Starfield display of control system diagnostic information

A method for providing operational information in a control system, which includes a plurality of operational units that respond to signals from a plurality of sensors, said method comprising:

• producing a first starfield pattern wherein the starfield pattern has a plurality of star clusters which depict functional statuses of the plurality of operational units and the plurality of sensors;
• storing data defining a plurality of additional starfield patterns which depict statuses of the plurality of operational units and the plurality of sensors;
• storing, for each one of the plurality of additional starfield patterns, a designation of an operational condition of the control system represented by that one of the plurality of additional starfield patterns;
• comparing the first starfield pattern to each of the plurality of additional starfield patterns to determine a degree of similarity therebetween;
• and
• selecting a designation of an operational condition from storage in response to the degree of similarity between a given one of the plurality of additional starfield patterns and the current starfield pattern.