Claims:1. A system for monitoring an automated apparatus, the system comprising:
a processing unit comprising:
an alarm detection unit configured to detects alarms generated when a value of a parameter of the automated apparatus goes out of a pre-set upper limit and a pre-set lower limit; and
an operation detection unit configured to detect operations performed by an operator on the automated apparatus;
a non-persistent storage operatively coupled to the processing unit, the non-persistent storage being configured to store the detected alarms with time stamps of generation of the alarms and the detected operations with time stamps of performance of the operations;
a persistent storage operatively coupled to the processing unit and the non-persistent storage, the persistent storage being configured to receive and store the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage; and
a display unit operatively coupled to the processing unit, the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage, the display unit being configured to display, on receipt of a request, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage are transferred to the persistent storage from the non-persistent storage once the detected alarms and the detected operations in the non-persistent storage reaches a predefined limit, thereby reducing a number of access to the persistent storage resulting in enhance in endurance of the persistent storage.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the storage of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps in the persistent storage comprises:
determining a number of entries of the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps stored in the non-persistent storage;
transmitting the stored alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps in the non-persistent storage to the persistent storage when the number of entries in non-persistent storage exceeds the predefined limit; and
replacing previous data in the persistent storage with the received alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps based on age of the previous data in the persistent storage when a number of entries in the persistent storage reach predefined number records.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarms comprise any or combination of apparatus alarms and operator configured alarms.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, the operator operations include any or more of a power-on, a power-off, and change in parameters of the automated apparatus.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, the display unit is configured to display the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps in a human readable format.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, the displaying, by the display unit, of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps comprises:
receiving the request that pertains to retrieval and display of the detected alarms and the detected operations from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage;
in response to the receipt request, retrieving a data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage;
calculating a validation value of the data retrieved from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage;
comparing the calculated validation value with a pre-stored reference validation value; and
when the calculated validation value is equal to the pre-stored validation value, displaying the retrieved data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage in a predefined order based on time of occurrence of the alarms and the operations.
8. A method for monitoring an automated apparatus, the method comprising:
detecting, using a processing unit, alarms generated when a value of a parameter of the automated apparatus goes out of a pre-set upper limit and a pre-set lower limit;
detecting, using the processing unit, operations performed by an operator on the automated apparatus;
storing, using a non-persistent storage, the detected alarms with time stamps of generation of the alarms and the detected operations with time stamps of performance of the operations;
receiving and storing, using a persistent storage, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage; and
displaying, using a display unit, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps on receipt of a request.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the storage of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps in the persistent storage comprises:
determining a number of entries of the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps stored in the non-persistent storage;
transmitting the stored alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps in the non-persistent storage to the persistent storage when the number of entries in non-persistent storage exceeds a predefined limit; and
replacing previous data in the persistent storage with the received alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps based on age of the previous data in the persistent storage when a number of entries in the persistent storage reach predefined number records.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the displaying of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps comprises:
receiving the request that pertains to retrieval and display of the detected alarms and the detected operations from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage;
in response to the receipt request, retrieving a data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage;
calculating a validation value of the data retrieved from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage;
comparing the calculated validation value with a pre-stored reference validation value; and
when the calculated validation value is equal to the pre-stored validation value, displaying the retrieved data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps in a predefined order based on time of occurrence of the alarms and the operations.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of monitoring and storage of failure alarms and operator’s actions on automated systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system to store and display of failure alarms and operator’s actions on a mission critical system.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] While operation of a mission critical system, such as a control system of aircraft, a control system of electricity grid system, a control system of an emergency communication system, a control system of medical treatment system etc., there are various failure events due to factors which include one or more of actions of an operator on the mission critical system and parameters of the mission critical system when the parameters are out of predefined bounds, and such failure events take place in such system while performing intended functionality. The failure or disruption of the mission critical system may cause an entire operation to grind to a halt, which may result in severe human or economic consequence. Hence, it becomes extremely important to capture/detect those factors causing failure of the mission critical system, as these factors provide enough information to enhance such system’s functionality, thereby meeting the mission critical system functionality goals. Furthermore, these factors are useful to interpret the possible causes of failure of the mission critical system to deliver the intended functionality and/or also useful to analyse the operator’s actions that may have changed the parameters of the mission critical system.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need of a system which can be used to monitor and store the operator’s actions and the failure alarm and/or events that happen within the mission critical system which play a vital role during normal operations of the mission critical system.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0005] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a simple, efficient and compact system to determine causes of failure of a mission critical system.
