Remote diagnosis server

Abstract

A network-based diagnosis server for monitoring and diagnosing a system, the server being remote from the system it is observing, comprises a sensor for generating signals indicative of a characteristic of a component of the system, a network-interfaced sensor agent coupled to the sensor for receiving signals therefrom, a broker module coupled to the network for sending signals to and receiving signals from the sensor agent, a handler application connected to the broker module for transmitting signals to and receiving signals therefrom, a reasoner application in communication with the handler application for processing, and responding to signals received from the handler application, wherein the sensor agent, broker module, handler application, and reasoner applications operate simultaneously relative to each other, such that the present invention diagnosis server performs continuous monitoring and diagnosing of said components of the system in real time. The diagnosis server is readily adaptable to various different systems.

1 - 21 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       22 . A method of remotely monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining a system in real-time, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) generating signals indicative of the state of at least one component of the system via a plurality of sensors;    b) transmitting said signals to remote applications via a network;    c) continuously monitoring and diagnosing said signals for indications of component failures and the potential therefor; and    d) generating and transmitting signals to user output devices and controllers of the system.    
   
   
       23 . A method of remotely monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining a system in real-time according to the method of  claim 22  wherein the step of continuously monitoring and diagnosing said signals for indications of component failures and the potential therefor further comprises the steps of: 
 a) requesting and retrieving system specific parameters and data;    b) performing logical analysis and user-interactive analysis using said sensor signals and system specific parameters and data for identifying, diagnosing, and isolating, system failures and the potential therefor.    
   
   
       24 . A method of remotely monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining a system in real-time according to the method of  claim 23  wherein the step of continuously monitoring and diagnosing said signals for indications of component failures and the potential therefor further comprises the step of utilizing diagnostic databases for performing system modeling and trend analysis.