Abstract: A computer-readable electronic services management system for a mobile communications network, comprising a distributed network of agents in the form of collaborative autonomous software agents wherein the agents are configured to represent and act on behalf of a user and to communicate with each other to manage, for the user, one or more electronic services (e.g. electronic messages, a purchase etc.) via the user's communications devices. Multiple types of agents include a primary personal agent, a primary creation agent for creating other agents and subordinate agents, and a primary destruction agent for destroying agents meeting pre-determined criteria based on a threshold value in relation to an agent value coefficient. Collaboration between agents is by a private user whiteboard facility whereby collaborating agents post to the whiteboard addressed electronic services, including service tasks to be performed for the user, and extract from the whiteboard electronic services addressed to them.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring a machine are described. In one aspect, a method includes receiving information on a plurality of events associated with the machine, determining a severity value for at least one event of the plurality of events, the severity value based on at least one of a safety value, a hierarchy value, a time-to-repair value, and a cost-of-repair value, and outputting an alert includes the severity value if the severity value exceeds a predetermined threshold associated with the at least one event. Systems and machine-readable media are also described.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a user's usage of a target application. Such a target application can, as examples, be a software program running on a computer or a workstation, an image forming device, an appliance, etc. The target application includes a user interface with a plurality of commands which a user can select. In the example of the target application being a software program, the commands may be icons displayed on a computer screen which a user can point to with a mouse pointer and then click on. In the case of the target application being an image forming device or an appliance, the interface may be an operation panel with buttons, a touch pad, etc. which a user can press. The present invention monitors the user's usage of such interfaces and logs data of the user's usage of such interfaces. The logged data is stored in a map mapping key data to value data. The logged data can then be communicated by the sending unit by Internet mail to a designated location.

Abstract: Ground support equipment for servicing an airplane includes a ground support equipment cart upon which are mounted at least two equipment modules and a control module. A first equipment module mounted upon the cart contains ground support equipment for servicing an airplane and also has a network connection, and at least one additional equipment module mounted upon the cart contains additional ground support equipment and also has a network connection. The control module has a user display and user controls that are connected to a control processor which has a network connection. The user display and the user controls serve as a shared control panel for the ground support equipment contained in the modules mounted upon the cart. In response the control processor sends over the network to one or more of the other modules information defining what particular services the selected type or class of airplane requires of the modules.

Abstract: In a system and method to minimize downtimes of medical apparatuses one or more medical apparatuses each has at least: one detection module to detect error situations of the respective medical apparatus, one local database to provide data and information regarding error situations, associated error correction measures and additional information, one analysis module to analyze a present error situation with regard to measures for error correction and/or continued usability of the medical apparatus on the basis of the data stored in the local database, and one output module to output the results of the analysis. The apparatuses are connected with a central database in which data regarding known error situations of the medical apparatuses, associated error correction measures and additional information are provided. The local databases are updated on the basis of the central database.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel approach for displaying information on a ventilator system. The disclosure describes a novel respiratory system including a removable primary display and system status display. Further, the disclosure describes a novel method for displaying ventilator information and a novel method for controlling a ventilator system.

Abstract: A method for predictive maintenance for a magneto-inductive flow-measuring device and/or to a method for determining electrical conductivity of a medium flowing through a magneto-inductive flow-measuring device, wherein the magneto-inductive flow-measuring device includes a magnet system, which produces a magnetic field passing through the measuring tube essentially transversely to a measuring tube axis; at least two measuring electrodes coupled with the medium, having a defined rest potential and being arranged in a region of the measuring tube lying essentially perpendicularly to the magnetic field; and a control/evaluation unit, which delivers information concerning volume- or mass-flow of the medium on the basis of measurement voltage induced in the measuring electrodes.

Abstract: A production system includes at least one production component having a production cycle which is interruptible by a detected production failure, at least one detector configured to monitor an output of the at least one production component, the detector configured to detect a production failure and to generate a signal indicative of the production failure, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to, in response to the signal from the detector, cause the respective production component to reject production material for a first predetermined duration of time, and in response to the expiration of the first predetermined duration of time, to slow down production for at least a second predetermined duration of time. The control unit can further return the production system to a normal production state in response to receiving a restart signal before the expiration of the first or second predetermined duration of time.

