System level aid for troubleshooting (SLAT)

• US 5,812,758 A
• Filed: 11/09/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Laureanno, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US08/570,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 395/183.22, 395/183.02, 395/182.08, 395/183.01, 395/185.1, 395/916, 395/182.13, 395/326, 395/352, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2257 using expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/321 Display for diagnostics, e.g. diagnostic result display, self-test user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for isolating analyzing faults in a complex system which is represented by a network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by links defining the flow among nodes corresponding to flows in the complex system. The complex system is stored as a database internal to the apparatus and represents a physical system under test. The apparatus localizes faults in the system by utilizing data structure search methods invoked by the operator successively passing and/or failing system nodes based on observed system status and technical information provided by the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for isolating and analyzing faults in a system represented by a network of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein an operator successively passes and/or fails nodes based on observed system status and technical information provided by the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing node data representative of the system and documentation data pertaining to each of said nodes;

graphical screen display means for displaying said node data and said documentation data;

programmable means comprising a programmed data processor for retrieving said node and documentation data from said storage means, scaling means for scaling said node data to allow said node data to be displayed on full screen, to aid the operator in the process of fault localization which further includes a plurality of graphical representations of said node data and a plurality of display menu options wherein said plurality of graphical representations includes an "All" mode which displays all nodes with status and without status of said plurality of nodes, a "Sensitized Mode" which displays all nodes with status and without status of said plurality of nodes that exist prior to any of said nodes being passed or failed by the operator and a "Cloaked Mode" which displays all nodes of no-status critical nodes of said plurality of nodes only.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of said display menu options includes means for passing said plurality of nodes, and means for failing said nodes of said plurality of nodes.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein programmable means for accepting said operator input of selected said nodes of said plurality of nodes as passed or failed is through a manual interface.

4. An apparatus for isolating and analyzing faults in a system represented by a network of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein an operator successively passes and/or fails nodes based on observed system status and technical information provided by the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing node data representative of the system and documentation data pertaining to each of said nodes;

graphical screen display means for displaying said node data and said documentation data; and

programmable means comprising a programmed data processor for retrieving said node and documentation data from said storage means, displaying said node and documentation data to said graphical screen display means to aid the operator in the process of fault localization, accepting operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed, and localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed, wherein said programmable means for localizing faults in the system further includes;

means for passing said nodes of said plurality of nodes upstream from a node of status passed as an input by said operator;

means for failing said nodes of said plurality of nodes downstream from a node of status failed as an input by said operator;

means for displaying said documentation data for said determined node to aid the operator in repairing said determined node;

means for creating a recoverable file when a previous analysis session is terminated without being completed;

means for storing all upstream paths from said node of status failed as input by said operator; and

means for determining a node from said stored upstream paths to be examined for failure wherein said means for determining a node further includes processing multiple failed nodes wherein said means for processing said multiple failed nodes further includes comparing said upstream oaths of said multiple failed nodes to find a common node then recommending said common node to be examined for failure.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for recommending a node out of said plurality of nodes to be tested includes means for feedback loop processing of said recommended node.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for feedback loop processing includes means for determining all upstream paths for a plurality of closed feedback level loops beginning at the last inputted failure, means for determining nodes to be tested for failure in said upstream paths of said plurality of closed feedback level loops by opening the outermost closed feedback level loops and isolating the source of the failure in the next lower level closed feedback level loops.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for feedback loop processing with said plurality of closed feedback level loops further includes means for recommending for testing a keynode in said outermost closed feedback level loop, means for recommending for testing the entry node of said outermost closed feedback level loop if said keynode is a failed node, means for recommending for testing a node upstream from said entry node of said outermost closed feedback level loop if said entry node is a failed node, means for recommending for testing the keynode of said next lower level closed feedback level loop if said entry node of said outermost closed feedback level loop is not a failed node, and means for recommending as a failure the keynode of said outermost closed feedback level loop if said keynode of said next lower level closed feedback level loop is not a failed node.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for closed feedback level loop processing further includes repeatedly opening any of said outermost closed feedback level loops and processing said next lower level closed feedback level loops by said closed feedback level loop processing until a fault is localized.

