초록 ▼

The operational state of a complex control system, with a number of operating units controlled by a plurality of sensing and input devices, can be dynamically displayed as a starfield. In the starfield, each operating unit is depicted by a separate cluster of stars representing the states of the sen

The operational state of a complex control system, with a number of operating units controlled by a plurality of sensing and input devices, can be dynamically displayed as a starfield. In the starfield, each operating unit is depicted by a separate cluster of stars representing the states of the sensing devices for that operating unit. The position and other display attributes of the stars denote the functional state of the associated device. An archive of starfields is maintained in a storage device with each such starfield depicting the state of the control system for a particular operating condition, such as a specific system error. When an unusual starfield occurs, it can be compared to the archived starfields to determine whether a problem exists and if so determine a solution.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for providing operational information in a control system, which includes a plurality of operational units that respond to signals from a plurality of sensors, said method comprising:producing a first starfield pattern wherein the starfield pattern has a plurality of star

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for providing operational information in a control system, which includes a plurality of operational units that respond to signals from a plurality of sensors, said method comprising:producing a first starfield pattern wherein the starfield pattern has a plurality of star clusters which depict functional statuses of the plurality of operational units and the plurality of sensors;storing data defining a plurality of additional starfield patterns which depict statuses of the plurality of operational units and the plurality of sensors;storing, for each one of the plurality of additional starfield patterns, a designation of an operational condition of the control system represented by that one of the plurality of additional starfield patterns;comparing the first starfield pattern to each of the plurality of additional starfield patterns to determine a degree of similarity therebetween; andselecting a designation of an operational condition from storage in response to the degree of similarity between a given one of the plurality of additional starfield patterns and the current starfield pattern.