Ultrasensitive surveillance of sensors and processes

A method of monitoring a source of data for determining an operating condition of a system, comprising the steps of:

• determining learned states of a normal operational condition of a system;
• using the learned states of the normal operational condition as inputs to a first computer program module for generating expected values of the system by performing a bounded angle ratio test procedure for the system having at least three sensors which generate signals selected from the group consisting of a nonlinearly and linearly related signals, relative to one another;
• and
• inputting the expected values to a second computer program module for performing a sequential probability ratio test and upon detecting a deviation from a pattern characteristic of normal operation an alarm is generated which indicates a failure in an item selected from the group consisting of said system and one of said sensors.

A method monitoring a source of data for determining an operating condition of a system, comprising the steps of:

• determining learned states of a normal operational condition of a system;
• using the learned states of the normal operational condition as inputs to a first computer program module for generating expected values of the system by performing a bounded angle ratio test procedure for the system having at least three sensors which generate signals selected from the group consisting of a nonlinearly and linearly related signals, relative to one another;
• inputting the expected values to a second computer program module for performing a sequential probability ratio test and upon detecting a deviation from a pattern characteristic of normal operation of one of said sensors an alarm is generated when a failure of one of said sensors occurs;
• identifying a faulted sensor in the system;
• and
• substituting the faulted sensor with an estimated signal.