Method and apparatus for simultaneously displaying data indicative of activity levels at multiple digital test points in pseudo real time and historical digital format, and display produced thereby

摘要

A digital test point monitoring system for continuously monitoring n digital test points (where "n" is any desired whole integer)- -test points which may, for example, be associated with m data processors, computer processing units (CPU's), machine tool controls, or any similar control system (where "m" is any desired whole integer)--and dynamically acquiring n signal values which may, for example, be indicative of performance, utilization (activity) levels, or similar data point parameters; processing such n signal values; and, simultaneously displaying y of such processed n signal values (where "y" is any whole integer from "1" to on the order of "8") on a living display containing y discrete independent channels of digital information each portraying a pseudo real time digital representation of the monitored signal values and a digitally pictorial historic representation of previously monitored signal values over a preselected period of time ranging up to on the order of 90 minutes, or more; and the digital display produced thereby; whereby the user may, at a glance, determine: (i) the present state of utilization (or other desired operating parameter) of y discrete independent channels of digital information; and (ii), the historical trend of such displayed parameters for each of the selected y discrete independent channels of digital information over any given selected period of time. The system and display readily permit of: (i) annotation with date, time-of-day, channel identification and/or other comments and/or annotations; (ii) acquisition and display of data from remote locations; (iii) transmission of displayed data to remote locations; and (iv), recording of displayed data in hardcopy and/or magnetic media format; all under the control of a programmable microprocesor based control.