Abstract: A method for finding the correlation between tool PM (prevention maintenance) and the product yield of the tool is disclosed. The method uses a moving average method to magnify a curve trend that is formed by the product yield data that is captured during a predetermined days before PM and after PM. The magnified curve trend is shown by a Cumulative sum chart. The Cumulative sum chart is analyzed for informing related workers of the effect between the tool PM and the product yield, so as to accurately estimate PM timing. Thereby, via the method, the effect between the tool PM and the product yield may be determined, which serves as an important reference for workers to execute further PM.

Abstract: A field device maintenance apparatus includes a field device connection unit that communicates with a field device whose operation contents are defined by parameters; a work-information acquisition unit that acquires parameter attribute information including whether or not the individual parameters are displayable and work instruction information that shows work contents; a display unit that displays one or more of the parameters of the field device depending on whether or not the individual parameters are displayable according to the parameter attribute information; an operation accepting unit that accepts a changing operation for changing one or more of the parameters displayed by the display unit; and an operation-history-information recording unit that records a history of operations accepted by the operation accepting unit.

Abstract: Maintenance monitoring may be provided. First, a plurality of status data respectively corresponding to a plurality of components on a power line may be collected. Then the collected plurality of status data may be analyzed to determine when a one of the collected plurality of status data is outside of a normal operation range for a one of the plurality of components corresponding to the one of the collected plurality of status data. Next, results of the collected data analysis may be displayed. The results may indicate that the one of the collected plurality of status data is outside of the normal operation range for the one of the plurality of components corresponding to the one of the collected plurality of status data.

Abstract: A method and system for non-invasive sensing and monitoring of a processing system employed in semiconductor manufacturing. The method allows for detecting and diagnosing drift and failures in the processing system and taking the appropriate correcting measures. The method includes positioning at least one non-invasive sensor on an outer surface of a system component of the processing system, where the at least one invasive sensor forms a wireless sensor network, acquiring a sensor signal from the at least one non-invasive sensor, where the sensor signal tracks a gradual or abrupt change in a processing state of the system component during flow of a process gas in contact with the system component, and extracting the sensor signal from the wireless sensor network to store and process the sensor signal. In one embodiment, the non-invasive sensor can be an accelerometer sensor and the wireless sensor network can be motes-based.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for evaluating changes in the operational efficiency of an HVAC system over time. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system, and status of said HVAC system. One or more processors receives measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC system and compares said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements.

Abstract: A request to diagnose a problem with an appliance is provided to a diagnostic system whereupon the diagnostic system functions to interpret the information indicative of the problem with the appliance to thereby normalize the information indicative of the problem with the appliance. The normalized information indicative of the problem with the appliance is then used to select from a knowledge base in which is maintained a plurality of solutions each having associated tags that function to identify concepts and values in a domain model a set of possible solutions for the problem with the appliance. As necessary, information within the set of possible solutions for the problem with the appliance is used to dynamically generate additional questions to thereby obtain further information indicative of the problem with the appliance.

Abstract: The invention is a networked system of devices positioned in a hazardous environment to monitor/control process conditions. The devices include sensors and controls such as valves. The sensors detect process conditions/control device settings and are monitored by a slave devices having, generally microprocessor controlled and having associated memory to receive and record the sensor/control device data. The network includes master devices, each master device may be associated with one or more slaved devices and associated sensors, where the master device communicates to is associated slave devices through a digital communication bus. The master device can automatically detect its associated slave devices and detect the communication and data characteristics of the slave devices. The master may also set parameters for detected slave devices, such as needed for computations performed by the master (using its own microprocessor) using data received form the slave device(s).