[0006] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a simple, efficient and compact system to store and display of alarms and operator’s actions associated with failure of a mission critical system/automated apparatus.
[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system for storing alarms/events associated with malfunction of a mission critical system and/or operator’s actions on the mission critical system whenever such actions or events takes place when the apparatus is performing its intended functionality.
[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an efficient and effective method and system for capturing relevant alarms and operator’s actions on a mission critical system without causing any deviations from the normal functionality of the mission critical system.
[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for storing failure alarms and operator’s actions on a mission critical system into a non-persistent storage and then moving it to a persistent storage, thereby ensuring that endurance of the persistent storage is not compromised.
[0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system and method to store alarms/ event logs that happen within an apparatus and/or system and display the stored alarms/ event logs to an operator in a human understandable format, wherein display of the stored alarm/ event logs includes a defined numbers of such alarm/event logs per page based on the age of the alarms/event logs.
[0011] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system to store alarm/event logs of a mission critical system in a persistent storage that can cater to monitoring of a mission critical system/automated apparatus and its functionality.

SUMMARY
[0012] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in a detailed description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0013] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to monitoring and storage of failure alarms and operator’s actions on automated systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system to store and display of failure alarms and operator’s actions on a mission critical system.
[0014] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for monitoring an automated apparatus. The automated apparatus can be a mission critical system. The proposed system can include a processing unit that includes an alarm detection unit configured to detects alarms generated when a value of a parameter of the automated apparatus goes out of a pre-set upper limit and a pre-set lower limit. The alarms can be generated when a value of a parameter of the automated apparatus goes out of a predefined threshold range including a pre-set upper bound and a pre-set lower bound. The processing unit further includes an operation detection unit configured to capture operations/actions performed by an operator on the automated apparatus. The system further includes a non-persistent storage operatively coupled to the processing unit to store the detected alarms with time stamps of generation of the alarms and the detected operations with time stamps of performance of the operations of the operator, and a persistent storage operatively coupled to the processing unit and the non-persistent storage. The persistent storage is configured to receive and store the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage. The detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage are transferred to the persistent storage from the non-persistent storage once the detected alarms and the detected operations in the non-persistent storage reaches a predefined limit, thereby reducing a number of access to the persistent storage resulting in enhance in endurance of the persistent storage.
[0015] The proposed system can further include a display unit operatively coupled to the processing unit, the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage. The display unit is configured to display, on receipt of a request, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations/actions with time stamps.
[0016] In an embodiment, the storage of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps in the persistent storage comprises determining a number of entries of the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps stored in the non-persistent storage, transmitting the stored alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps in the non-persistent storage to the persistent storage when the number of entries in non-persistent storage exceeds the predefined limit, and replacing previous data in the persistent storage with the received alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps based on age of the previous data in the persistent storage when a number of entries in the persistent storage reach predefined number records.
[0017] In an embodiment, the alarms can include any or combination of apparatus alarms and operator configured alarms. For instance, the apparatus alarms can be generated whenever there is any malfunction in the automated apparatus. The malfunction can occur at any time and examples of such malfunctions can include low battery or when the apparatus is not connected to power supply and battery is very low, or whenever the apparatus detects a disconnection of a target entity or non-availability of adequate input resources. On the other hand, the operator configured alarms can occur when the operator has specified a particular range for a parameter and during operations of the apparatus a value of that particular parameter exceeds or diminishes below the specified range.
[0018] In an embodiment, the operator operations can include any or more of a power-on, a power-off, and change in parameters of the automated apparatus.
