Patent Number: 050680803
Section: claims

1. A method of monitoring preplanned state changes carried out in accordance with a procedure including a preplanned sequence of operations performed by an operator, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring actual size changes;  (b) comparing the actual state changes with the preplanned state changes of the operations; and  (c) alerting the operator only when the actual state changes indicate a deviation from the preplanned operations of the procedure.  (d) monitoring changes caused by the operator to correct the deviation; and  (e) confirming to the operator that the deviation is corrected.  (a) monitoring the state changes;  (b) comparing the changes with the operations of the procedure;  (c) confirming to the operator when the changes match the preplanned operations of the procedure;  (d) alerting the operator when the changes indicate a deviation from the operations;  (e) requiring operator acknowledgement of the deviation;  (f) monitoring changes caused by the operator in response to the deviation alert; and  (g) confirming to the operator that the deviation has been corrected.  monitoring means for detecting the state changes;  checking means for determining whether the changes are deviating from the preplanned operations of the procedure; and  display means for providing a visual alert of the deviation to the operator.  (a) monitoring the state changes caused by the operator;  (b) determining whether initial conditions of the preplanned operations of the procedure are satisfied;  (c) alerting the operator that the initial conditions are not satisfied with an attention getting display and an audible sound and monitoring the changes until the initial conditions are satisfied;  (d) confirming to the operator that the initial conditions are satisfied;  (e) determining whether sequential conditions of the preplanned operations of the procedure are satisfied;  (f) alerting the operator that the sequential conditions of the procedure are not satisfied;  (g) looping back for determining whether each sequential condition is satisfied until each sequential condition is satisfied and bypassing sequential conditions that are satisfied;  (h) confirming to the operator sequential conditions that are satisfied;  (i) determining whether constraining conditions of the preplanned operations of the procedure are satisfied;  (j) periodically alerting the operator that the constraining conditions are not satisfied; and  (k) requiring operator acknowledgement of the unsatisfied constraining conditions.  (1) monitoring the changes;  (2) determining whether each initial condition is satisfied;  (3) confirming each initial condition that is satisfied; and  (4) bypassing steps (1)-(3) for each initial condition that is satisfied. 2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of (d) requiring operator acknowledgement of the deviation. 3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: 4. A method of monitoring state changes in a power plant carried out in accordance with preplanned operations of a procedure performed by an operation, comprising the steps of: 5. An apparatus for monitoring state changes performed by an operator in accordance with preplanned operations of a procedure, comprising: 6. A method of monitoring state changes conducted by preplanned operations of a procedure performed by an operator, comprising: 7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of: 8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein step (f) comprises monitoring and determining whether a sequential condition is satisfied before proceeding to a next sequential condition. 9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein step (c) includes requiring operator input that one of the initial conditions is satisfied.