Abstract: The Disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine comprising: (a) monitoring a wind turbine including: receiving at least one value of at least one sensor and comparing the at least one value with at least one reference; and, determining depending on the comparison between the at least one value with at least one reference whether a malfunction of the wind turbine is present; (b) determining the cause of the malfunction of the wind turbine depending on at least one of: the sensor type of the at least one sensor or the at least one measured value, wherein the cause determination includes: automatically creating a first list comprising at least one possible cause of the malfunction depending on at least one of the sensor type of the at least one sensor or the at least one measured value; and automatically creating a second list comprising a sequence of at least two steps, wherein a first step of the second list is based on the a cause selected from the first list and a second step of the second li

Abstract: A method and system of monitoring corrective measures within a process plant includes receiving equipment data pertaining to the status of equipment within the process plant, receiving corrective measure data pertaining to the status of a corrective measure associated with the equipment, and using the equipment data and the corrective measure data to perform a further function pertaining to the corrective measure associated with the equipment.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with the identification of fault origins of slowly degrading systems such as industrial gas turbines. Following the initial input of some parameter values, exemplary procedure comprises a number of steps which are repeated periodically during the operation of the gas turbine. First, for each potential fault such as e.g. a contamination of compressor blades, erosion of turbine blades or corrosion of machine parts, a pre-symptom fault probability, characteristic of the specific gas turbine considered, and a symptom-conditional fault probability are calculated. In a second step, on-line data from the monitoring devices are loaded in order to update information about symptoms such as e.g. reductions in polytropic efficiency and in flow capacity, changes in vibration spectrum, or other machine condition indicators, and a post-symptom fault probability is calculated.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a pipeline, including estimating a corrosion rate of a pipeline segment, is provided. The method includes analyzing a first data set obtained by inspecting the pipeline segment at a first time and a second data set obtained by inspecting the pipeline segment at a second time subsequent to the first time. A plurality of matched features that include a feature in the first data set and a feature in the second data set is identified. A confidence metric for each of the matched features is calculated. A subset of the matched features is selected based on the confidence metric, a size of the matched features, and/or a desired size of the subset. The corrosion rate of the pipeline segment is calculated based on changes in a geometric characteristic of features within the subset of the matched features between the first time and the second time.

Abstract: A method of determining a segment-specific estimate of a parameter associated with a process control loop includes receiving signal data corresponding to a signal from a process control loop, storing the signal data, partitioning the stored signal data into a plurality of data segments and performing a statistical analysis on a first one of the plurality of data segments selected from the plurality of data segments to generate a first segment-specific parameter estimate.

Abstract: A performance monitoring apparatus for a fluid machinery which includes a predicted performance curve calculator for obtaining a curve representing the relationship between a pressure coefficient and a flow coefficient by non-dimensional characteristics per a plural fluid control quantities from a compression ratio or a pressure difference and an inlet flow rate of the fluid machinery, and a performance monitoring calculator for obtaining an actual performance head from fluid control quantities, a suction pressure, a discharge pressure, a suction temperature, a compression coefficient, a gas average molecular weight, and a specific heat ratio at the time of the operating fluid machinery, and obtaining a predicted performance head from a predicted performance curve, fluid control quantities, and an inlet flow rate; and calculating a performance degradation from the ratio of the predicted performance head to the actual performance head.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for testing a material. A signal is sent into the material using the transmitter. The signal has a frequency range that falls within a selected frequency range to form a transmitted signal. An actual response to the transmitted signal is received at a sensor. A simulated response of the material to the transmitted signal is generated using a functional model capable of modeling responses of the material to different frequency ranges falling within the selected frequency range. The simulated response is compared to the actual response to determine if a change has occurred in the material.

Abstract: A method and a guidance system for operating an industrial scale installation, especially a power plant installation, are provided. For this method and guidance system a number of installation operating parameters characterizing the operating state of the installation and several component operating parameters of selected components of the installation are monitored and stored in a memory device. A characteristic fatigue value characterizing the current fatigue state of each component is determined, as required, using the stored installation operating parameters and/or the stored associated component operating parameters. The purpose of this method and guidance system is to develop an operation of the installation which protects resources. To this end, an associated fatigue prognosis value is determined from the characteristic fatigue value characterizing the current fatigue state for each selected component using guiding parameters characterizing a planned change of state.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining an item of equipment supports the provision of predictive maintenance in a manner which eliminates or reduces downtime of the equipment. The method includes tracking performance data on the equipment or a particular component of the equipment. At least one required maintenance activity is predicted based upon the performance data with respect to a defined performance standard. Performance of the required maintenance activity is scheduled at a defined respective time based upon the prediction.

Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring a turbojet engine. The method acquires a signal representative of a vibratory level of an operating rotor of the turbojet engine, acquires a rotation speed of the rotor during operation, compares the amplitude of the signal with at least one predetermined threshold based on the rotor rotation speed and, in event an amplitude peak exceeds the threshold, analyzes the signal over a time slot defined around the amplitude peak to determine if the phenomenon at the origin of the amplitude peak is a mechanical shock undergone by the rotor of the turbojet engine or an electronic interference of the signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for testing a transmission medium used in a full-duplex communication system comprising an endpoint that comprises a transmitting end (TX) and a receiving end (RX); the method comprises the steps of: first, transmitting a transmitted signal which comprises a test signal sequence with a high auto-correlation characteristic; then, receiving a received signal, and performing a correlation operation on the test signal and the received signal; finally, according to the result of the correlation operation, determining the impedance matching condition of the transmission medium.

Abstract: A controlling unit of a replacement part management server specifies a maintenance target equipment and acquires order conditions from a responsible personnel terminal. The controlling unit acquires maintenance information and part information both relating to the maintenance target equipment. The controlling unit calculates prediction residual regarding target parts of an initial value setting process, and compares the prediction residual with the shortest cycle. When the prediction residual is smaller than the shortest cycle, the controlling unit sets the number of replacements in the part order data storing unit. When an initial value setting process regarding all the parts is completed, an order input screen is output. When an order request is received from the responsible personnel terminal, an order management server acquires part order data and transmits a preparation instruction of a PM kit to the purchaser.

Abstract: A contamination level determination system for hydraulic oil is provided with a pilot filter arranged in a line of a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic working machine to remove, from the hydraulic oil, foreign matter of particle sizes that may cause an operation failure of the hydraulic working machine. A first light-blocking sensor senses passage of foreign matter on an upstream side of the pilot filter. A second light-blocking sensor senses passage of foreign matter on a downstream side of the pilot filter. An onboard controller unit functions to determine a frequency of sensing of foreign matter by the first light-blocking sensor, to determine a frequency of sensing of foreign matter by the second light-blocking sensor, and to determine a contamination level on the upstream side of the pilot filter on the basis of results of the determinations from both sensors.

Abstract: A constraint analysis and reliability agent executes a method for analyzing operation of a manufacturing asset, and includes the steps of collecting operation data for a machine over a plurality of predetermined time periods. The operation data includes a plurality of mutually exclusive events that describe operation of the machine. For each of the predetermined time periods, it is determined whether the machine is in an “ON” or an “OFF” state. Data for the “OFF” states is removed from the collected data to generate a filtered data set. Reliability information is then generated based, at least in part, on the filtered data set. This facilitates predictions of future machine operation.

Abstract: A system for scheduling maintenance of a component in a wind turbine. The system receives signals from each of the wind turbines in a population of wind turbines. From the signals, the system detects a failure of the component in one of the wind turbine. In response to the detect failure, the system calculates a new life value for the component. The life value is then compared to a threshold value. If the life value is within a specified parameter compared to the threshold value, the system schedules a change of the component in all of the wind turbines in the population.

Abstract: A method of detecting anomalies in the service repairs data of equipment. A failure mode-symptom correlation matrix correlates failure modes to symptoms. Diagnostic trouble codes are collected for an actual repair for the equipment. The diagnostic trouble codes are provided to a diagnostic reasoner for identifying failure modes. Diagnostic assessment is applied by the diagnostic reasoner for determining the recommended repairs to perform on the equipment in response to identifying the failure modes. Each of the recommended repairs is compared with the actual repair used to repair the equipment. A mismatch is identified in response to any recommended repair not matching the actual repair. Reports are generated for displaying all of the identified mismatches. The reports are analyzed for determining repair codes having an increase in a number of anomalies. Service centers are alerted of a correct repair for the identified failure mode.

