Data gathering computer and analysis display computer interface system and methodology

• US 5,373,346 A
• Filed: 10/18/1993
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Onset Computer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Onset Computer Corporation
• Inventors: Hocker, Lon
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wachsman, Hal D.
• Application Number:
  US08/136,904
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 364/550, 364/422, 364/554, 364/556, 364/580, 364/138, 364/139, 364/130, 364/571.01-571.08, 364/481, 364/483, 364/431.03, 364/431.04, 364/424.03 , 364/424.04, 367/25, 395/700, 346/33 WL, 346/33 TP
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/00 Recording measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence

Abstract

A data gathering computer and host data display computer interface system, methodology and protocol are described that utilize a shared control program. The data gathering computer uses this program to determine what measurements are to be made and when and how the data is to be compressed into its data storage. The host display and analysis computer receives and utilizes the control program and the stored data from the data gathering computer, and expands the stored data responsive to the control program, and reconstructs the value and engineering units of the values measured as well as the time that the measurements were made. By passing the control program gathered by the data gathering computer, a single display computer program is all that is needed to display any number of completely different data streams from any number of data gathering computers.

Claims

1. A method of gathering and analyzing data in a system having a first device for taking measurements and gathering data and a second device for analyzing data, where the first device is disconnected from the second device while taking measurements and gathering data, and then connected to the second device for analyzing the data, comprising the steps of:

measuring one or more physical properties with the first device while the first device is disconnected from the second device, said measuring controlled by a unified program to provide measurement data;

storing said measurement data in the first device in a compressed form;

connecting the first device to the second device such that the first device and second device are in communication;

copying both said compressed measurement data and said unified program from the first device to the second device; and

interpreting said compressed measurement data in the second device with said copied unified program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said interpreting step includes an identifying time step which provides a time of measurement associated with each measurement.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said interpreting step includes a converting step which provides converted data in engineering units from said compressed measurement data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said interpreting step includes an identifying units step which provides an engineering unit tag associated with each measurement.

5. A data gathering and analysis system which provides an ability to collect data in a remote field site and then interpret the collected data at any one of a number of data interpretation sites, which comprises:

a data gathering computer having one or more channels with sensors connected thereto for taking measurements of physical properties, said data gathering computer operative to take and store measurement data;

a unified program located in said data gathering computer, said unified program controlling said data gathering computer to direct measurement taking and storing;

a data display/analysis computer having a generic data analysis program, said data gathering computer being connected to said data display/analysis computer to copy said unified program and said measurement data from said data gathering computer to said data display/analysis computer, said generic data analysis program operative to interpret said copied measurement data by utilizing said copied unified program,

whereby said data gathering computer gathers data while disconnected from said data display/analysis computer.

6. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 5, wherein said unified program includes means for associating each sensor with a particular channel.

7. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 6, wherein said unified program includes a calibration routine for each sensor.

8. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 7, wherein said unified program includes means for directing an order in which the sensors take measurements of physical properties.

9. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 8, wherein said unified program includes means for directing timing between measurements taken by the sensors.

10. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 9, wherein said unified program includes means for directing the sensors to take measurements.

11. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 10, wherein said unified program includes means for directing storing of selected measurements according to a predetermined storing routine.

12. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 11, wherein said unified program includes means for directing looping through said means for directing the sensors to take measurements and said means for directing storing of selected measurements according to a predetermined storing routine.

13. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 12, wherein said unified program is user definable in a high level language.

14. The data gathering and analysis system of claim 13, wherein said generic data analysis program interprets said measurement data by stepping sequentially through said unified program.

15. A method of gathering and analyzing data with a first device and a second device, the first device having a sensor which is responsive to a physical property, and also having a memory, comprising:

pre-calibrating the sensor by providing a calibration routine, said calibration routine stored in the first device;

pre-timing measurements by providing a timing routine, said timing routine stored in the first device;

measuring physical properties according to said timing routine while the first device is disconnected from the second device to provide data;

storing said data in a compressed form;

looping through said measuring and storing steps according to said timing routine;

connecting the first device to the second device;

copying said data in compressed form and said calibration routine and said timing routine from the first device to the second device; and

interpreting said copied data in compressed form in a generic data analysis program according to said copied calibration routine and said copied timing routine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said timing routine is chosen from a table of timing routines.

17. A method of gathering and analyzing data with a first device and a second device, the first device having a plurality of sensors connected to channels, each sensor responsive to a physical property, the first device also having a memory, comprising:

pre-associating the sensors with the channels by providing an associating routine, said associating routine stored in the first device;

pre-calibrating the sensors by providing a calibration routine, said calibration routine stored in the first device;

pre-ordering a sequence in which the sensors take measurements by providing an ordering routine, said ordering routine stored in the first device;

pre-timing the measurements by providing a timing routine, said timing routine, said timing routine stored in the first device;

measuring physical properties, while the first device is disconnected from the second device according to said associating routine, said ordering routine and said timing routine to provide data;

storing said data in a compressed form;

looping through said measuring and storing steps according to said ordering routine and said timing routine;

connecting the first device to the second device;

copying said data in compressed form and said associating routine, said calibrating routine, said ordering routine and said timing routine from the first device to the second device; and

interpreting said copied data in compressed form in a generic data analysis program according to said copied associating routine, said copied calibrating routine, said copied ordering routine and said copied timing routine.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said timing routine is chosen from a table of timing routines.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said ordering routine is chosen from a table of ordering routines.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said associating routine is chosen from a table of associating routines.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said calibrating routine is chosen from a table of calibrating routines.