System, method and computer program product for real-time event indentification and course of action interpretation

• US 20060112119A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Vian, John L., Clark, Gregory J., Pigg, Paul E. R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system for identifying events includes a memory capable of storing a compressed event table including a number of events, the event table having been compressed by reducing the number of events in the event table without reducing the number of events represented by the event table. Each event of the event table includes a set of state parameters, and may also be associated with an output. The system also includes a processor capable of operating a fast state recognition (FSR) application. The FSR application, in turn, can receive a plurality of inputs, and identify an event of the compressed event table based upon the plurality of inputs and the state parameters of the compressed event table, event being identified in accordance with a state recognition technique.

Claims

1. A system for identifying events, the system comprising:

a memory capable of storing a compressed event table including a number of events each comprising a set of state parameters, the event table having been compressed by reducing the number of events in the event table without reducing the number of events represented by the event table; and

a processor capable of operating a fast state recognition (FSR) application, wherein the FSR application is capable of receiving a plurality of inputs, and identifying an event of the compressed event table based upon the plurality of inputs and the state parameters of the compressed event table, event being identified in accordance with a state recognition technique.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the memory is capable of storing a compressed event table including a number of events each further associated with an output, the event table having been compressed by reducing the number of events with respect to events associated with the same output.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the FSR application is further capable of determining an output based upon the identified event.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the FSR application is capable of identifying an event in accordance with a masked neural network technique.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the FSR application is capable of identifying an event in accordance with a binary decision diagram technique.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the FSR application is capable of identifying an event by matching the plurality of inputs with a set of state parameters of the compressed event table.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the memory is capable of storing an event table including a number of events of a vehicle, wherein each event of the event table comprises a set of state parameters representing known outputs of a plurality of modules of the vehicle, and wherein the FSR application is capable of receiving a plurality of inputs comprising data output by the modules of the vehicle.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the memory and processor are embodied in a monitoring controller associated with the vehicle, wherein the FSR application is capable of receiving data output onto a plurality of buses from the modules of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, and

wherein, after the FSR application identifies an event, the monitoring controller is capable of packaging event data including the identified event for at least one module, and thereafter transmitting the packaged event data external to the vehicle at least partially over a wireless communication link, the monitoring controller transmitting the packaged event data via a data unit of the vehicle.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein each event of the event table is associated with a course of action, wherein the FSR application is further capable of determining a course of action based upon the identified event, and

wherein the monitoring controller is capable of packaging event data further including the determined course of action.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring controller is capable of packaging event data by at least one of compressing event data and removing at least one extraneous data field of the event data based upon a format of the event data.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring controller is further capable of recording the output data after receiving the output data.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system comprises a plurality of monitoring controllers, each associated with a vehicle and including a memory and a processor, and wherein the system further comprises:

a user processor capable of receiving at least one of the output data and the event data from each of the plurality of monitoring controllers.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the user processor is also capable of sending, to at least one monitoring controller, at least one of the output data and the event data from at least one other monitoring controller.

14. A computer-implemented method of identifying events, the method comprising:

providing an event table including a number of events, each event comprising a set of state parameters;

reducing the number of events of the event table to thereby compress the event table, the number of events being reduced without reducing the number of events represented by the event table;

receiving a plurality of inputs; and

identifying an event of the compressed event table based upon the plurality of inputs and the state parameters of the compressed event table, event being identified in accordance with a state recognition technique.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein each event of the event table is associated with an output, and wherein reducing the number of events comprises reducing the number of events with respect to events associated with the same output.

16. A method according to claim 14 further comprising determining an output based upon the identified event.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein identifying an event in accordance with a fast state recognition technique comprises identifying an event in accordance with a masked neural network technique.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein identifying an event in accordance with a fast state recognition technique comprises identifying an event in accordance with a binary decision diagram technique.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein identifying an event comprises matching the plurality of inputs with a set of state parameters of the compressed event table.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein providing an event table comprises providing an event table including a number of events of a vehicle, wherein each event of the event table comprises a set of state parameters representing known outputs of a plurality of modules of the vehicle, and wherein receiving a plurality of inputs comprises receiving data output by the modules of the vehicle.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein receiving data output by the modules of the vehicle comprises receiving data output onto a plurality of buses from the modules of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, and wherein, after identifying an event, the method further comprises:

packaging event data including the identified event for the at least one module; and

transmitting the packaged event data external to the vehicle at least partially over a wireless communication link.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein each event of the event table is associated with a course of action, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a course of action based upon the identified event, and

wherein packaging event data comprises packaging event data further including the determined course of action.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein packaging event data comprises at least one of compressing event data and removing at least one extraneous data field of the event data based upon a format of the event data.