[0019] In an embodiment, the display unit is configured to display the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps in a human readable format. In another embodiment, the displaying, by the display unit, of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps can include receiving the request that pertains to retrieval and display of the detected alarms and the detected operations from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; in response to the receipt request, retrieving a data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; calculating a validation value of the data retrieved from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; comparing the calculated validation value with a pre-stored reference validation value; and when the calculated validation value is equal to the pre-stored validation value, displaying the retrieved data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage in a predefined order based on time of occurrence of the alarms and the operations.
[0020] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for monitoring an automated apparatus, the method can include steps of detecting, using a processing unit, alarms generated when a value of a parameter of the automated apparatus goes out of a pre-set upper limit and a pre-set lower limit; detecting, using the processing unit, operations performed by an operator on the automated apparatus; storing, using a non-persistent storage, the detected alarms with time stamps of generation of the alarms and the detected operations with time stamps of performance of the operations; receiving and storing, using a persistent storage, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage; and displaying, using a display unit, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps on receipt of a request.
[0021] In an embodiment, the step of storage of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps in the persistent storage can include determining a number of entries of the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps stored in the non-persistent storage; transmitting the stored alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps in the non-persistent storage to the persistent storage when the number of entries in non-persistent storage exceeds a predefined limit; and replacing previous data in the persistent storage with the received alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps based on age of the previous data in the persistent storage when a number of entries in the persistent storage reach predefined number records.
[0022] In another embodiment, the step of displaying of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps can include receiving the request that pertains to retrieval and display of the detected alarms and the detected operations from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; in response to the receipt request, retrieving a data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; calculating a validation value of the data retrieved from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; comparing the calculated validation value with a pre-stored reference validation value; and when the computed validation value is equal to the pre-stored validation value, displaying the retrieved data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps in a predefined order based on time of occurrence of the alarms and the operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0024] The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of proposed system system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a display unit of the proposed system displaying alarm and/or event log data, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the proposed method, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of storage of operators’ operations/event an operator and alarms in the proposed system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of display of alarm and operations at a display unit of the proposed system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0031] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).
[0032] Embodiment explained herein relates to a system and method to store and display of failure alarms in an automated apparatus and operator’s actions on the automated apparatus. The automated apparatus can be a mission critical system. The proposed system caters to fulfil such required need by continuously monitoring the automated apparatus for operator’s actions/operations, which play a vital role during the normal operations of the automated apparatus, on the automated apparatus and alarms associated with malfunction/failure of the automated apparatus. The proposed system can be used in any mission critical system for finding the actual reasons of failure of the mission critical system.
[0033] In an embodiment, the detection/capturing of the failure alarm and operator’s actions involves continuous monitoring of parameters of the automated system and the operator’s actions on the automated apparatus to verify whether values of the parameters of the automated apparatus are within a predefined limit or a limit set by the operator. The alarms are generated when the value of the parameter exceeds a pre-set upper limit or is inferior to a pre-set lower limit of the predefined limit. The storage of the detected/captured alarms and operator’s and further accessing these alarms and/or events later allows close examination of the mission critical system.
[0034] In an embodiment, the detected/captured alarms and the operator’s actions/operations are stored in a non-persistent storage/memory in a circular fashion and later the detected alarms and the operator’s actions are transferred to a persistent storage/memory based on predefined conditions such as when the stored data in the non-persistent storage reaches a predefined count or when the proposed system is powered off. Then the data are moved to the persistent storage. The detected/captured alarms can include comprise of time-stamps which can include a date and time of generation/occurrence of the alarm along with any value associated with the alarm. The operator’s actions/operations can include time-stamps which can include a date and time of performance of the operations by the operators. The operator’s actions along with time stamps and the alarms actions along with time stamps are stored in the non-persistent memory.
[0035] In an embodiment, the proposed system and method used for detecting/capturing, a using processing unit, the alarms along with values and the operator’s actions and storing of these alarms and the operator’s actions at designated location in the non-persistent storage and/or the persistent storage ensures most effective and efficient utilization of the available storage.
[0036] In an embodiment, the disclosed system allows the operator to know cause and/or point of failure of the automated apparatus from performing normal functionality and because of which parameter. This functionality also lets the examiner know when the operator changed the limits of any of the parameters.