9. An apparatus for isolating and analyzing faults in a system represented by a network of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein an operator successively passes and/or fails nodes based on observed system status and technical information provided by the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing node data representative of the system and documentation data pertaining to each of said nodes;

graphical screen display means for displaying said node data and said documentation data;

programmable means comprising a programmed data processor for retrieving said node and documentation data from said storage means, displaying said node and documentation data to said graphical screen display means to aid the operator in the process of fault localization, accepting operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed, and localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed, wherein said programmable means for localizing faults in the system further includes;

means for passing said nodes of said plurality of nodes upstream from a node of status passed as an input by said operator;

means for failing said nodes of said plurality of nodes downstream from a node of status failed as an input by said operator;

means for displaying said documentation data for said determined node to aid the operator in repairing said determined node;

means for creating a recoverable file when a previous analysis session is terminated without being completed;

means for storing all upstream paths from said node of status failed as input by said operator;

means for determining a node from said stored upstream paths to be examined for failure wherein said means for determining a node further includes processing multiple failed nodes and said means for storing all upstream paths from said node of status failed as input by said operator further includes storing the size of the largest upstream paths; and

said means for determining a node out of said plurality of nodes from said stored upstream paths to be examined for failure further includes means for recommending a middle node of said plurality of nodes in said largest path for testing when there is more than one of said upstream paths, means for recommending a middle upstream path node for testing when there is only one of said upstream paths and means for recommending a single node for testing when said single node is the only node in said single upstream path.

10. An apparatus for isolating and analyzing faults in a system represented by a network of a plurality of nodes interconnected by links wherein an operator successively passes and/or fails nodes based on observed system status and technical information provided by the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing node data representative of the system and documentation data pertaining to each of said nodes;

graphical screen display means for displaying said node data and said documentation data;

programmable means comprising a programmed data processor for retrieving said node and documentation data from said storage means, displaying said node and documentation data to said graphical screen display means to aid the operator in the process of fault localization, accepting operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed, and localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed, wherein said programmable means for localizing faults in the system further includes;

means for passing said nodes of said plurality of nodes upstream from a node of status passed as an input by said operator and includes updating a status array to indicate passed status of said upstream passed nodes when said status array has not been previously updated with said passed status;

means for failing said nodes of said plurality of nodes downstream from a node of status failed as an input by said operator;

means for displaying said documentation data for said determined node to aid the operator in repairing said determined node;

means for creating a recoverable file when a previous analysis session is terminated without being completed;

means for storing all upstream paths from said node of status failed as input by said operator wherein said storing means for storing paths avoid said storage of upstream paths containing said upstream passed nodes; and

means for determining a node from said stored upstream paths to be examined for failure wherein said means for determining a node further includes processing multiple failed nodes wherein said means for processing said multiple failed nodes further includes comparing said upstream paths of said multiple failed nodes to find a common node then recommending said common node to be examined for failure.

11. A method for isolating and analyzing faults in a system, comprising the steps of:

storing node data representative of the system and documentation data pertaining to each of said nodes in a system database;

accepting operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed; and

localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed;

displaying said node data and said documentation data to a graphical screen display to aid the operator in isolating and analyzing faults wherein said step of displaying said plurality of graphical representations includes;

an "All" mode which displays all nodes with status and without status of said nodes;

a "Sensitized Mode" which displays all nodes with status and without status of said nodes that exist prior to any of said nodes being passed or failed by the operator; and

a "Cloaked Mode" which displays all nodes without status of said nodes only and scaling said node data to allow said node data to be displayed full screen;

displaying a plurality of graphical representations of said data; and

displaying a plurality menu options.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said step for displaying said plurality of said display menu options includes:

passing said nodes; and

failing said nodes.

