Emission-monitoring system and method for transferring data

• US 7,424,647 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Widmer, Neil Colin, Anil, Rekha
• Primary Examiner(s): Maskulinski; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US10/710,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 714/47
• US Class Current: 714/47.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems

Abstract

A system and a method for transferring data in an emission-monitoring system from a first computer to a second computer are provided. The method includes generating a first message containing a first software variable having a first site-specific value that is transmitted from the first computer to the second computer. The first site-specific value is indicative of whether one of a fault event, a maintenance event, or a calibration event associated with the first computer has occurred. The method further includes receiving the first message at the second computer, the second computer storing the first site-specific value in a first record of a first database. The first record is associated with the first software variable. The method further includes determining whether the first site-specific value indicates that an event has occurred. Finally, the method includes if the first site-specific value indicates that an event has occurred, then generating a second software variable having both a first predetermined name and a value equal to a first standardized value indicating that an event has occurred, else generating a third software variable having both the first predetermined name and a value equal to a second standardized value indicating that an event has not occurred.

Claims

1. An emission-monitoring system for transferring data from a first computer to a second computer, comprising:

a first computer configured to generate a first message containing a first software variable having a first site-specific value, the first site-specific value indicative of whether one of a fault event, a maintenance event, or a calibration event has occurred;

a second computer operably coupled to the first computer, the first computer further configured to transmit the first message to the second computer, the second computer further configured to store the first site-specific value in a first record of a first database, the first record being associated with the first software variable, the second computer further configured to determine whether the first site-specific value indicates that an event has occurred, wherein when the first site-specific value indicates that an event has occurred, the second computer is configured to generate a second software variable having both a second predetermined name and a value equal to a first standardized value indicating that an event has occurred, wherein when the first site-specific value indicates that an event has not occurred, the second computer is configured to generate a third software variable having both the second predetermined name and a value equal to a second standardized value indicating that an event has not occurred; and

a third computer operably coupled to the second computer, the third computer configured to generate a second message containing a fourth software variable having a second site-specific value, the second site-specific value indicative of whether one of a fault event, a maintenance event, or a calibration event associated with the third computer has occurred;

the second computer being operably coupled to the third computer, the third computer further configured to transmit the second message to the second computer, the second computer further configured to store the second site-specific value in a fourth record of the first database, the fourth record being associated with the fourth software variable, the second computer further configured to determine whether the second site-specific value indicates that an event has occurred, wherein when the second site-specific value indicates that an event has occurred the second computer is configured to generate a fifth software variable having both a second predetermined name and a value equal to the first standardized value indicating that an event has occurred, wherein when the second site-specific value indicates that an event has not occurred the second computer is configured to generate a sixth software variable having both the second predetermined name and a value equal to the second standardized value indicating that an event has not occurred.

2. The emission-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the fault event occurs when an emission monitoring device generates a measured value that is not substantially similar to a predetermined value when the emission monitoring device is monitoring a calibration gas.

3. The emission-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the maintenance event corresponds to a value indicating that the first computer is non-operational.

4. The emission-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the calibration event corresponds to a value indicating that the first computer is receiving calibration data from at least one emission sensor.

5. The emission-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first software variable has a site-specific software variable name.