IP Library Granted Patent US 11,448,570
Granted Patent B2
US 11,448,570 · App. 16/431,571 · Granted Sep 20, 2022

Method and system for unsupervised anomaly detection and accountability with majority voting for high-dimensional sensor data

Inventors: Deokwoo Jung (Mountain View, CA); Fangzhou Cheng (Mountain View, CA); Ajay Raghavan (Mountain View, CA); Yukinori Sasaki (Hyogo, JP); Akira Minegishi (Osaka, JP); Tetsuyoshi Ogura (Osaka, JP); Yosuke Tajika (Hyogo, JP)
Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated; Panasonic Holdings Corporation
G01M99/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,448,570
App. No.
16/431,571
Granted
Sep 20, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment can provide a system for detecting anomaly for high-dimensional sensor data associated with one or more machines. During operation, the system can obtain sensor data from a set of sensor associated with one or machines, apply data exploration techniques on the sensor data to automatically process sensor data to identify a subset of feature sensors from the available set of feature sensors, apply an unsupervised machine-learning technique to the identified subset of feature sensors and the target sensor to learn a set of pair-wise univariate models, and determine whether and how an anomaly occurs in the operation of the one or more machines based on the set of pair-wise univariate models.

Claims (92)

1. A method for detecting an anomaly in operation of a machine, the method comprising:

recording, via a set of sensors associated with the machine, to obtain sensor data associated with the machine while the machine is operating, wherein the set of sensors include a target sensor and a set of feature sensors;

storing the sensor data in computing device;

performing data exploration on the stored sensor data including repairing missing values and ranking the set of feature sensors, wherein the data exploration comprises one or more of:

improving quality of the sensor data;

identifying a subset of feature sensors from the set of feature sensors that are relevant for subsequent processing; and

reducing amount of sensor data and hence computational cost involved in the subsequent processing;

performing, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target sensor, unsupervised machine-learning to build a set of pair-wise univariate models; and

determining whether and how an anomaly occurs in the operation of the machine based on the set of pair-wise univariate models.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing data exploration on the stored sensor data further comprises one or more of:

applying a data pre-processing technique;

applying a data cleansing technique; and

applying a feature engineering technique.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying the data cleansing technique comprises:

replacing missing values in the sensor data by linear interpolation, when an amount of the missing values during a recording period of target sensor data is less than a threshold value; and

dropping missing values in the sensor data, when the amount of missing values during the recording period of the target sensor data is more than the threshold value.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying the feature engineering technique comprises:

adjusting a set of time delay between a set of feature sensors and target sensor data;

computing a correlation between the delay adjusted set of feature sensors and the target sensor; ranking the set of feature sensors based on their correlation values; and

selecting a subset of feature sensors from the ranked set of feature sensors.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each pair-wise univariate anomaly model from the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models is associated with a feature sensor from the subset of feature sensors and a target sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target feature sensor, unsupervised machine-learning to build the set of pair-wise univariate models comprises:

determining a set of regression coefficients for measuring a fitness of the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models;

using the set of regression coefficients to compute a set of anomaly distances between the subset of feature sensors and the target sensor; and

training, based on the set of anomaly distances, a set of Gaussian Mixture Models by expectation-maximization to determine a set of voting scores.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target feature sensor, unsupervised machine-learning to build the set of pair-wise univariate models further comprises:

computing a set of voting scores associated with the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models by applying a set clustering functions to a set of anomaly distances;

computing a set of weights for the set of voting scores;

combining the set of weights and the set of voting scores to detect the anomaly; and

computing each feature sensors' accountability for a detected anomaly event.