[0037] In another embodiment, the disclosed system allows display/representation of, through a display device/unit, the stored alarms and operator’s actions/inputs in a set of defined number of rows per a display page of display device/unit. The system provides as many pages as required to display the stored data or any other available data to allow display of total information/data available in the non-persistent memory/storage and/or the persistent storage/memory. The data that is displayed can be updated to the next set of available data/information using navigation options a graphical user interface of the display device.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, where a schematic diagram of proposed system for monitoring an automated apparatus is shown, the proposed system 100 includes a processing unit 103 that can include one or more processor(s) 110. The one or more processor(s) 110 can be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the one or more processor(s) 110 are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory 112 of the processing unit 103. The memory 112 can store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines, which may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory 112 can include any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like.
[0039] In an embodiment, the processing unit 103 can also include an interface(s) 114. The interface(s) 114 may include a variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices, referred to as I/O devices, storage devices, and the like. The interface(s) 114 may facilitate communication of the processing unit 103 with various devices coupled to the processing unit 103. The interface(s) 114 may also provide a communication pathway for one or more components of the processing unit 103. Examples of such components include, but are not limited to, a database 120. The database 120 can include data that is either stored or generated as a result of functionalities implemented by any of the components of the system 100. The database 120 can include threshold/reference data, predefined limits, set of instructions or any other required data. It would be appreciated that the database 120 of the system 100 can be configured at a remote location say a cloud. The database 120 can be a server, a computing device etc.
[0040] In an embodiment, the processing unit 103 can include an alarm detection unit 104 having an alarm detection unit 105 and an operation detection unit 106, a computing unit 116, and other unit(s) 118. The other unit(s) 118 can implement functionalities that supplement applications or functions performed by the processing unit 103.
[0041] In an embodiment, the alarm detection unit 105 is configured to detect alarms generated in the system. The alarm detection unit 105 is configured to continuously measures and monitors values of any or all parameters of the automated apparatus when the automated apparatus/mission critical system is performing its intended operations. The measured value of the parameter is validated against a pre-set range by the alarm detection unit 105, if the measured value of the parameter falls outside the pre-set range, i.e., a value of a parameter of the automated apparatus exceeds a pre-set upper limit or diminishes below a pre-set lower limit of the pre-set range, one or more alarms is triggered. The generated alarms along with time stamps including a date and time of occurrence of the alarms is stored in a non-persistent storage 107. In an embodiment, the values of the any or all parameters of the automated system can be stored in the non-persistent storage 107.
[0042] In another embodiment, the operation detection unit 106 monitors all operations on the automated apparatus that are carried out by an operator. Whenever the operator performs any activity/operations such as, but not limited to, an apparatus power-on, apparatus power-off, a change of parameters of the automated apparatus on the automated apparatus, the detection unit 104 is configured to store his or her operations along with time stamps a date and time of occurrence of the operation in the non-persistent storage 107. The operator can perform his/her action through a computing device 102 of the automated apparatus. The computing device 102 is communicatively coupled to the processing unit. The actions/operations of the operator on the automated apparatus can be detected/captured when the automated apparatus is performing a required operation or whenever the automated apparatus is operating on a target entity. In an embodiment, the computing device 102 can be any of a laptop, a smart phone, tablet, computer and the like.
[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the alarms can be of two types including system alarms which is generated by the proposed system 100 and operator configured alarms. The system alarms can be generated by the automated apparatus. The system alarms are generated whenever there is any malfunction in the automated apparatus. The malfunction can occur at any time and examples of such malfunctions can include a low battery or when the automated apparatus is not connected to a power supply and battery of the automated apparatus is very low, or when the automated apparatus detects a disconnection of the target entity or non-availability of adequate input resources. On the other hand, the operator configured alarms occur when the operator has specified a particular range for a parameter of the automated apparatus and during the operation of the automated apparatus the value of that particular parameter exceeds or diminishes below the set range. For instance, when the automated apparatus is a medical device, an operator configured/settable alarm is generated when, for example, the value of a parameter like oxygen supply, or respiratory ratio etc. goes beyond the operator-set parameter range. And a system alarm can be generated when, for example, whenever the battery is low or, some peripheral has low supply, or disconnection of a patient etc. For example, there is a parameter A, an alarm will be generated when the value of the parameter A falls out of the preset/predefined defined range.