24. A method according to claim 21 further comprising recording the output data after receiving the output data.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein receiving data, recording the output data, identifying an event, packaging event data and transmitting the packaged event data occur for each of a plurality of vehicles, each including a plurality of modules, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving at least one of the output data recorded and the event data packaged for each of the plurality of vehicles.

26. A method according to claim 25 further comprising sending to at least one vehicle at least one of the output data recorded and the event data packaged for at least one other vehicle.

27. A computer program product for identifying events, wherein the computer program product comprises at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for providing an event table including a number of events, each event comprising a set of state parameters;

a second executable portion for reducing the number of events of the event table to thereby compress the event table, the number of events being reduced without reducing the number of events represented by the event table;

a third executable portion for receiving a plurality of inputs; and

a fourth executable portion for identifying an event of the compressed event table based upon the plurality of inputs and the state parameters of the compressed event table, event being identified in accordance with a state recognition technique.

28. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein each event of the event table is associated with an output, and wherein the second executable portion is adapted to reduce the number of events with respect to events associated with the same output.

29. A computer program product according to claim 27 further comprising a fifth executable portion for determining an output based upon the identified event.

30. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the fourth executable portion is adapted to identify an event in accordance with a masked neural network technique.

31. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the fourth executable portion is adapted to identify an event in accordance with a binary decision diagram technique.

32. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the fourth executable portion is adapted to identify an event by matching the plurality of inputs with a set of state parameters of the compressed event table.

33. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the first executable portion is adapted to provide an event table including a number of events of a vehicle, wherein each event of the event table comprises a set of state parameters representing known outputs of a plurality of modules of the vehicle, and wherein the third executable portion is adapted to receive a plurality of inputs comprising data output by the modules of the vehicle.

34. An aircraft health monitoring system comprising:

a distributed array of sensors capable of communicating data relating to a state of portions of the aircraft, the data being communicated over a plurality of avionics buses in accordance with an avionics protocol; and

a monitoring controller capable of receiving data output onto the buses of the aircraft by the sensors, and identifying at least one event of the aircraft based upon the output data, wherein the monitoring controller comprises;

a memory capable of storing a compressed event table including a number of events of the aircraft, wherein each event of the event table comprises a set of state parameters representing known outputs of the sensors, and wherein the event table has been compressed by reducing the number of events in the event table without reducing the number of events represented by the event table; and

a processor capable of operating a fast state recognition (FSR) application, wherein the FSR application is capable of receiving data output onto a plurality of buses from the sensors, and identifying an event of the compressed event table based upon the data output from the sensors and the state parameters of the compressed event table, the event being identified in accordance with a state recognition technique.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the memory is capable of storing a compressed event table including a number of events each further associated with a course of action, the event table having been compressed by reducing the number of events with respect to events associated with the same course of action.

36. A system according to claim 34, wherein the FSR application is further capable of determining a course of action based upon the identified event.

37. A computer-implemented method of monitoring the health of an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing an event table including a number of events of the aircraft, wherein each event of the event table comprises a set of state parameters representing known outputs of a plurality of sensors of the aircraft;

reducing the number of events of the event table to thereby compress the event table, the number of events being reduced without reducing the number of events represented by the event table;

receiving data output onto a plurality of avionics buses by the sensors, wherein the data relates to a state of portions of the aircraft, and wherein the data is output onto the avionics buses in accordance with an avionics protocol; and

identifying an event of the aircraft based upon the data output from the sensors and the state parameters of the compressed event table, the event being identified in accordance with a state recognition technique.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein each event of the event table is associated with a course of action, and wherein reducing the number of events comprises reducing the number of events with respect to events associated with the same course of action.

39. A method according to claim 37 further comprising determining a course of action based upon the identified event.

40. A computer program product for monitoring the health of an aircraft, wherein the computer program product comprises at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for providing an event table including a number of events of the aircraft, wherein each event of the event table comprises a set of state parameters representing known outputs of a plurality of sensors of the aircraft;

a second executable portion for reducing the number of events of the event table to thereby compress the event table, the number of events being reduced without reducing the number of events represented by the event table;

a third executable portion for receiving data output onto a plurality of avionics buses by the sensors, wherein the data relates to a state of portions of the aircraft, and wherein the data is output onto the avionics buses in accordance with an avionics protocol; and

a fourth executable portion for identifying an event of the aircraft based upon the data output from the sensors and the state parameters of the compressed event table, the event being identified in accordance with a state recognition technique.

41. A computer program product according to claim 40, wherein each event of the event table is associated with a course of action, and wherein the second executable portion is adapted to reduce the number of events with respect to events associated with the same course of action.

42. A computer program product according to claim 40 further comprising a fifth executable portion for determining a course of action based upon the identified event.