Abstract: A vector database is used to create a vector map which is aligned with a raster map produced from an existing hand-drawn map. The aligned maps provide an X,Y coordinate basis for the locating of specific addresses within the territory represented by the raster map. The technique is particularly applicable to use by a utility company wherein the addresses identified are customer residences, each residence being coded with specific X,Y coordinates relative to the vector database. Relevant additional customer information is indexed through a graphical representation of the address which when displayed appears on the raster map at the appropriate X,Y coordinates relative to the vector map. Additional specific details of the method and system are presented.

Abstract: A methodology for processing alarms generated within a predetermined system embodies a forward chaining approach to the analysis of alarms. Before an alarm set can be diagnosed, the method includes the steps of: providing a computer database representative of all components of the system capable of faulting and the interconnections between the components; providing rules that relate component faults to generated alarms and to propagation of component faults within the system; determining individual alarm patterns generated by separate faulting of each component of the system; and storing in a computer database individual alarm patterns determined for each component of the system. Thereafter, the method includes preparing each stored alarm pattern with a generated set of alarms and ascertaining those components whose individual alarm patterns are a subset of this set of alarms.