[0044] In an embodiment, the proposed system is configured for maintaining of two circular buffers, one in the non-persistent storage 107 and one in a persistent storage 108. Initially, the detected alarms with the time stamps and the detected operator’s operations with time stamps are stored in the non-persistent circular buffer, and once the amount of stored data including the detected alarms with the time stamps and the detected operator’s operations with time stamps reaches a predefined limit, for instance 15 entries, the stored data including the detected alarms with the time stamps and the detected operator’s operations with time stamps is moved/transferred to the persistent storage 108 from the from the non-persistent storage 107. This reduces read/write access to the persistent storage 108 and enhances endurance of the persistent storage 108. The proposed system reduces not only the frequency of persistent storage’s read/write but also the refresh operation.
[0045] In an embodiment, the storage of the detected alarms and the detected operator’s operations into the persistent storage 108 can be based on a technique for tracking a next location where the data needs to be updated. So, two copies each of read as well as write trackers can be maintained within the persistent storage 108. This allows for maintaining a correct value of the trackers. For instance, in any event such as a power failure may result in loss of one tracker’s value, however the value of the other tracker remains intact.
[0046] In an embodiment, the write tracker’s value can be updated in the persistent storage 108, whenever a predefined set of alarm or detected operator’s/event logs have been successfully moved from the non-persistent 107 to the persistent storage 108.
[0047] In another embodiment, the read tracker’s value can be always updated after updating the write tracker/pointer, this may happens when the number of entries that are stored in the persistent storage 108 crosses a predefined value/count.
[0048] In another embodiment, the size, for instance a count of 120 entries, of the non-persistent storage 107 can be allocated in such a way that it is sufficiently large to accommodate the detected alarms and the operations, this reduces the frequency of updates in the persistent storage 108 thereby enhancing the endurance of the persistent storage 108.
[0049] In another embodiment, every time the proposed system is powered on the read and/or write tracker’s values can be validated. In any case, if some read and/or write tracker’s value is corrupted then the correct value is taken from the other copy that is intact. This is possible because, whenever there is a failure during any update, one of the copies gets corrupted and the other still retains the correct. If any corrupted value is found, the value is updated and corrected from the other intact correct copy.
[0050] In another embodiment, the movement of the data to the persistent storage 108 always happens whenever the number of records in the non-persistent storage has reached a specific count. There can be a situation when the operator turns off the system, such events are also handled by the proposed system. On a switch-off event of the proposed system, the remaining alarms and the operation data present in the non-persistent storage 107 are moved to the circular buffer in the persistent storage 108.
[0051] In an embodiment, the system 100 also facilitates a representation/display, through a display device 101 operatively coupled to the processing unit 103, the stored detected alarms with the time stamps, the detected operator’s operations with time stamps and other values in the non-persistent storage 107 and/or the persistent storage 108 in a human understandable format and in a predefined order such as a Last in First Out order/ manner. The display unit 101, on receipt of a request, can display of a fixed number of the alarms and the operator’s actions/event logs stored in the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage in the Last in First Out order in a human-readable format across multiple pages. The display unit 101 can provides as many pages as required to display the data available in the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment, the display unit 101 displays a predefined number of alarms and operator’s actions in a human readable format 202 across multiple pages, wherein each page 201 encompasses a fixed number of records formatted in the human readable format. Each page can also include the page number, along with the total number of available pages, which can be computed based on the total number of stored record/data including alarms and operator’s actions and a number of records that are presented to operator on a per page basis.
[0053] In another embodiment, the display unit 101 can allow an operator to navigate across the pages using navigation graphical widgets including a background navigation 204, a forward navigation 205 and a return navigation 203, thereby allowing the operator to examine the operator’s actions and alarms that happened in the system and automated apparatus. The navigation graphical widgets 204 and 205 allow the operator to move forward and backward in navigation. The navigation graphical widgets 203 can provides an option to terminate a current window/screen/page of the display unit for viewing the event/alarm logs. Upon termination, current the alarm/event log displayed on the window/screen/page is closed and the display unit 101 displays the initial window/screen of the display unit 101 based on the state of the proposed system 100.
