current fresh set of data values for said parameter;
• determining a current Low value, said current Low value being a quantity of data values within said current fresh set of data values which fall within said Low range;
• determining a current X value, said current X value being a quantity of data values within said current fresh set of data values which fall within said X range;
• determining a current Y value, said current Y value being a quantity of data values within said current fresh set of data values which fall within said Y range;
• determining a Z1 value, said Z1 value being a quantity of data values within said current fresh set of data values which fall within a first portion of said Z range;
• determining a Z2 value, said Z2 value being a quantity of data values within said current fresh set of data values which fall within a second portion of said Z range, said second portion of said Z range including values which are greater than values in said first portion of said Z range;
• determining a Z3 value, said Z3 value being a quantity of data values within said current fresh set of data values which fall within a third portion of said Z range, said third portion of said Z range including values which are greater than values in said second portion of said Z range;
• determining a current High value, said current High value being a quantity of data values within said current fresh set of data values which fall within said High range;
• if said current Low value is greater than each of said current X value, said current Y value, said Z1 value, said Z2 value, said Z3 value and said current High value, assigning said first level to said first indicator, assigning said first status to said second indicator and proceeding to said decreasing current record creation routine;
• if said current High value is at least as large as said current Low value, and greater than each of said current X value, said current Y value, said Z1 value, said Z2 value and said Z3 value, assigning said first level to said first indicator, assigning said second status to said second indicator and again performing said increasing current record creation routine;
• if said current X value is at least as large as said current Low value, at least as large as said current High value, and greater than each of said current Y value, said Z1 value, said Z2 value and said Z3 value, assigning said second level to said first indicator, assigning said first status to said second indicator and proceeding to said decreasing current record creation routine;
• if said Z3 value is at least as large as said current Low value, at least as large as said current High value, at least as large as said current X value, and greater than each of said current Y value, said Z1 value and said Z2 value, assigning said second status to said second indicator, modifying said first portion of said Z range to include all values which were within said second portion of said Z range as well as all values which were within said first portion of said Z range, dividing said third portion of said Z range into a first Z3 part and a second Z3 part, said first Z3 part having values lower than said second Z3 part, said first Z3 part becoming said second portion of said Z range, said second Z3 part becoming said third portion of said Z range, and again performing said increasing current record creation routine;
• if said Z2 value is at least as large as said current Low value, at least as large as said current High value, at least as large as said current X value, at least as large as said Z3 value, and greater than each of said Z1 value and said current Y value, assigning said second status to said second indicator, modifying said first portion of said Z range to include all values which were within said second portion of said Z range as well as all values which were within said first portion of said Z range, dividing said third portion of said Z range into a first Z2 part and a second Z2 part, said first Z2 part having values lower than said second Z2 part, said first Z2 part becoming said second portion of said Z range, said second Z2 part becoming said third portion of said Z range, and again performing said increasing current record creation routine;
• if said Z1 value is at least as large as said current Low value, at least as large as said current High value, at least as large as said current X value, at least as large as said Z3 value, at least as large as said Z2 value, and greater than said current Y value, assigning said second status to said second indicator, modifying said third portion of said Z range to include all values which were within said second portion of said Z range as well as all values which were within said third portion of said Z range, dividing said first portion of said Z range into a first Z1 part and a second Z1 part, said first Z1 part having values lower than said second Z1 part, said first Z1 part becoming said first portion of said Z range, said second Z1 part becoming said second portion of said Z range, and again performing said increasing current record creation routine;
• and
• if said current Y value is at least as large as each of said current Low value, said current X value, said Z1 value, said Z2 value, said Z3 value and said current High value, assigning said third level to said first indicator, assigning said third status to said second indicator and again performing said current record creation routine.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one sensor;
• a data evaluation component which receives sensor data from said at least one sensor and which generates data information based on evaluation of said sensor data;
• a general report generating component which receives data information from said data evaluation component and expert information, and which generates general reports based on said expert information and said data information;
• a system-specific report generating component which receives information pertaining to said system and expert information, and which generates system-specific reports based on said expert information, said information pertaining to said system and data information received from said data evaluation component;
• and
• a decision-making component which makes decisions based on data information from said data evaluation component, said general reports and said system-specific reports.

