Method and system for assessing adjustment factors in testing or monitoring process

• US 6,643,600 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Clifford, William Larson, Horejs, Timothy James, Yanosik, Ann Marie, Yanosik, Edward Michael Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L.
• Application Number:
  US09/842,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 702/33-36, 702/85, 702/104, 702/105, 702/108, 702/113, 702/121-123, 702/127, 702/179-185, 702/187, 702/188, 73/10.1, 73/18.8, 731/16, 700/28, 700/108, 705/7
• US Class Current: 702/108
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32017 Adapt real process as function of changing simulation model, changing for better results
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32338 Use new conditions for model, check, calculate if model meets objectives
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and system for assessing whether adjustment factors used in a process for testing or monitoring an operational system need to be updated or changed, as well as changing and updating these adjustment factors if needed or desired. At least one current adjustment factor is selected, along with the relevant data. The relevant data is then analyzed to generate results that are collected so that a determination can be made as to whether the current adjustment factor(s) needs to be changed. If it is determined that the current adjustment factor(s) needs to be changed, an updated adjustment factor(s) is provided to replace it. Preferably, the updated adjustment factor(s) is validated before incorporating it into the testing or monitoring process.

Claims

1. A method for assessing whether adjustment factors used in a process for testing or monitoring an operational system need to be updated, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting at least one current adjustment factor used in the testing or monitoring process;

(b) selecting data relevant to the at least one current adjustment factor;

(c) analyzing relevant data to generate analysis results for determining whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(d) collecting the analysis results so that a determination can be made as to whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(e) determining from the collected results whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(f) if the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed, changing the selected at least one current adjustment factor to provide at least one updated adjustment factor;

(g) validating the at least one updated adjustment factor in the testing or monitoring process to provide at least one validated adjustment factor; and

(h) incorporating the at least one validated adjustment factor into the testing or monitoring process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

(1) compiling a list of predictor variables and determining the functionality of the predictor variables for the operational system;

(2) establishing a baseline configuration for the operational system; and

(3) compiling a list of dependent parameters for the operational system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

(1) importing process data for the operational system that is appropriate for the analysis;

(2) analyzing the imported data to generate analysis results for the purpose of determining whether the at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed; and

(3) if the analysis results make sense, proceeding to step (d).

4. The method of claim 3 wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:

(1) collecting and summarizing the analysis results; and

(2) developing recommendations based on the analysis results regarding the need to change the at least one current adjustment factor.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step (g) comprises the steps of:

(1) incorporating the updated adjustment factors into a model of the testing or monitoring process;

(2) reprocessing the imported process data in the model of the testing or monitoring process to generate corrected values of the dependent parameters;

(3) analyzing the corrected values to see if the updated adjustment factors perform as expected;

(4) if the updated adjustment factors perform as expected, proceeding to step (h).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the operational system is a device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the device is a gas turbine engine.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the operational system is a process.

9. A computerized system for allowing a user thereof to assess whether adjustment factors used in a process for testing or monitoring an operational system need to be updated, and which comprises:

(a) a host computer;

(b) a user workstation in communication with the host computer;

(c) a source of testing or monitoring data in communication with at least the user workstation;

(d) software residing on the host computer for controlling access to a description of the testing or monitoring process and instructional materials for using the system, for permitting electronic communication with at least the user workstation, and for processing data transmitted from the user workstation;

(e) software residing on the user workstation for permitting electronic communication between the data source, the host computer and the user workstation and for transmitting data between the user workstation and the host computer;

(f) software associated with the data source for permitting electronic communication between the data source, the host computer and the user workstation;

(g) the system being capable of allowing the user thereof to;

(1) select at least one current adjustment factor used in the testing or monitoring process;

(2) select data relevant to the at least one current adjustment factor;

(3) analyze the relevant data to generate analysis results for determining whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(4) collect the analysis results generated so that a determination can be made as to whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(5) determine from the collected results whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(6) if the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed, change the selected at least one current adjustment factor to provide at least one updated adjustment factor;

(7) validate the at least one updated adjustment factor in the testing or monitoring process to provide at least one validated adjustment factor; and

(8) incorporate the at least one validated adjustment factor into the testing or monitoring process.

