Diagnostic system for complex systems using virtual components
First Claim
1. A method of diagnosing failures in a complex real system including a high level function executed by a plurality of hardware components, wherein said high level function functionally transforms at least one input into at least one output, comprising the steps of:
- a) allocating said high level function of said real system into a set of first level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, wherein said at least one high level input is provided to said input of one first level function, said at least one high level output is generated by an output of another first level function, and said set of first level functions together provide a functional transformation intended for said high level function;
b) allocating at least one first level function into a set of second level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, wherein said at least one first level input is provided to an input of one second level function, said at least one first level output is generated by an output of another second level function, and said set of second level functions together providing a functional transformation intended for said at least one first level function;
c) allocating nth level functions until said nth level functions correspond to readily serviceable hardware components;
d) creating a plurality of virtual model components for simulating each real system level function, wherein said virtual models have inputs, outputs and functional behavior which parallels the level function being simulated;
e) providing said at least one high level input from said real system to a high level virtual model component; and
f) comparing said at least one high level output from said high level function of said real system to an output of a high level virtual model component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic method and apparatus according to the invention locates faulty components in complex real systems in which a high level function can be allocated into lower functional levels with each lower functional level including a plurality of functions. Functional level allocation is repeated until functions correspond to line replaceable units, shop replaceable units, or individual circuit components. A virtual model according to the invention can be defined with parallel functional levels and functions using virtual components so that point-to-point comparison of signals generated by the real system functions on each functional level can be made with signals generated by corresponding virtual components to isolate faulty line replaceable units, shop replaceable units, or individual circuit components. Inputs to the virtual components are the same as the real system inputs provided to the real system functions.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of diagnosing failures in a complex real system including a high level function executed by a plurality of hardware components, wherein said high level function functionally transforms at least one input into at least one output, comprising the steps of:
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a) allocating said high level function of said real system into a set of first level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, wherein said at least one high level input is provided to said input of one first level function, said at least one high level output is generated by an output of another first level function, and said set of first level functions together provide a functional transformation intended for said high level function; b) allocating at least one first level function into a set of second level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, wherein said at least one first level input is provided to an input of one second level function, said at least one first level output is generated by an output of another second level function, and said set of second level functions together providing a functional transformation intended for said at least one first level function; c) allocating nth level functions until said nth level functions correspond to readily serviceable hardware components; d) creating a plurality of virtual model components for simulating each real system level function, wherein said virtual models have inputs, outputs and functional behavior which parallels the level function being simulated; e) providing said at least one high level input from said real system to a high level virtual model component; and f) comparing said at least one high level output from said high level function of said real system to an output of a high level virtual model component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of maintaining an aircraft by diagnosing failures using a two level approach, wherein the aircraft includes a high level function executed by a plurality of hardware components, wherein said high level function functionally transforms at least one input into at least one output, and wherein the first maintenance level comprises the steps of:
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a) allocating said high level function of said real system into a set of first level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, wherein said at least one high level input is provided to said input of one first level function, said at least one high level output is generated by an output of another first level function, and said set of first level functions together provide a functional transformation intended for said high level function; b) allocating at least one first level function into a set of second level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, wherein said at least one first level input is provided to an input of one second level function, said at least one first level output is generated by an output of another second level function, and said set of second level functions together providing a functional transformation intended for said at least one first level function; c) allocating nth level functions until said nth level functions correspond to readily serviceable hardware components; d) creating a plurality of virtual model components for simulating each real system level function, wherein said virtual models have inputs, outputs and functional behavior which parallels the level function being simulated; e) providing said at least one high level input from said real system to a high level virtual model component; f) comparing said at least one high level output from said high level function of said real system to an output of a high level virtual model component; g) providing said first level inputs from said first level functions of said real system to corresponding inputs of first level virtual model components if said high level output from said virtual model does not match said at least one high level output of said high level function; h) comparing outputs of said first level virtual model components to corresponding outputs of said real system first level functions to identify a faulty first level function; i) providing said second level inputs from said real system second level functions subordinate to said faulty first level function to corresponding inputs of second level virtual model components; j) comparing outputs of said second level virtual model components to corresponding outputs of said real system second level functions to identify a faulty second level function; k) providing nth level inputs from said real system nth level functions subordinate to said faulty second level function to corresponding inputs of nth level virtual model components; l) comparing outputs of said nth level virtual model components to corresponding outputs of said real system nth level functions to identify a faulty nth level function; and m) repeating steps g and h until said faulty nth level function corresponds to said readily serviceable hardware component. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. In a complex real system including a high level function functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, wherein said high level function is composed of a plurality of first level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, said at least one input of said high level function is provided to one first level function, said at least one output is generated by another first level function, and said functional transformation intended for said high level function is generated by said set of first level functions,
wherein at least one first level function is composed of a set of second level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, said input to said at least one first level function is provided to one second level function, said at least one output of said first level function is generated by another second level function, and said functional transformation intended for said first level function is generated by said set of second level functions, and wherein said at least one second level function can be allocated to nth level functions until said each level function corresponds to a readily serviceable hardware component, a diagnostic system comprising: -
data acquisition means for obtaining inputs to and outputs of said real system level functions; virtual model means coupled to said data acquisition means for simulating intended functional transformations of each real system level function when provided corresponding inputs and for generating at least one intended output; and comparing means for comparing intended outputs of each functional level of said virtual model means and actual outputs of corresponding functional levels of said real system to identify faulty hardware components, wherein said virtual model means initially compares said high level function, then said first level functions, then said second level functions subordinate to a faulty first level function, and then nth level functions subordinate to a faulty second level function until a faulty level function corresponds to said readily serviceable hardware component. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A diagnostic system for a faulty line replaceable unit having an nth level function which functionally transforms at least one input into at least one output, wherein said nth level function is composed of a plurality of (n+1)th level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, said at least one input of said nth level function is provided to one (n+1)th level function, said at least one output of said faulty nth level function is generated by another (n+1)th level function, and said functional transformation intended for said nth level function is generated by said set of (n+1)th level functions,
wherein at least one (n+1)th level function is composed of a set of (n+2)th level functions each functionally transforming at least one input into at least one output, said input to said at least one (n+1)th level function is provided to one (n+2)th level function, said at least one output of said (n+1)th level function is generated by another (n+2)th level function, and said function transformation intended for said (n+1)th level function is provided by said set of (n+2)th level functions, and where in said at least one (n+2)th level function can be allocated to (n+m)th level functions until said level functions correspond to shop replaceable units, a diagnostic system comprising: -
use simulation means coupled to said line replaceable unit for generating a plurality of simulated input signals; a virtual model coupled to said simulation means and including virtual components corresponding to said line replaceable unit level function, wherein each virtual component functionally transforms at least one simulated input into at least one intended output; data acquisition means coupled to said line replaceable unit for obtaining outputs of each line replaceable unit level function; comparing means coupled to said virtual model means and said data acquisition means for comparing outputs of said line replaceable unit function levels to intended outputs of corresponding virtual components to identify a faulty shop replaceable unit, wherein said comparing means initially compares said nth level function, then said (n+1)th level functions, then said (n+2)th level functions subordinate to a faulty (n+1)th level function, and then (n+m)th level functions subordinate to a faulty (n+2)th level function until a faulty level function corresponds to said faulty shop replaceable unit. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification