SELECTIVE DATA HANDLING APPARATUS

• US 3,702,989 A
• Filed: 03/12/1971
• Issued: 11/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry Monterose, James Provenzano Jr, John Saunders
• Original Assignee: Henry Monterose, James Provenzano Jr, John Saunders
• Inventors: Saunders, John, Provenzano, James Jr., Monterose, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Application Number:
  US05/123,854
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5
• US Class Current: 714/45
• 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

Abstract

Raw data relating to a variety of parameters is analyzed to determine whether or not the current value or condition of the parameter is significant according to schedules of criteria which are subject to change. Criteria selection is adaptive, being dependent upon modes or conditions indicated by the parameter values being handled by the apparatus. Additionally, certain criteria may have floating limits, so that the base from which deviation is measured for the purpose of determining significance is adjusted whenever a significant condition (deviation from a base by more than a permissible amount) occurs. Additionally, fixed limits are provided, particularly for parameters of the type that can result in a dangerous condition whenever the value of the parameter exceeds certain upper or lower limits. A given parameter may be tested for both floating limit and fixed limit conformance, and provision is made to take similar as well as different action in dependence upon exceeding the different types of limits. Provision is made to transmit the data, in this embodiment to record it for further analysis at a later date, in dependence upon exceeding a fixed limit a number of times more than a number setable to indicate probable successive number of transients. Exceeding a fixed limit results in printing an identification of the parameter which exceeded a fixed limit together with Greenwich Mean Time at the time of occurrence and an indication of whether an upper or lower limit was exceeded. Thereafter, that parameter will not cause printing until such time as the parameter value again falls within fixed limits. The disclosure embodiment utilizes standard data processing components in a relatively simple data flow arrangement, will control provided by a parameter identification decode in a read only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) or large decoding matrix. The ROM provides for each given parameter: a transient index indicative of the number of probable transients, thereby to be ignored; floating limit deviations (referred to symbolically herein as deltas) for a plurality of modes, the correct one being selected in dependence upon a given mode of operation; the addresses of both upper and lower fixed limits for the given parameter; the address in storage of the previous value used as a base for floating limits; the address of current values in storage which permits storing the present value of the parameter until it can be determined, at the end of a scan of all parameters, whether or not these parameters are to be recorded; and the addresses of the transducers or sensors - that is the actual input equipment - with which the parameter is related. Any parameter can have more than one parameter identifying number, so that polling of parameters can include more frequent polling of certain key parameters interspersed with sequential polling of all parameters, simply by providing the same connections for additional parameter numbers as may be provided for the basic parameter number for a given parameter. Progression of logical sequence and control is provided simply by a parameter counter which counts successively for each parameter analysis period, thereby polling the various parameter numbers in sequenCe, together with a program counter which identifies four different function periods, each subdivided into eight times, there being clock signals to identify first and second halves of each of the clock times. Provision is made to utilize main storage as a printer buffer storage as well as a one-scan recorder buffer storage.

Claims

1. (One excess, record all) In electronic data processing apparatus for the selective recordation of data in response to at least one of a set of criteria;

said set of criteria including testing of the data against fixed limits, testing of the data against floating limits, and intervals of time;

said apparatus including data processing and recording means and connected to a plurality of data sources;

the method of selective recordation of data from said sources comprising the steps of;

receiving in sequence successive ones of a series of data value manifestations from respective ones of a group of said data sources;

providing data value limits for the testing of the data value manifestations from a plurality of data sources in said group, said data value limits relating to the values represented by said data;

testing successive ones of said data value manifestations against related ones of said data value limits and generating at least a first indication in response to at least one of said data values falling outside at least one of said data value limits; and

selectively transmitting to said recording means, in response to the generation of said first indication, said data value manifestations relating to said group of data sources.

2. (Record all, Print one) The method according to claim 1 wherein said data processing apparatus includes printing means, and additionally comprising the step of:

selectively transmitting to said printing means the one of said data value manifestations resulting in the generation of said first indication.

3. (Record FL, Print FX) The method according to claim 1 wherein:

said data processing apparatus includes printing means;

said providing step comprises providing data valUe limits of two kinds;

said testing step comprises testing each of said data value manifestations against the related data value limits of any of said kinds established therefore and generating at least said first indication in response to at least one of said data value manifestations falling outside at least one of said data value limits of at least a first one of said kinds, and generating a second indication in response to one of said data value manifestations falling outside at least one of said data value limits of a second one of said two kinds; and

additionally comprising the step of transmitting to said printing means the data value manifestations from only ones of said sources resulting in generating said second indication as a result of testing against the related criteria.

4. (FX, FL Per Se) The method according to claim 3 wherein said providing step comprises:

providing for each of a number of said group of data sources, a data value manifestation previously received from the respective data source and a deviation value to establish floating limits for said number of sources, and providing fixed limits for some of said group of data sources, said first and second kinds of data value limits comprising said floating and fixed limits, respectively.

5. (Record FL and FX, Print FX) The method according to claim 3 wherein said testing step comprises generating at least said first indication in response to at least one of said data value manifestations falling outside at least one of said data value limits of either of said kinds.

6. (Print on XS and Return) The method according to claim 5 wherein:

said receiving step comprises receiving in a cyclically repetitive sequence successive ones of a series of said data value manifestations; and

further comprising the step of;

registering for each of said data sources, the testing of the data value manifestation of which causes the generation of said second indication, a history manifestation of said second indication; and

wherein said testing step additionally comprises generating said second indication for a given one of said data value manifestations in response to the presence of a related one of said history manifestations and the failure of the related testing step to result in the generation of said first indication.

7. (Identify XS source) The method according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting step comprises selectively transmitting in response to the generation of said first indication, ones of said data value manifestations which resulted in the generation of said first indication together with a manifestation of said first indication, whereby each one of data value manifestations resulting in the generation of said first indication is specifically identified.

8. (Plural Modes) In electronic data processing apparatus for the selective recordation of data in response to at least one of a set of criteria;

said set of criteria including testing of the data against fixed limits, testing of the data against floating limits, and intervals of time;

said apparatus including data processing and recording means and connected to a plurality of data sources;

said apparatus capable of operation in at least two selectable data recordation modes;

the method of selective recordation of data from said sources comprising the steps of;

establishing a selected one of a plurality of operating modes;

receiving in a cyclically repeating sequence successive ones of a series of data value manifestations from respective ones of a group of said data sources;

generating a first indication that data is to be recorded - in response to the establishment of a first one of said modes, by providing data value limits for the testing of the data value manifestations from a plurality of data sources in said group, said data value limits relating to the values represented by said data value manifestations, testing successive ones of said data value manifestations agaInst related ones of said data value limits, and generating at least said first indication in response to at least one of said data values falling outside at least one of said data value limits;

or in response to the establishment of a second one of said modes, by generating said first indication once for a given number of said sequences of receiving data value manifestations, alternatively; and

selectively transmitting to said recording means, in response to the generation of said first indication, said data value manifestations relating to said group of data sources.

9. (Fast Mode) The method according to claim 8 wherein said given number of said sequences comprises one sequence.

10. (Slow Mode) The method according to claim 9 wherein:

said apparatus is capable of operating in at least three data recordation modes; and

said generating step comprises generating said first indication - in response to the establishment of a third one of said modes, by generating said first indication once for a given plurality of said poling sequences.

11. (Slow Mode) The method according to claim 8 wherein said given number of said sequences comprises a plurality of sequences.

12. (Second Test Mode) The method according to claim 8 wherein:

said apparatus is capable of operating in at least three data recordation modes; and

said generating step comprises - in response to the establishment of an additional one of said modes, providing second data value limits for the testing of the data value manifestations from said plurality of data sources, said second data value limits being similar to, corresponding with, but of different values than the data value limits of said first mode, testing successive ones of said data value manifestations against related ones of said second data value limits, and generating at least said first indication in response to at least one of said data values falling outside at least one of said second data value limits.

13. (Mode set by data) The method according to claim 8 wherein said establishing step comprises:

establishing a selected one of said operating modes in dependence upon the values represented by the data value manifestations from at least one of said sources.

14. (Record all, Print one) The method according to claim 9 wherein said data processing apparatus includes printing means, and additionally comprising the step of:

in response to the establishment of said first mode, selectively transmitting to said printing means the one of said data value manifestations resulting in the generation of said first indication.

15. (Plural Test Modes) In electronic data processing apparatus for the selective recordation of data in response to at least one of a set of criteria;

said set of criteria including testing of the data against fixed limits, testing of the data against floating limits, and intervals of time;

said apparatus including data processing and recording means and connected to a plurality of data sources;

said apparatus capable of operation in a plurality of selective data recordation modes;

the method of selective recordation of data from said sources comprising the steps of;

establishing a selected one of a plurality of operation modes;

receiving in sequence ones of a series of data value manifestations from respective ones of a group of said data sources;

generating a first indication that data is to be recorded by providing a set of test criteria for each of said modes, said criteria differing for different ones of said modes, there being in each mode at least one of said criteria for the testing of data value manifestations from a number of said data sources in said group thereof, and testing each successive one of said data values against the related one of said criteria provided for the established operating mode, and generating at least a first indication that at least one of said data values fails to meet a related one of said test criteria; and

selectively transmitting to said recording means, in response to the generation of said first indication, at least the one of said data value manifestations the testing of which against the related one of said criteria resulted in the generation of said first indication.

16. (Fast Mode) The method according to claim 15 wherein:

said providing and testing sub-steps are performed in response to establishing one of a pair of first operating modes;

said receiving step comprises receiving in a cyclically repetitive sequence ones of a series of said data value manifestations; and

said generating step comprises, in response to the establishment of a third one of said modes, generating said first indication once for each of said poling sequences.

17. (Mode set by data) The method according to claim 15 wherein said establishing step comprises:

establishing a selected one of said operating modes in dependence upon the values represented by the data value manifestations from at least one of said sources.

18. (One excess, Record all) The method according to claim 15 wherein said transmitting step comprises:

selectively transmitting to said recording means, in response to the generation of said first indication, said data value manifestations relating to all of said group of data sources.