Patent Publication Number: US-2021165723-A1

Title: Graphical Indicator With History

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of industrial engineering. More particularly, this invention relates to providing an engineer with selectively interactive linked presentations of current status and historical status of machine health key performance indicators (KPIs). 
     INTRODUCTION 
     Large industrial installations have many machines that need to be kept in good repair. Machine health science is a branch of industrial engineering that concerns itself with monitoring and maintaining the proper operation of those machines. As a part of this effort, a variety of different sensors are used to gather information about the operation of each machine. In a modern environment, this data gathering process produces an amount of machine information that can become overwhelming. 
     Certain high-level data streams have been identified as containing information that provides a good overview of machine health, and when they indicate a problem, other data streams can be investigated to determine the exact nature of the problem. These high-level data streams are generally referred to as key performance indicators (KPIs). By staying aware of the KPIs, an engineer can have a reasonable understanding of the general machine health within his field of responsibility. 
     However, data streams are not static, and they change over time. Having a current value presented as a KPI—while helpful—does not tell the entire story of the health of one or more machines. Conversely, the history of the KPI does not tell the engineer what is happening at that very moment. Thus, even when simplifying data presentation with the use of KPIs, an engineer might not be able to discern the important aspects of general machine health. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a system that tends to reduce issues such as those described above, at least in part. 
     SUMMARY 
     The above and other needs are met by a method of presenting data, by receiving data from a data source, and storing the data on a non-transient, computer-readable storage medium. A current key performance indicator is calculated from the data, and is added to a file of historical key performance indicators that is stored on the non-transient, computer-readable storage medium. The current key performance indicator is read from the non-transient, computer-readable storage medium, and presented in a first graphical image. The historical key performance indicators are read from the non-transient, computer-readable storage medium, and presented in a second graphical image. The presentation of the current key performance indicator is linked to the presentation of the historical key performance indicators in a composite interface element, such that when a historical position is selected in the second graphical image, the first graphical image depicts a key performance indicator that was current at that historical position. 
     In various embodiments according to this aspect of the invention, the data is at least one of vibration, pressure, temperature, volume, speed, sound, and flow. In some embodiments, the key performance indicator is at least one of machines in alert, machine faults, journal entries, machine configurations, alert limit recommendations, and routes. In some embodiments, the composite interface element depicts a selection of key performance indicator statuses. In some embodiments, the first graphical image is a donut chart. In some embodiments, the second graphical image is a stacked trend chart. In some embodiments, the method is embodied in a portable vibration analyzer. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is described a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program having a set of instructions for causing a computer to perform the method as described above. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is described a computerized apparatus that is configured to perform the method as described above. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIGS. 1-6  depict graphical composite interface elements according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of a method for depicting graphical composite interface elements according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a function block diagram of an apparatus for depicting graphical composite interface elements according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a graphical representation of a composite interface element  100  that presents two views of a given KPI as entitled at  114 , and which includes graphical representations of both a current value  102  of the KPI and the historical values  104  of the KPI. A legend  106  indicates what the various segments  110  of the current value  102  and the historical values  104  represent. An indicator  108  depicts the time at which the presented current value  102  was read, and can include information such as the date and exact time of day, as selectively desired. 
     In the example as presented in  FIG. 1 , the KPI  114  is the “machines in alert,” meaning those machines that are reporting some kind of an alert mode. It is appreciated that many other KPIs  114  could be selected and configured by the engineer, and this KPI is representative only. In the legend  106  it is seen that the various categories for this KPI  114  are “good,” “old or unknown,” “advise,” “warning,” and “danger.” It is appreciated that many other categories of alert mode could be selected and configured by the engineer, and these categories are representative only. 
     The graphical representation of the current value  102  of the given KPI  114  is present in this embodiment as a donut chart, where the various segments of the donut are divided according to the relative numbers of each category. It is appreciated that in other embodiments, other types of chart can be presented, like a pie chart, such as could be selected by the engineer, and this type of chart is representative only. 
     In this specific embodiment, the category of machines that exhibit a status of “good” is selectively omitted from the donut chart, as it would often be the largest category by a wide margin, and would thus diminish the resolution with which the other categories could be viewed. In other embodiments, the “good” category is not omitted, or can be toggled off and on as desired. In some embodiments any one or more of the categories can be toggled off or on (depicted in the donut chart or not depicted in the donut chart) as desired. 
     While the current value  102  depicts the value of the KPI at a specific point in time, the historical value  104  depicts the history of the KPI over a selectable period of time. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the historical value  104  is depicted with a stacked trend chart, although it is appreciated that in other embodiments other chart types are selectively presented, such as by the engineer, and that this is representative only. In some embodiments, time is depicted along the X axis of the trend chart  104 , and the various values of the categories of the KPI at a given point in time are depicted along the Y axis. In some embodiments, older values of the KPI  114  scroll off the end of the historical KPI value  104  as new current KPI values are added to the historical chart  104 . 
     The presentation of the segment  110  in the graphical depiction of the current value  102  is keyed in some manner to both the legend  106  and the presentation of the layer  112  in the graphical depiction of the historical value  104 , so that both the historical trend and the current value of the represented category can readily be seen and identified. This can be accomplished in a variety of different ways, such as with the correlated hatching as depicted in  FIG. 1 , or with various densities of fill, or by using different colors. 
     In some embodiments, an engineer can select a desired one of the different segments  110  on the current value  102  to navigate to more detailed information in regard to the status associated with the segment  110 , such as a list of all machines that currently exhibit the status represented by the selected segment  110 . 
