Scalable and Extensible Framework for Storing and Analyzing Sensor Data

• US 20110035187A1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens Corp. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Tas, Nazif Cihan, Neubauer, Claus, Dejori, Mathaeus, Raileanu, Ciprian
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons

Abstract

In a framework for acquiring and analyzing data from a network of sensors, plug-in software interfaces are used to provide scalability and flexibility. Data collection set-up data is exchanged through one or more first plug-in software interfaces with data collection devices, to configure the processor to collect measurement data from the data collection devices. Analysis set-up data is exchanged through one or more second plug-in software interfaces with one or more data analysis software packages, to configure the processor to provide a predefined subset of the measurement data to the data analysis software packages and to accept analysis results from the data analysis software packages. Measurement data and analysis results are subsequently exchanged through the plug-in interfaces.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and processing data, comprising the steps of:

in a processor, exchanging data collection set-up data through a first plug-in software interface with a data collection device to configure the processor to collect measurement data from the data collection device;

collecting measurement data from the data collection device;

in the processor, exchanging analysis set-up data through a second plug-in software interface with a data analysis software package to configure the processor to provide a predefined subset of the measurement data to the data analysis software package and to accept analysis results from the data analysis software package;

providing the predefined subset of the measurement data to the data analysis software package for analysis;

accepting analysis results from the data analysis software package; and

annotating the measurement data with the analysis results.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data collection device comprises a data logger configured to receive data from at least one measurement sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging analysis set-up data includes exchanging a command for identifying measurement data from at least one particular sensor for analysis by the data analysis software package.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of types of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging analysis set-up data includes exchanging a command for identifying measurement data from at least one particular type of sensor for analysis by the data analysis software package.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging data collection set-up data includes exchanging a command for identifying the measurement sensors connected to the data logger.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging data collection set-up data includes exchanging a command for setting a time interval between collections of measurement data for at least one of the plurality of measurement sensors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the steps of exchanging analysis set-up data, providing measurement data and accepting analysis results are each performed by the processor for each of a plurality of data analysis software packages; and

the step of exchanging analysis set-up data configures the processor to provide a first predefined subset of the measurement data to a first data analysis software package, and to provide a second predefined subset of the measurement data to a second data analysis software package.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data analysis software package comprises an outlier detection function.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data analysis software package comprises a state estimation model.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the steps of exchanging analysis set-up data, providing measurement data and accepting analysis results are each performed by the processor for each of a plurality of data analysis software packages; and

the step of annotating the data in the measurement database with analysis results further comprises providing a separate annotation for each data analysis software package.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

storing at least a portion of the measurement data in a measurement database.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

storing at least a portion of the analysis results in an event database.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the data collection set-up data comprises a set of class definitions set forth in an application programming interface (API) of the first plug-in interface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis set-up data comprises a set of class definitions set forth in an application programming interface (API) of the second plug-in interface.

15. A non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perforin a method for collecting and processing data, the method comprising the steps of:

exchanging data collection set-up data through a first plug-in software interface with a data collection device to configure the processor to collect measurement data from the data collection device;

collecting measurement data from the data collection device;

exchanging analysis set-up data through a second plug-in software interface with a data analysis software package to configure the processor to provide a predefined subset of the measurement data to the data analysis software package and to accept analysis results from the data analysis software package;

providing the predefined subset of the measurement data to the data analysis software package for analysis;

accepting analysis results from the data analysis software package; and

annotating the measurement data with the analysis results.

16. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein the data collection device comprises a data logger configured to receive data from at least one measurement sensor.

17. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging analysis set-up data includes exchanging a command for identifying measurement data from at least one particular sensor for analysis by the data analysis software package.

18. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of types of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging analysis set-up data includes exchanging a command for identifying measurement data from at least one particular type of sensor for analysis by the data analysis software package.

19. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging data collection set-up data includes exchanging a command for identifying the measurement sensors connected to the data logger.

20. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein:

the measurement data includes data from a plurality of measurement sensors; and

the step of exchanging data collection set-up data includes exchanging a command for setting a time interval between collections of measurement data for at least one of the plurality of measurement sensors.

21. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein:

the steps of exchanging analysis set-up data, providing measurement data and accepting analysis results are each performed by the processor for each of a plurality of data analysis software packages; and

the step of exchanging analysis set-up data configures the processor to provide a first predefined subset of the measurement data to a first data analysis software package, and to provide a second predefined subset of the measurement data to a second data analysis software package.

22. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein the data analysis software package comprises an outlier detection function.

23. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein the data analysis software package comprises a state estimation model.

24. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein:

the steps of exchanging analysis set-up data, providing measurement data and accepting analysis results are each performed by the processor for each of a plurality of data analysis software packages; and

the step of annotating the data in the measurement database with analysis results further comprises providing a separate annotation for each data analysis software package.

25. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

storing at least a portion of the measurement data in a measurement database.

26. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

storing at least a portion of the analysis results in an event database.

27. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein the data collection set-up data comprises a set of class definitions set forth in an application programming interface (API) of the first plug-in interface.

28. The non-transitory computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein the analysis set-up data comprises a set of class definitions set forth in an application programming interface (API) of the second plug-in interface.