Abstract: A method and system for automated corrective and predictive maintenance is described herein. In one embodiment, a failure notification associated with a tool is received, wherein the failure notification indicates one or more failure events for the tool. Maintenance data associated with the tool is obtained, wherein the maintenance data includes one or more maintenance events for the tool. An optimal schedule is created for the tool by merging the failure notification and the maintenance data.

Abstract: The present invention at directed to systems and methods for monitoring a conveyor having a plurality of rollers spaced along the conveyer for supporting a conveyer belt. The system includes a plurality of roller monitors and a remote monitor. The roller monitors are located at the rollers, each of the roller monitors having sensors for measuring physical parameters of the rollers and generating measurement data indicative of the current values of the physical parameters, a roller processor connected to the sensors, the roller processor operable to receive the measurement data from the sensors, a roller data storage device connected to the roller processor operable to store the measurement data, a roller communication device connected to the roller processor operable to transmit the measurement data to a remote monitor. The remote monitor is operable to receive the measurement data to generate maintenance information for each of the rollers based on the measurement data.

Abstract: The efficiency of an irrigation system on a property is determined as a difference between the actual water usage at a property and the irrigation water need of the plant on the property. Data for the property are received including at least the location and irrigation area of the property. A reference evapotranspiration value for the property is determined using the solar radiation data derived from the location of the property. The irrigation water need of the property is then calculated from the reference evapotranspiration value and area. The irrigation water need is compared to the actual water use at the property to determined the efficiency of the irrigation system operating thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a monitoring device for monitoring an equipment unit, carried out by a processing device in the monitoring device. The process comprises reading at least one sensor signal and determining, on the basis of the at least one sensor signal, whether the equipment unit has been subjected to an unacceptable stress. If the equipment device has been subjected to an unacceptable stress, a start-up lock for the equipment unit is enabled, and lock status information is stored. The step of determining whether the equipment unit has been subjected to an unacceptable stress may comprise criteria that are dependent upon whether the monitoring device is operating in a low-power mode or a normal power mode. When a signal is received that indicates that the equipment unit is to be started up, it is determined whether the start-up lock has been enabled. If it has been enabled, a warning is activated.

Abstract: A method for predicting a probability of failure for a component of a platform at a specified time is described. The method includes collecting historical maintenance data relating to the component, selecting, utilizing the collected historical maintenance data, a lifetime distribution model that best fits the historical maintenance data, estimating upcoming component failures using the selected lifetime distribution model, and applying maintenance schedule dates for the platform to the upcoming component failures to determine a likelihood of failure of the component on one of the scheduled maintenance dates.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing apparatus for appropriately managing information about parts of the manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: By detecting the pressure time characteristic on the high-pressure side of an injection pump, the delivery volume of the pump is able to be determined without intervention in the injection system.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an operational status of a semiconductor equipment includes an audio frequency signal receiving unit and an analysis and determination unit. The audio frequency signal receiving unit is used for receiving an audio frequency signal from the semiconductor equipment while the semiconductor equipment is working. The analysis and determination unit is used for analyzing the audio frequency signal to determine statuses of components of the semiconductor equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein use environmental sensor technology to enhance the tracking and transporting capabilities of a product delivery system. The systems and methods provide the capability to track and verify the environmental condition(s) to which a product is subjected during its transportation or movement through a supply chain. In particular, the systems and methods allow a sender, a receiver, and other authorized persons to access or interrogate environmental data that describes the environmental conditions to which a product within a container has been subjected during transport from the sender to the receiver. The systems and methods also permit in-transit intercept handling when it is determined that a package was unexpectedly subjected to an environmental condition that by definition makes it unfit for delivery to the original receiver.