[0054] In an embodiment, the display of the alarms and the operator’s actions/event can include time stamps including the date and time of the occurrence of the alarms and the operator’s actions, along with names of the operator’s actions/event and alarms. A value, if any, of the alarms/event can also be displayed. The display unit 101 displays the pre-set upper and lower limit, thereby enabling the operator to determine the actual cause of the alarm. Further, the data including the operator’s actions and the alarms stored in the non-persistent storage 107 and the persistent storage 108 are displayed/presented to on the display unit 101 for the operator on his or her request. The request, by the operator, to the display unit can be given by choosing an appropriate graphical widget on the display unit 101 or through the computing device 102, which triggers such a display. In an embodiment, the display unit 101 can be a tablet, computer, laptop etc.
[0055] In an embodiment, the processing unit 103 is configured to ensure that the data is not corrupted while displaying through the display unit 101. The computing unit 116 of the processing unit 103 can be configured for computing and storing a checksum along with each record. The checksum is computed for the data within the record. This compound data including the alarm and/or operator’s action/event log along with the checksum is stored in the persistent storage, as per the process that is described earlier.
[0056] In an exemplary embodiment, whenever the operator triggers the display of the alarm and the operator’s action/event logs, the data including the alarm and the operator’s action/event is validated for corruption by comparing the computed checksum value with a pre-stored checksum value stored in the database. Once the checksum for the data in persistent storage is validated, it is then presented on the display unit 101 for the operator in the human readable format based on the lifetime/age of the data, where recent data is displayed before the older data. Data from non-persistent storage/memory 107 is presented first, if there are any, followed by data from persistent storage/memory 108.
[0057] In an exemplary embodiment, whenever the display unit 101 is displaying alarm and the event logs while the automated apparatus is running, there may be any new alarm and or event log, the same is updated in the non-persistent storage/memory 107 and the display unit displays the latest data including the alarm and the event logs on the first page on a trigger for display of the latest data.
[0058] In an embodiment, the non-persistent storage 107 can provide enough storage to store, to but not limited to, required number of alarm and the operator’s operation/event log entries. Whenever the number of data entries in the non-persistent storage reaches, but not limited to, defined number of alarm/event logs, the data is moved to the persistent storage, along with the computed checksum value for each event log.
[0059] In yet another embodiment, upon triggering the display of the operator’s operations/ event logs and the alarm, the display unit 101 may display a maximum of defined number of pages wherein each page can accommodate defined number of records. The display of the records is dependent on the age of the records. The maximum number of pages and the number of records per page are, not limited to, selected values.
[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the proposed method, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The method may be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof. However, for ease of explanation, in the embodiments described below, the method may be considered to be implemented in the above-described system.
[0061] In an embodiment, the method 300 can include, at block 302, detecting, using a processing unit, alarms generated when a value of a parameter of the automated apparatus goes out of a pre-set upper limit and a pre-set lower limit, and at block 304 detecting, using the processing unit, operations performed by an operator on the automated apparatus.
[0062] In an embodiment, the method 300 can include, at block 306, storing, using a non-persistent storage, the detected alarms with time stamps of generation of the alarms and the detected operations with time stamps of performance of the operations and at block 308, receiving and storing, using a persistent storage, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage. The detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps from the non-persistent storage can be moved to the persistent storage from the non-persistent storage once the detected and the detected operations in the non-persistent storage reaches a predefined limit, thereby reducing a number of access to the persistent storage resulting in enhance in endurance of the persistent storage.
[0063] In an embodiment, the method 300 can include, at block 310, displaying, using a display unit, the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps on receipt of a request.
[0064] In another embodiment, the displaying of the detected alarms with time stamps and the detected operations with time stamps can include receiving the request that pertains to retrieval and display of the detected alarms and the detected operations from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; in response to the receipt request, retrieving a data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; calculating a validation value of the data retrieved from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage; comparing the calculated validation value with a pre-stored reference validation value; and when the computed validation value is equal to the pre-stored validation value, displaying the retrieved data pertains to the alarms with time stamps and the operations with time stamps in a predefined order based on time of occurrence of the alarms and the operations.
