Patent Document ID: 8174402
Application ID: 12013166
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for determining a probable operational condition of a machine, comprising: (a) acquiring data based upon sensor signals generated by a plurality of sensors attached to the machine, where the sensor signals are indicative of operational characteristics of the machine; (b) processing the data to calculate a plurality of operational characteristic parameters indicative of the probable operational condition of the machine; (c) operating on the operational characteristic parameters to derive a single probable condition value expressed on a continuous numerical scale, the probable condition value indicative of the probable operational condition of the machine; (d) detecting that the probable condition value has fallen below a predetermined threshold; (e) upon detecting that the probable condition value has fallen below the predetermined threshold, generating a fault-classification alert which identifies a most likely cause of degradation in the operational condition of the machine based on analysis of the operational characteristic parameters; and (f) communicating the probable condition value and the fault-classification alert via a communication network to a central monitoring system, wherein at least steps (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) are performed by a machine condition reporting device coupled to the machine.