Techniques for distributed machinery monitoring

A method of monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at a first processing element a message including a segment of sensor data about the machine from a second processing element, which segment is determined at the second processing element to indicate a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• in response to receiving the message, performing on the segment of sensor data, at the first processing element, first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine, the narrowband frequency domain processing different from second processing performed in the second processing element;
• and
• if the deviation from normal operations is determined to be significant for maintaining the machine, then reporting the deviation to cause the machine to be maintained,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

A method of monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, the method comprising the steps of:

• collecting, at a first processing element, sensor data about the machine;
• performing first narrowband frequency domain processing on the first processing element to determine a segment of sensor data that indicates a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• and
• sending a message including the segment of sensor data to a second processing element for performing different second narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• receiving a message including a segment of sensor data about the machine from a second processor, which segment is determined at the second processor to indicate a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• in response to receiving the message, performing on the segment of sensor data first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine, the narrowband frequency domain processing different from second processing performed in the second processor;
• and
• if the deviation from normal operations is determined to be significant for maintaining the machine, then reporting the deviation to cause the machine to be maintained,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• collecting sensor data about the machine;
• performing first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine a segment of sensor data that indicates a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• and
• sending a message including the segment of sensor data to a second processor for performing different second narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

An apparatus for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, comprising:

• a communications port for receiving messages;
• a computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions;
• and
• a processor connected to the communications port and computer readable medium,
• wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:
• receiving a message including a segment of sensor data about the machine from a second processor, which segment is determined at the second processor to indicate a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• in response to receiving the message, performing on the segment of sensor data first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine, the narrowband frequency domain processing different from second processing performed in the second processor;
• and
• if the deviation from normal operations is determined to be significant for maintaining the machine, then reporting the deviation to cause the machine to be maintained,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

An apparatus for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, comprising:

• a communications port for sending messages;
• a sensor for generating sensor data about the machine;
• a computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions;
• and
• a processor connected to the communications port, the sensor and the computer readable medium, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:
• collecting sensor data about the machine from the sensor;
• performing first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine a segment of sensor data that indicates a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• and
• sending a message including the segment of sensor data to a second processor for performing different second narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

An apparatus for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, comprising:

• means for receiving a message including a segment of sensor data about the machine from a second processor, which segment is determined at the second processor to indicate a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• means for performing on the segment of sensor data, in response to receiving the message, first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine, the narrowband frequency domain processing different from second processing performed in the second processor;
• and
• means for reporting the deviation to cause the machine to be maintained, if the deviation from normal operations is determined to be significant for maintaining the machine,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

An apparatus for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, comprising:

• means for collecting sensor data about the machine;
• means for performing first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine a segment of sensor data that indicates a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• and
• means for sending a message including the segment of sensor data to a second processor for performing different second narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine,
• wherein narrowband frequency domain processing includes:
• normalizing a frequency spectrum for a temporal portion of sensor data, which includes determining a broad background spectrum and removing the broad background spectrum from the frequency spectrum to produce a residual spectrum;
• and
• determining in the residual spectrum a peak set of one or more spectral peaks that exceed a threshold amplitude.

A system for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, comprising:

• a communications channel;
• a remote unit connected to the communications channel, the remote unit including:
• a first communications port for sending messages over the communications channel;
• a sensor for generating sensor data about the machine;
• a first computer-readable medium storing a first set of one or more sequences of instructions and first data indicating sensor data during at least one of normal operations of the machine and operations when the machine should be maintained;
• and
• a first processor connected to the communications port, the sensor and the computer readable medium, wherein execution of the first set of instructions by the first processor causes the first processor to perform the steps of
• collecting sensor data about the machine from the sensor,
• performing first narrowband frequency domain processing to determine a segment of sensor data that indicates a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation, and
• sending a message including the segment of sensor data;
• and
• a base unit connected to the communications channel, the base unit including:
• a second communications port for receiving messages over the communications channel;
• a second computer-readable medium storing a second set of one or more sequences of instructions and second data indicating sensor data during at least one of normal operations of the machine and during operations when the machine should be maintained;
• and
• a second processor connected to the communications port and the computer readable medium, wherein execution of the second set of instructions by the second processor causes the second processor to perform the steps of:
• receiving the message,
• in response to receiving the message, performing different narrowband frequency domain processing to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine, and
• reporting the deviation to cause the machine to be maintained, if the deviation from normal operations is determined to be significant for maintaining the machine.

A system for monitoring a machine for significant deviations from normal operations, comprising:

• means for collecting, at a first processing element, sensor data about the machine;
• means for performing narrowband frequency domain processing on the first processing element to determine a segment of sensor data that indicates a deviation from normal operations that exceeds a threshold deviation;
• means for sending a message including the segment of sensor data to a more powerful second processing element;
• means for performing different narrowband frequency domain processing, at the second processing element in response to receiving the message, to determine whether the deviation from normal operations is significant for maintaining the machine;
• and
• means for reporting the deviation to cause the machine to be maintained, if the deviation from normal operations is determined to be significant for maintaining the machine.