[0065] In an embodiment, the disclosed method can facilitate an operator to analyse the behaviour of the automated apparatus as well as a target entity when automated apparatus is performing the intended/required functionality and operating on the target entity.
[0066] In an embodiment, the disclosed method can facilitate the operator to analyse the behaviour of the automated apparatus as well as the target entity at a later point of time, i.e. the proposed system enables the operator to analyse the previously mentioned behaviour of the automated apparatus or the target entity at a later stage.
[0067] In an embodiment, the disclosed method can allow the operator to examine and analyse the various causes of failure of the automated apparatus/ mission critical system, at a later stage where it becomes extremely important to know the actual cause of failure of the automated apparatus to perform its normal functionality on a target entity appropriately.
[0068] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of storage of alarms and operators’ operations/event an operator in the proposed system 100, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. When any of alarm or operators’ operations/event is detected by the detection unit 104 at a block 401, then at a block 402, it is checked that whether the detected alarm or operators’ operations/event corresponds to power OFF event/command, if yes then all entries/data stored in the non-persistent storage is moved to the persistent storage and the write and read trackers/pointers are updated at a block 403, if not then the detected alarms with the time stamps, the detected operator’s operations with time stamps and values are stored in the non-persistent storage at block 404. At a block 405, it is checked that whether the stored data including the detected alarms with the time stamps, the detected operator’s operations with time stamps and values in the non-persistent storage reaches a predefined count/limit, if yes then move the data including the detected alarm and operators’ operations/event log stored in the non-persistent storage to the persistent storage and update the write pointer/ tracker at a block 406, if not then the step 401is repeated. At a block 407, it is checked that whether the stored data including the detected alarms with the time stamps, the detected operator’s operations with time stamps and values in the non-persistent storage reaches predefined entries if yes then update the read tracker/pointer at block 408, if not then step 401 is repeated.
[0069] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of display of alarm and operations at a display unit of the proposed system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At block 502, when a request pertaining display of the detected alarms and the detected operations from any or both of the non-persistent storage and the persistent storage from an operator is received then at block 502 and 503, display, using the display unit, the data including the alarms with time stamps and the operator’s operations/event logs with time stamps stored in the non-persistent storage and the data including the alarms with time stamps and the operator’s operations/event logs with time stamps stored in the persistent storage the Last in First Out manner/order (LIFO). At block 504, if any input from the operator/user is received then at block 505 check whether the received input pertains to return, if yes then at block 506, return to main/previous window/screen of the display unit, and if not then check is there any new alarm and/or operator’s action/ event log in the non-persistent storage/RAM at block 507. If yes, then navigate to the first page of the display unit to accommodate and display the data including latest alarm and/or operator’s event at block 508 and if not then repeat the step 502.
[0070] Thus, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named.

ADVANTAGS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0071] The present disclosure provides a simple, efficient and compact system to determine causes of failure of a mission critical system.
[0072] The present disclosure provides a simple, efficient and compact system to store and display of alarms and operator’s actions associated with failure of a mission critical system/automated apparatus.
[0073] The present disclosure provides a system for storing alarms/events associated with malfunction of a mission critical system and/or operator’s actions on the mission critical system whenever such actions or events takes place when the apparatus is performing its intended functionality.
[0074] The present disclosure provides a system and method for storing failure alarms and operator’s actions on a mission critical system into a non-persistent storage and then moving it to a persistent storage, thereby ensuring that endurance of the persistent storage is not compromised.
[0075] The present disclosure provides a system and method to store alarms/ event logs that happen within an apparatus and/or system and display the stored alarms/ event logs to an operator in a human understandable format, wherein display of the stored alarm/ event logs includes a defined numbers of such alarm/event logs per page based on the age of the alarms/event logs.
[0076] The present disclosure provides a system to store alarm/event logs of a mission critical system in a persistent storage that can cater to monitoring of a mission critical system/automated apparatus and its functionality.