10. The computerized system of claim 9 wherein the user during step (2) can:

(i) compile a list of predictor variables and determine the functionality of the predictor variables for the operational system;

(ii) establish a baseline configuration for the operational system; and

(iii) compile a list of dependent parameters for the operational system.

11. The computerized system of claim 10 wherein the user during step (3) can:

(i) import process data for the operational system that is appropriate for the analysis;

(ii) curry out an analysis of the imported data to generate analysis results for the purpose of determining whether the at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed; and

(iii) if the analysis results make sense, proceed to step (4).

12. The computerized system of claim 11 wherein the user during step (4) can:

(i) collect and summarize the analysis results; and

(ii) develop recommendations based on the analysis results regarding the need to change the at least one current adjustment factor.

13. The computerized system of claim 12 wherein the user during step (7) can:

(i) incorporate the updated adjustment factors into a model of the testing or monitoring process;

(ii) reprocess the imported process data in the model of the testing or monitoring process to generate corrected values of the dependent parameters;

(iii) analyze the corrected values to see if the updated adjustment factors perform as expected; and

(iv) if the updated adjustment factors perform as expected, proceed to step (8).

14. The computerized system of claim 9 wherein the operational system is a device.

15. The computerized system of claim 14 wherein the device is a gas turbine engine.

16. The computerized system of claim 9 wherein the operational system is a process.

17. The computerized system of claim 9 which further comprises instructional materials for guiding the user.

18. Software for use in a computerized system for assessing whether adjustment factors used in a process for testing or monitoring an operational system need to be updated, the system including a server, a user computer in communication with the server, and a source of testing or monitoring data in communication with at least the user computer;

the software comprising;

(a) a server software component that can reside on the server that is capable of controlling access to a description of the testing or monitoring process and instructional materials for using the system, permitting electronic communication with at least to user workstation, and processing data transmitted from the user workstation;

(b) a user software component that can reside on the user computer and is capable of permitting electronic communication between the data source, the server and the user computer and for transmitting data between the user computer and the server;

(c) a data source software component that can be associated with the data source and is capable of permitting electronic communication between the data source, the server and the user computer;

(d) the software when used with the system being capable of allowing a user thereof to;

(1) select at least one current adjustment factor used in the testing or monitoring process;

(2) select data relevant to the at least one current adjustment factor;

(3) analyze the relevant data to generate analysis results for determining whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(4) collect the analysis results so that a determination can be made as to whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(5) determine from the collected results whether the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed;

(6) if the selected at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed, change the selected at least one current adjustment factor to provide at least one updated adjustment factor;

(7) validate the at least one updated adjustment factor in the testing or monitoring process to provide at least one validated adjustment factor; and

(8) incorporate the at least one validated adjustment factor into the testing or monitoring process.

19. The software of claim 18 that is stored and installable from one or more nonvolatile electronic storage media.

20. The software of claim 19 wherein the electronic media are floppy disks or CD ROM disks.

21. The software of claim 18 which has instructions provided or associated therewith for how to use the software with the system, how to install the software on the system, or how to use with and install the software on the system.

22. The software of claim 18 which further includes instructional materials for guiding the user in using the system.

23. The software of claim 18 which is capable of allowing the user during step (2) to:

(i) compile a list of predictor variables and determine the functionality of the predictor variables for the operational system;

(ii) establish a baseline configuration for the operational system; and

(iii) compile a list of dependent parameters for the operational system.

24. The software of claim 23 which is capable of allowing wherein the user during step (3) to:

(i) import process data for the operational system that is appropriate for the analysis;

(ii) carry out an analysis of the imported data to generate analysis results for the purpose of determining whether the at least one current adjustment factor needs to be changed; and

(iii) if the analysis results make sense, proceed to step (4).

25. The software of claim 23 which is capable of allowing the user during step (4) to:

(i) collect and summarize the analysis results; and

(ii) develop recommendations based on the analysis results regarding the need to change the at least one current adjustment factor.

26. The software of claim 25 which is capable of allowing the user during step (7) to:

(i) incorporate the updated adjustment factors into a model of the testing or monitoring process;

(ii) reprocess the imported process data in the model of the testing or monitoring process to generate corrected values of the dependent parameters;

(iii) analyze the corrected values to see if the updated adjustment factors perform as expected; and

(iv) if the updated adjustment factors perform as expected, proceed to step (8).