Patent ID: 8244405

Claim:
A method of performing problem detection/prediction, diagnosis, and resolution within an electrical provision device while minimizing power consumption, said method comprising: using a microprocessor with a memory to simultaneously set a low, power-saving sampling frequency for one or more sensor types, using said one or more sensors to sense one or more respective operating characteristics of the electrical current provision device at said low sampling frequency, storing recent readings of each of said one or more sensors in a buffer portion of said memory, periodically analyzing said readings in said buffer using said microprocessor, by comparing said readings in said buffer with an accepted normal range for each of said respective sensor readings, wherein each of said readings being within said range comprises normal operation and wherein at least one of said sensor readings exceeding said range comprises abnormal operation, instituting an event-triggered sampling frequency for each of said one or more sensors when said at least one sensor reading in said buffer exceeds said accepted normal range, said event-triggering sampling frequency being at a higher sampling frequency than said low, power-saving sampling frequency, storing said one or more sensor readings at said event-triggered sampling frequency in said buffer portion of said memory, frequently analyzing said event-triggered readings in said buffer, said frequent analyzing comprising determining a confidence value, for said at least one sensor, indicating an amount of confidence that a fault exists, said frequent analyzing of said event triggered sensor readings occurring at a frequency being greater than said periodic analyzing of said sensor readings, performing a redundant fault analysis, when said at least one abnormal sensor reading persists for two or more occurrences of said frequent analyzing of said event-triggered readings, said redundant fault analysis comprising a combined confidence value for at least two sensors, taking a control action to resolve said existing fault, when said combined confidence value exceeds a predetermined threshold, by said microprocessor generating a control signal that is received by a controller, thereby causing said controller to command said control action, and generating a normality signal if said combined confidence value does not exceed said threshold, or if said abnormal sensor reading clears before said two or more occurrences of said frequent analyzing, said normality signal causing return to said low, power-saving sampling frequency.