A method for converting data, comprising:

• receiving a set of first data values for a parameter, said first data values being generated over a first period of time between a beginning of said first period of time and an end of said first period of time;
• assigning each of said first data values to at least one of at least three initial ranges of values;
• identifying at least one first data set maximum range, each said first data set maximum range being one of said initial ranges which has a maximum number of said first data values;
• receiving a set of second data values for said parameter, said second data values being generated over a second period of time, at least a portion of said second period of time being subsequent to said end of said first period of time;
• assigning each of said second data values to at least one of at least three later ranges of values;
• identifying at least one second data set maximum range, each said second data set maximum range being one of said later ranges which has a maximum number of said second data values.

A method for converting data, comprising performing a basic record creation routine comprising:

• receiving a set of first data values for a parameter, said first data values being generated over a first period of time between a beginning of said first period of time and an end of said first period of time;
• for each of a number of range segments, determining a quantity of said first data values which fall within said range segment;
• characterizing a range segment having a maximum quantity of said first data values as Rmax, and assigning said Rmax to a final range category;
• performing a next range segment analysis, said next range segment analysis comprising:
• if a next lower range segment has a greater quantity of first data values than a quantity of first data values in a next higher range segment, said next lower range segment including a highest range of values which is less than the lowest value in said final range category, said next higher range segment including a lowest range of values which is greater than the highest value in said final range category, and if said next lower range segment has a quantity of first data values which is at least a minimum ratio of a quantity of first data values in Rmax, adding said next lower range segment to said final range category and again performing said next range segment analysis;
• if said quantity of first data values in said next higher range segment is at least as large as said quantity of first data values in said next lower range segment, and if said quantity of first data values in said next higher range segment is at least said minimum ratio of said quantity of first data values in Rmax, adding said next higher range segment to said final range category and again performing said next range segment analysis;
• if (a) said quantity of first data values in said next lower range segment is greater than said quantity of first data values in said next higher range segment, and said quantity of first data values in said next lower range segment is less than said minimum ratio of said quantity of first data values in Rmax, or (b) said quantity of first data values in said next higher range segment is at least as large as said quantity of first data values in said next lower range segment, and said quantity of first data values in said next higher range segment is less than said minimum ratio of said quantity of first data values in Rmax, performing a final range comparison routine, said final range comparison routine comprising:
• if at least one range segment has a quantity of first data values which is at least said minimum ratio of said quantity of first data values in Rmax and is not included in said final range, reducing said number of range segments by one and again performing said basic record creation routine;
• if every range segment which has a quantity of first data values which is at least said minimum ratio of said quantity of first data values in Rmax is included in said final range, defining endpoints of a basic value range to be the same as endpoints of said final range;
• receiving a set of second data values for said parameter, said second data values being generated over a second period of time, at least a portion of said second period of time being subsequent to said end of said first period of time;
• assigning each of said second data values to one of at least three value ranges, one of said value ranges being said basic value range;
• identifying a second data set maximum range, said second data set maximum range being one of said value ranges which has a maximum quantity of said second data values.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components, comprising:

• means for receiving a set of first data values for a parameter, said first data values being generated over a first period of time between a beginning of said first period of time and an end of said first period of time;
• means for assigning each of said first data values to at least one of at least three initial ranges of values;
• means for identifying at least one first data set maximum range, each said first data set maximum range being one of said initial ranges which has a maximum number of said first data values;
• means for receiving a set of second data values for said parameter, said second data values being generated over a second period of time, at least a portion of said second period of time being subsequent to said end of said first period of time;
• means for assigning each of said second data values to at least one of at least three later ranges of values;
• means for identifying at least one second data set maximum range, each said second data set maximum range being one of said later ranges which has a maximum number of said second data values.