Method and apparatus for estimating a factor/defect affecting quality/reliability wherein the priority of user input data is determined

• US 8,260,727 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Nakajima, Yasuaki, Kojitani, Kazuto, Koga, Junpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent, David
• Application Number:
  US11/695,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 706/12, 706/45, 706/62, 700/110, 700/121, 700/143
• US Class Current: 706/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/024 Quantitative history assessment, e.g. mathematical relationships between available data; Functions therefor; Principal component analysis [PCA]; Partial least square [PLS]; Statistical classifiers, e.g. Bayesian networks, linear regression or correlation analysis; Neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/083 Quality monitoring using results from monitoring devices, e.g. feedback loops H05K13/084 takes precedence

Abstract

A factor estimation apparatus which can appropriately estimate a factor without increase in the cost, the factor estimation apparatus includes a characteristic quantity determination unit which determines the characteristic quantity; a user input unit which accepts an input from a user as data for the characteristic quantity determined by the characteristic quantity determination unit; an apparatus-data input unit to which data is inputted from a data obtaining device as the data for the characteristic quantity determined by the characteristic quantity determination unit; an input source defining unit which previously determines that the data for the characteristic quantity is inputted from which one of the user input unit and the apparatus-data input unit; and an estimation unit which estimates the factor using the data inputted from the input unit determined by the input source defining unit.

Claims

1. A factor estimation apparatus which estimates a factor affecting a phenomenon based on data for a characteristic quantity associated with the phenomenon, the factor estimation apparatus comprising:

a characteristic quantity determination unit configured to determine the characteristic quantity;

a user input unit configured to accept an input from a user as data for the characteristic quantity determined by the characteristic quantity determination unit;

an apparatus-data input unit to which data is inputted from a data obtaining device as the data for the characteristic quantity determined by the characteristic quantity determination unit;

an input source defining unit configured to determine that the data for the characteristic quantity is inputted from the user input unit or the apparatus-data input unit; and

an estimation unit configured to estimate the factor using the data inputted from the input unit determined by the input source defining unit;

wherein

a plurality of characteristic quantities exist,

the estimation unit is configured to estimate the factor based on the plurality of characteristic quantities, and

the input source defining unit includes a priority determination unit configured to determine a priority assigned to the data inputted from the user input unit or the apparatus-data input unit for the plurality of characteristic quantities; and

wherein

the priority determination unit includes a reliability determination unit configured to determined reliability of the input data of each of the user input unit and the apparatus-data input unit, and

the priority determination unit is configured to determined the priority assigned to the data inputted from the user input unit or the apparatus-data input unit according to the determination result of the reliability determination unit.

2. A factor estimation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reliability determination unit determines the reliability from a skill or a role of a user.

3. A factor estimation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input source defining unit is configured to determine that the data is inputted from the user input unit or the apparatus-data input unit for the plurality of characteristic quantities according to a target system for which the factor is estimated.

4. A factor estimation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the target system is operated in a plurality of operational phases,

the factor estimation apparatus includes an operational phase input unit configured to prompt a user to input the operational phase and the usable data obtaining device in the target system, and

the factor estimation apparatus includes a valid factor defining unit configured to store the operational phase and the data obtaining device inputted to the operational phase input unit in association with the phenomenon.

5. A factor estimation method of estimating a factor affecting a phenomenon based on data for a characteristic quantity associated with the phenomenon, the factor estimation method comprising the steps of, using at least one computer:

determining that the data for the characteristic quantity is inputted from a user input unit or a data obtaining device;

determining the characteristic quantity;

inputting the data for the characteristic quantity from the determined user input unit or the data obtaining device;

estimating the factor affecting the phenomenon using the inputted data based on a plurality of the characteristic quantities;

determining a priority assigned to the data inputted from the user input unit or the data obtaining device for the plurality of characteristic quantities;

determining reliability of the input data of each of the user input unit and the data obtaining device; and

determining the priority assigned to the data inputted from the user input unit or the data obtaining device according to the determination result of the reliability determination unit.

6. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a program for making a computer to execute the factor estimation method according to claim 5 is stored.