     The composite interface element  100  is presented to the engineer such as on a display device, like a computer monitor, within a graphical interface for the computing system. A variety of composite interface elements  100  can be positioned in the presentation, such as for a selection of different KPIs  114 , and other data presentations, according to the desires of the engineer configuring the graphical interface. For example,  FIGS. 2-6  depict composite interface elements  100  for other KPIs  114 . 
     By selecting a given point along the time-line of the historical display  104  of a given KPI  114 , the presentation of the current KPI  102  is changed to depict the value of the KPI  114  that was current at the selected point in time, and the time indication  108  is respectively updated to indicate that point in time. In this manner, the engineer is able to conveniently view the historical trends of the  104  of the KPI  114 , the on-going current value  102  of the KPI  114 , and go back in time, so to speak, to view the then-current value  102  of the KPI  114  that was current at a given point in time  108 , by selecting that point on the historical depiction  104 . Thus, the engineer is able to quickly visualize and analyze current and historical trends of the KPI  114 , because of the interaction between the depictions of the historical values  104  and the depictions of the current values  102  as provided by the composite interface element  100 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7 , there is depicted a flow-chart of the method  700  by which the KPI  114  composite interface element  100  functions. In various embodiments, the method  700  can be instantiated in one or both of a monitoring instrument  702 , such as a vibration monitor, and a computer  704 , such as a server. More detail in regard to the instrument  702  and the computer  704  is provided hereafter. 
     The method  700  starts with gathering data about the operation of the machine from one or more sensors, as given in block  706 . In the embodiment depicted, the sensors provide information directly to the instrument  702 , which processes the raw signals from the sensors, as given in block  708 . These processed signals are then stored in a memory, as given in block  710 . A processor then calculates the various desired KPIs  114 , as given in block  712 . It is appreciated that some of the KPIs  114  can be read directly from the processed data received from the sensors, but others of the KPIs  114  must be calculated or otherwise derived from various inputs and sensors of different types. Once the KPIs  114  are calculated, they can then be presented as a composite interface element  100  on a display of the instrument  702 , as given in block  714 . 
     In a further embodiment, the processed data that is stored in the memory as given in block  710  can be read by a computer  704 , or sent to the computer  704 , or otherwise copied to and stored in the computer  704 , as given in block  716 . The computer  704  can also, or alternately, calculate the KPIs  114 , as given in block  718 , and store them in a memory in the computer, as given in block  720 . These current KPIs  114  are stored along with historical KPIs  114  in the computer  704  memory. The current KPIs  114  are read from the memory as given in block  722  and the historical KPIs  114  are read from the memory as given in block  724 , and are used to update the composite interface element  100  as presented by the computer  704 , as given in block  746 . In some embodiments the historical KPIs  114  as read in block  724  are also transmitted to the instrument  702  for presentation in the composite interface element, as given in block  714 . 
     In a broader but more functional sense, in one embodiment the data is written to a hard drive, and certain pieces of the data are read by a processor into a RAM, where the KPIs are calculated, and then are written back to a memory in association with a time stamp. The current KPI is displayed in one graphic, and historical values of the KPI are displayed in another graphic. When the engineer clicks on a historical position in the historical KPI graphic, the time stamp of the KPI associated with that position is read, and the individual KPI associated with the time stamp is retrieved from either the hard drive or the memory, and displayed using the current KPI graphic within the composite interface element. The time stamp associated with the selected KPI is optionally displayed as well, as indicated above. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8 , there is depicted one embodiment of a computerized apparatus  800  capable of performing the actions as described herein. In this embodiment, the apparatus  800  is locally under the control of the central processing unit  802 , which controls and utilizes the other modules of the apparatus  800  as described herein. As used herein, the word module refers to a combination of both software and hardware that performs one or more designated function. Thus, in different embodiments, various modules might share elements of the hardware as described herein, and in some embodiments might also share portions of the software that interact with the hardware. 
     The embodiment of apparatus  800  as depicted in  FIG. 8  includes, for example, a storage module  804  such as a hard drive, tape drive, optical drive, or some other relatively long-term data storage device. A read-only memory module  806  contains, for example, basic operating instructions for the operation of the apparatus  800 . An input-output module  808  provides a gateway for the communication of data and instructions between the apparatus  800  and other computing devices, networks, or data storage modules. An interface module  810  includes, for example, keyboards, speakers, microphones, cameras, displays, mice, and touchpads, and provides means by which the engineer can observe and control the operation of the apparatus  800 . 
     A random-access memory module  812  provides short-term storage for data that is being buffered, analyzed, or manipulated and programming instructions for the operation of the apparatus  800 . A power module  814  is also provided in various embodiments of the apparatus  800 . In some embodiment that power module  814  is a portable power supply, such as one or more batteries. In some embodiments the power module  814  includes a renewable source, such as a solar panel or an inductive coil that are configured to provide power or recharge the batteries. In other embodiments the power module  814  receives power from an external power source, such as a 110/220 volt supply. 
     Some embodiments of the apparatus  800  include the sensor  816 , such as a vibration sensor, which senses vibration from the machine and provides the vibration signal representing the sensed vibration. For example, an amplified accelerometer is used as the sensor  816  in some embodiments. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus  800  receives stored data through the input/output  808 . In other embodiments, the apparatus  800  receives data from the sensor  816 . In either embodiment, the apparatus  800  performs the functions as described herein, and then sends the data out through the input/output  808  for remote storage or further processing, or directly to the storage module  804 . In some embodiments the steps of the method as described herein are embodied in a computer language on a non-transitory medium that is readable by the apparatus  800  of  FIG. 8 , and that enables the apparatus  800  to implement the process as described herein. 
     The apparatus  800  as depicted and described can be one or both of the instrument  702  and the computer  704 , or various elements of the apparatus  800  as described can be distributed across the instrument  702  and the computer  704 . 
     The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.