Method, product and device for coding event history

• US 7,577,551 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Gu, Fangming
• Primary Examiner(s): West; Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US11/448,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/66, 702/67, 702/68, 702/70, 702/79, 702/176, 702/177, 702/178, 702/187
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0264 Control of logging system, e.g. decision on which data to store; time-stamping measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A method for coding an event history is disclosed. Information relating to a real time state of an event is received. For a defined interval of time, it is determined whether the state of the event is in one of two states. In response to the event being in a first state, a data stream is appended with a first characteristic representative of the first state, and in response to the event being in a second different state, the data stream is appended with a second characteristic representative of the second state. The appended data stream is saved, and the process repeated for the next sequential defined interval of time.

Claims

1. A method for coding an event history, comprising:

receiving information relating to a real time state of an event;

determining, with a logic device, for a defined interval of time, whether the real time state of the event is in one of two states;

in response to the event being in a first state, appending, with a processor, a data stream with a first characteristic representative of the first state, and in response to the event being in a second different state, appending the data stream with a second characteristic representative of the second state;

saving the appended data stream;

repeating the determining and appending for a next sequential defined interval of time; and

communicating the appended data stream for analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the two states are on and off.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first state is on, and the second state is off.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first character is a binary one, and the second character is a binary zero, thereby enabling a two-state event history to be established using only one bit per state per defined interval of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the defined interval of time is one minute.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

a time-stamped two-state event history for a total duration of 60 minutes is capable of being represented by a binary string storable in 8 bytes or less.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining the interval of time, thereby enabling the interval of time to be configurable.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the appended data stream for remote analysis and archiving.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the communicating comprises communicating via a wireless network.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the communicating comprises communicating the appended data stream after a defined duration of time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the two states are on and off; and

the first character is a binary one, and the second character is a binary zero, thereby enabling a two-state event history to be established using only one bit per state per defined interval of time; and

further comprising;

defining the interval of time, thereby enabling the interval of time to be configurable; and

communicating the appended data stream after a defined duration of time for remote analysis and archiving.

12. A computer program product for coding an event history, the product comprising:

a storage medium, readable by a processing circuit, storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for implementing the method of claim 11.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving information relating to a real time state of an event comprises receiving information from a storage device subsequent to the information having been acquired in real time.

14. A computer program product for coding an event history, the product comprising:

a storage medium, readable by a processing circuit, storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for implementing the method of claim 1.

15. A device for coding an event history, comprising:

a receiver configured for receiving information relating to a real time state of an event;

a logic device configured for determining, for a defined interval of time, whether the real time state of the event is in one of two states;

a processor configured for appending a data stream, in response to the event being in a first state, with a first character representative of the first state, and for appending the data stream, in response to the event being in a second different state, with a second character representative of the second state; and

a storage device configured for saving the appended data stream;

wherein the logic device and processor are configured to repeat the determining and appending for a next sequential defined interval of time.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein:

the two states are on and off; and

the first character is a binary one, and the second character is a binary zero, thereby enabling a two-state event history to be established using only one bit per state per defined interval of time; and

further comprising;

an input device configured for enabling a user to define the interval of time; and

a transmitter configured for communicating the appended data stream after a defined duration of time for remote analysis and archiving.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein:

the transmitter is configured for communicating via a wireless network.