System and method for processing control data

Abstract

A data collection engine for collecting a stream of dynamic data from a plant, comprising: a first computer process for receiving the dynamic data and for saving the dynamic data as database records in a series of log files within a file folder; and a second computer process for reading the database records from the log files, and storing the database records in a database.

1 . A data collection engine for collecting a stream of dynamic data from a plant, comprising: 
 a first computer process for receiving the dynamic data and for saving the dynamic data as database records in a series of log files within a file folder; and    a second computer process for reading the database records from the log files, and storing the database records in a database.    
   
   
       2 . The data collection engine of  claim 1 , wherein the first computer process operates at a relatively higher priority than the second computer process.  
   
   
       3 . The data collection engine of  claim 1 , wherein the second computer process deletes each log file after the database records are stored in the database.  
   
   
       4 . The data collection engine of  claim 1 , further comprising a transformation system for evaluating data points in the stored database records to identify critical data points.  
   
   
       5 . The data collection engine of  claim 4 , wherein the data points are evaluated against a predetermined criteria.  
   
   
       6 . The data collection engine of  claim 4 , wherein the data points are evaluated against other data points.  
   
   
       7 . The data collection engine of  claim 4 , wherein the critical data points are outputted to a second database and made available for viewing via a graphical user interface.  
   
   
       8 . The data collection engine of  claim 7 , wherein the graphical user interface includes an interface for dynamically displaying a current operational status of the plant in near real-time.  
   
   
       9 . The data collection engine of  claim 7 , wherein the graphical user interface includes an interface for dynamically displaying an ignition summary of a turbine unit at the plant.  
   
   
       10 . The data collection engine of  claim 7 , wherein the graphical user interface includes an interface for displaying an operating report for the plant over a selected span of time.  
   
   
       11 . The data collection engine of  claim 7 , wherein the graphical user interface includes an interface for displaying operational data for a turbine selected from the group consisting of: temperature, speed, emissions, trips, and starts.  
   
   
       12 . The data collection engine of  claim 7 , wherein the critical data points are further outputted to a permanent database for secure storage.  
   
   
       13 . The data collection engine of  claim 1 , wherein the database records comprise SQL insert records.  
   
   
       14 . A method for collecting a stream of dynamic plant data, comprising: 
 using a first computer process to receive the dynamic plant data and to save the dynamic plant data as database records in a series of log files within a file folder; and    using a second computer process to read the database records from the log files and store the database records in a database.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising the further step of using the second computer process to delete each log file after the database records are stored in the database.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising the further step of evaluating data points in the stored database records to identify critical data points.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising the further step of dynamically outputting critical data points to a graphical user interface.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising the further step of outputting critical data points to a permanent storage database.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising the further step of processing critical data points to generate transformed data points.  
   
   
       20 - 26 . (canceled)