15. A method for isolating and analyzing faults in a system as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed further includes passing nodes upstream from said operator'"'"'s passed node input, failing nodes downstream from said operator'"'"'s failed node input, storing all upstream paths from said operator'"'"'s failed node input including storing the size of the largest of said upstream paths, determining a node from said stored upstream paths to be examined for failure, wherein said step of determining a node further includes recommending a middle node in said largest path for testing when there is more than one of said upstream paths;

recommending a middle upstream path node for testing when there is only one of said upstream paths; and

recommending a single node for testing when said single node is the only node in said single upstream path, and displaying said documentation data for said determined node to aid the operator in repairing said determined node and creating a recoverable file when a previous analysis session is terminated without being completed.

13. A method for isolating and analyzing faults in a system, comprising the steps of:

storing node data representative of the system and documentation data pertaining to each of said nodes in a system database;

displaying said node data and said documentation data to a graphical screen display to aid the operator in isolating and analyzing faults;

accepting operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed and includes passing nodes upstream from said operator inputted passed node, failing nodes downstream from said operator inputted failed node, storing all upstream paths from said operator inputted failed node, determining a node from said stored upstream paths to be examined for failure, displaying said documentation data for said determined node to aid the operator in repairing said determined node and creating a recoverable file when a previous analysis session is terminated without being completed;

localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed; and

wherein said step of determining a node further includes processing multiple failed nodes and further includes comparing said upstream paths of said multiple failed nodes to find a common node and then recommend said common node to be examined for failure.

14. A method as defined in claim wherein said step of localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed, further includes updating a status array to indicate passed status of said upstream passed nodes when said status array has not been previously updated with said passed status, storing all upstream paths from said operator'"'"'s failed node input while avoiding said storage of upstream paths containing said upstream passed nodes.

16. A method for isolating and analyzing faults in a system, comprising the steps of:

storing node data representative of the system and documentation data pertaining to each of said nodes in a system database;

displaying said node data and said documentation data to a graphical screen display to aid the operator in isolating and analyzing faults;

accepting operator input of selected said nodes passed or failed; and

localizing faults in the system based on said operator input of selected said nodes as passed or failed and further includes passing nodes upstream from said operator inputted passed node, failing nodes downstream from said operator inputted failed node, storing all upstream paths from said operator inputted failed node, determining a node from said stored upstream paths to be examined for failure, displaying said documentation data for said determined node to aid the operator in repairing said determined node and creating a recoverable file when a previous analysis session is terminated without being completed and further includes;

recommending a middle node in said largest path for testing when there is more than one of said upstream paths;

recommending a middle upstream path node for testing when there is only one of said upstream paths; and

recommending a single node for testing when said single node is the only node in said single upstream path and in the step of determining a node further includes feedback loop processing of said determined node.

17. A method as defined in claim 16 wherein said feedback loop processing includes determining all upstream paths for a plurality of closed feedback level loops beginning at the last inputted failure, and determining nodes to be tested for failure in said upstream paths of said plurality of closed feedback level loops by opening the outermost closed feedback level loops and isolating the source of the failure in the next lower level closed feedback level loops.

18. A method as defined in claim 17 wherein said step of feedback loop processing with said plurality of closed feedback level loops further includes:

recommending for testing a keynode in said outermost closed feedback level loop;

recommending for testing an entry node of said outermost closed feedback level loop if said keynode is a failed node;

recommending for testing a node upstream from said entry node of said outermost closed feedback level loop if said entry node is a failed node;

recommending for testing said keynode of said next lower level closed feedback level loop if said entry node of said outermost closed feedback level loop is not a failed node; and

recommending as a failure said keynode of said outermost closed feedback level loop if said keynode of said next lower level closed feedback level loop is not a failed node.

19. A method as defined in claim 18 wherein said closed feedback level loop processing further includes repeatedly opening any of said outermost closed feedback level loops and processing said next lower level closed feedback level loops by said closed feedback level loop processing until a fault is localized.