Rule based diagnostic system with dynamic alteration capability
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsChristian T. Kemper, Simon Lowenfeld, Mark S. Fox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sensor based diagnostic apparatus for performing on-line realtime monitoring of an industrial or other operating system. The diagnostic apparatus has a rule network for propagation of belief leading to one or more possible malfunctions of equipment in the operating system. The propagation of belief is dynamically altered as a function of the operating conditions of the sensors themselves.
Claims11
A method of diagnosing an operating system to malfunctions comprising the steps of:
- (A) storing a rule base pertinent to the particular operating system being diagnosed and being operable to reach one or more conclusions relative to the condition of said system and being comprised of a plurality of schema, each said schema being defined by a data structure having a plurality of slots in which particular attributes of the schema are stored;
- and
- (B) changing the contents of any predetermined slot of any predetermined other schema upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
A method of diagnosing an operating system subject to malfunctions, comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing a plurality of sensors throughout said operating system to obtain respective signals indicative of predetermined operating parameters of said system;
- (B) storing a rule base pertinent to the particular operating system being diagnosed;
- (C) providing said sensor signals as inputs to said rule base to propagate belief leading to at least one particular consequent malfunction of said operating system;
- (D) diagnosing by said rule base, possible malfunctions of said sensors themselves;
- and
- (E) modifying said propagation of belief as a function of any sensor malfunction.
A method of diagnosing an operating system subject to malfunctions and having a plurality of sensors providing signals related to system parameters, comprising the steps of:
- (A) storing a rule base pertinent to the particular operating system being diagnosed;
- (B) providing said sensor signals as inputs to said rule base to diagnose malfunctions of said operating system, based upon said sensor signals said rule base being comprised of a plurality of schema, each said schema being defined by a data structure having a plurality of slots into which particular attributes of the schema are stored;
- and
- (C) changing the contents of at least one slot in a predetermined other schema upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition of at least one sensor of said plurality.
A method of on-line diagnosing of an operating system comprising the steps of:
- (A) connecting a plurality of sensors to said system to obtain sensor signals relating to predetermined parameters of said system, while said system is in operation;
- (B) providing indications relating to the overall operating condition of said system, based upon said sensor signals;
- (C) monitoring the operating condition of said sensors themselves;
- (D) modifying the value of a sensor's input contribution to said diagnosis if the particular sensor itself is in an abnormal operating condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.