Method and apparatus to predict the remaining service life of an operating system
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for predicting the remaining service life of an operating system, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining data from at least one sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation;
calculating at least one degradation figure of merit using data from said at least one sensor;
trending said at least one degradation figure of merit against at least one independent variable relative to at least one degradation figure of merit threshold, thereby generating multiple trendlines;
weighting said multiple trendlines by setting weights for said multiple trendlines;
combining said multiple trendlines into a single trendline based on said weights; and
responsive to said trending, said weighting, and said combining, estimating the remaining service life of said system.
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Abstract
A method and computer-based apparatus for monitoring the degradation of, predicting the remaining service life of, and/or planning maintenance for, an operating system are disclosed. Diagnostic information on degradation of the operating system is obtained through measurement of one or more performance characteristics by one or more sensors onboard and/or proximate the operating system. Though not required, it is preferred that the sensor data are validated to improve the accuracy and reliability of the service life predictions. The condition or degree of degradation of the operating system is presented to a user by way of one or more calculated, numeric degradation figures of merit that are trended against one or more independent variables using one or more mathematical techniques. Furthermore, more than one trendline and uncertainty interval may be generated for a given degradation figure of merit/independent variable data set. The trendline(s) and uncertainty interval(s) are subsequently compared to one or more degradation figure of merit thresholds to predict the remaining service life of the operating system. The present invention enables multiple mathematical approaches in determining which trendline(s) to use to provide the best estimate of the remaining service life.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for predicting the remaining service life of an operating system, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data from at least one sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation; calculating at least one degradation figure of merit using data from said at least one sensor; trending said at least one degradation figure of merit against at least one independent variable relative to at least one degradation figure of merit threshold, thereby generating multiple trendlines; weighting said multiple trendlines by setting weights for said multiple trendlines; combining said multiple trendlines into a single trendline based on said weights; and responsive to said trending, said weighting, and said combining, estimating the remaining service life of said system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method for planning maintenance for an operating system, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data from at least one sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation; calculating at least one degradation figure of merit using data from said at least one sensor; trending said at least one degradation figure of merit against at least one independent variable using a plurality of window sizes for said at least one independent variable to produce a plurality of regression trendlines; assessing performance of said plurality of regression trendlines; responsive to said assessing, assigning weights to said plurality of regression trendlines; selecting a regression trendline based on said weights; and communicating at least one of the plurality of regression trendlines to a person to inform the person of any degradation and associated maintenance needs in the future. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A computer-implemented method for monitoring the degradation of an operating system and communicating the degradation to a user, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data from at least one onboard sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation; calculating a plurality of degradation figures of merit using data from said at least one sensor; and generating a plurality of regression trendlines using respective degradation figures of merit; assessing performance of said plurality of regression trendlines; responsive to said assessing, selecting a regression trendline; and displaying said selected regression trendline to the user of said operating system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for monitoring the degradation of an operating system and communicating the degradation to a user, comprising:
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at least one onboard sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation; a computer for receiving said sensor data; a first instruction set within said computer for calculating at least one degradation figure of merit using said sensor data; a second instruction set within said computer for trending said at least one degradation figure of merit against at least one independent variable relative to at least one degradation figure of merit threshold to generate at least one trendline and to estimate the remaining service life of said system; and a display for communicating said at least one degradation figure of merit as a function of at least one independent variable to the user of said operating system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 33)
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26. An apparatus for predicting the remaining service life of an operating system, comprising:
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at least one sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation; a computer for receiving said sensor data; a first instruction set within said computer for calculating at least one degradation figure of merit using said sensor data; a second instruction set within said computer for trending said at least one degradation figure of merit against at least one independent variable relative to at least one degradation figure of merit threshold to generate at least one trendline and to estimate the remaining service life of said system; a third instruction set within said computer for validating said sensor data; and a fourth instruction set within said computer for assessing performance of said trending and for selecting a trendline from said at least one trendline based on said assessing. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35)
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31. A computer-implemented method for planning maintenance for an operating system, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data from at least one sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation; calculating at least one degradation figure of merit using data from said at least one sensor; trending said at least one degradation figure of merit against at least one independent variable to produce a plurality of trendlines; setting weights for said plurality of trendlines and combining two or more of said plurality of trendlines into a single trendline based on said weights; and communicating said single trendline.
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32. A computer-implemented method for monitoring the degradation of an operating system and communicating the degradation to a user, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data from at least one onboard sensor that measures at least one performance characteristic of said system during operation; calculating at least one degradation figure of merit using data from said at least one sensor, wherein said degradation figure of merit is calculated for various states of said operating system; trending said degradation figure of merit against at least one independent variable for respective states of said operating system to produce a plurality of trendlines; setting weights for said plurality of trendlines; combining two or more of said plurality of trendlines into a single trendline based on said weights; and displaying said at least one degradation figure of merit as a function of at least one independent variable, or displaying said single trendline.
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Specification