Abstract: A data logger is disclosed wherein a common housing includes different function blocks which are connected to one another. These function blocks include at least one analog/digital converter for conversion of measurement signals into digital input data, a memory unit for recording of digital data and of digitized event data, a timer, a processor unit for processing of data, a power supply source and input and output interfaces for measurement signals or digital data and event data. The processor unit is configured for conversion of digital input data and time data into a format which is compatible with standardized software (e.g., freely available) and which makes it possible to display the processed data using standardized software in tabular and/or graphic form on an output device.

Abstract: A method for timing performance of a maintenance function, in particular the timing of regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (22) to conserve fuel as a motor vehicle (10) travels along a projected travel route. Certain road data about roads in a roadway system is processed to develop data for anticipating certain modes of vehicle operation during travel of the vehicle along the projected travel route. The data for anticipating certain modes of vehicle operation along the anticipated route of travel and data geographically tracking vehicle travel along the projected route are interactively used to control timing of performance of the maintenance function as the vehicle travels along the projected route.

Abstract: There is provided a method of selecting a maintenance operation to be performed on a device. An exemplary method comprises determining a health parameter for the device, the health parameter being predictive of a probability of failure of the device based on archival data about a plurality of devices similar to the device. The exemplary method also comprises performing a first maintenance operation on the device if the health parameter indicates that the probability of failure of the device is below a threshold. The exemplary method additionally comprises performing a second maintenance operation on the device if the health parameter indicates that the probability of failure of the device exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A system including an environmental sensor that can travel with a product within a carrier's logistics network. The environmental sensor being configured to sense an environmental condition capable of affecting the product to generate product environment data. The system includes a scanner configured to read product environment data from the environmental sensor. The system also includes a hub control unit configured to communicate with the scanner and receive the product environment data from the scanner and determines whether the product environment data transcends a limit of exposure of the product to an environmental condition. The hub control unit is also configured to generate a transporting instruction to redirect transport of the product to an alternate destination different from its original destination if the hub control unit determines that the product environment data indicates the environmental condition of the product has transcended the limit of exposure.

Abstract: A centralized control apparatus includes a data collecting part that gathers data at a predetermined interval from a substrate processing apparatus for each component in the substrate processing apparatus; a data processing part that determines a status of each component based on the gathered data and regulation control information including attribute information about each component, maintenance information and previously established status-determined information about each component, at a predetermined timing established for each component, and performs thinning-out-processing to the gathered data on a determination result and prepares processed data by processing data obtained by the thinning-out-processing; and a data transmitting part that sends the regulation control information including the determination result and the processed data to a terminal unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for monitoring a platform. Information from monitoring the platform is received from a sensor network and a number of systems associated with the platform. A plurality of observations is formed from the information. A profile is created from the plurality of observations in which the profile is used to monitor the platform.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system for optimizing utilization of one or more assets includes obtaining at least one of operational data and condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets. At least one of historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets is retrieved. One or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets is conducted based on the obtained at least one of the operational data and the condition data. One or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets is conducted based on the at least one of the obtained operational data and condition data and on the retrieved at least one of the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data. One or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset are determined based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics and the determined one or more optimization instructions are displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for capturing interactions in a system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of a first component of the system and receiving a selection of a second component of the system. The method further includes receiving a selection of an interaction between the first component and the second component, and displaying a list of functions performed by the selected interaction.

Abstract: A maintenance support system for a construction machine calculates the cumulative load of every component corresponding with the driving and working conditions of the construction machine by a load calculation means after simulating the driving and working conditions on the basis of production operating conditions by an operation simulation means, and forecasts the lifespan of the respective components by a lifespan calculation means on the basis of the cumulative load. Hence, a more accurate maintenance schedule can be established in comparison with a case where which component is to be maintained is determined on the basis of only the operating time.

Abstract: A safety control system includes a plurality of safety control stations connected to a control bus to communicate with each other and with a distributed control system including a plurality of control stations connected to the control bus, wherein each of the plurality of safety control stations has an interface through which each of the plurality of safety control stations is connected to the control bus for transmitting own data of each of the plurality of safety control stations to all other safety control stations by broadcasting at a fixed cycle via the control bus and for receiving by each safety control station transmitted data from all other safety control stations, and wherein the interface implements a safety layer used to generate and diagnose safety information.