8. An apparatus for detecting an anomaly in operation of a machine, comprising:

one or more processors;

a set of sensors embedded in the one or more machines; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

recording, via a set of sensors associated with the machine, to obtain sensor data associated with the machine while the machine is operating, wherein the set of sensors include a target sensor and a set of feature sensors;

store the sensor data in the computing device;

perform data exploration on the stored sensor data including repairing missing values and ranking the set of feature sensors, wherein the data exploration comprises one or more of:

improving quality of the sensor data;

identifying a subset of feature sensors from the set of feature sensors that are relevant for subsequent processing; and

reducing amount of sensor data and hence computational cost involved in the subsequent processing;

perform, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target sensor, unsupervised machine-learning to build a set of pair-wise univariate models; and

determine whether and how an anomaly occurs in the operation of the machine based on the set of pair-wise univariate models.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein performing data exploration on the stored sensor data further comprises one or more of:

applying a data pre-processing technique;

applying a data cleansing technique; and

applying a feature engineering technique.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein applying the data cleansing technique comprises:

replacing missing values in the sensor data by linear interpolation, when an amount of the missing values during a recording period of target sensor data is less than a threshold value; and

dropping missing values in the sensor data, when the amount of missing values during the recording period of the target sensor data is more than the threshold value.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein applying the feature engineering technique comprises:

adjusting a set of time delay between a set of feature sensors and target sensor data;

computing a correlation between the delay adjusted set of feature sensors and the target sensor;

ranking the set of feature sensors based on their correlation values; and

selecting a subset of feature sensors from the ranked set of feature sensors.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each pair-wise univariate anomaly model from the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models is associated with a feature sensor from the subset of feature sensors and a target sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein performing based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target feature sensor, unsupervised machine-learning to build the set of pair-wise univariate models comprises:

determining a set of regression coefficients for measuring a fitness of the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models;

using the set of regression coefficients to compute a set of anomaly distances between the subset of feature sensors and the target sensor; and

training, based on the set of anomaly distances, a set of Gaussian Mixture Models by expectation-maximization to determine a set of voting scores.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein performing, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target feature sensor, unsupervised machine-learning to build the set of pair-wise univariate models further comprises:

computing a set of voting scores associated with the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models by applying a set clustering functions to thea set of anomaly distances;

computing a set of weights for the set of voting scores;

combining the set of weights and the set of voting scores to detect the anomaly; and

computing each feature sensors' accountability for a detected anomaly event.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for detecting an anomaly in operation of a machine, the method comprising:

recording, via a set of sensors associated with the machine, to obtain sensor data associated with the machine, wherein the set of sensors include a target sensor and a set of feature sensors;

storing the sensor data in the computing device;

performing data exploration on the stored sensor data including repairing missing values and ranking the set of feature sensors, wherein the data exploration comprises one or more of:

improving quality of the sensor data;

identifying a subset of feature sensors from the set of feature sensors that are relevant for subsequent processing; and

reducing amount of sensor data and hence computational cost involved in the subsequent processing;

performing, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target sensor, unsupervised machine-learning to build a set of pair-wise univariate models; and

determining whether and how an anomaly occurs in the operation of the machine based on the set of pair-wise univariate models.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein performing data exploration on the stored sensor data further comprise one or more of:

applying a data pre-processing technique;

applying a data cleansing technique; and

applying a feature engineering technique.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein applying the feature engineering technique comprises:

adjusting a set of time delays between a set of feature sensors and target sensor data;

computing a correlation between the delay adjusted set of feature sensors and the target sensor;

ranking the set of feature sensors based on their correlation values; and

selecting a subset of feature sensors from the ranked set of feature sensors.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein each pair-wise univariate anomaly model from the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models is associated with a feature sensor from the subset of feature sensors and a target sensor.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein performing, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target feature sensor, unsupervised machine-learning technique to build the set of pair-wise univariate models comprises:

determining a set of regression coefficients for measuring a fitness of the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models;

using the set of regression coefficients to compute a set of anomaly distances between the subset of feature sensors and the target sensor; and

training, based on the set of anomaly distances, a set of Gaussian Mixture Models by expectation-maximization to determine a set of voting scores.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein performing, based on the identified subset of feature sensors and the target feature sensor, the unsupervised machine-learning technique to build the set of pair-wise univariate models further comprises:

computing a set of voting scores associated with the set of pair-wise univariate anomaly models by applying a set clustering functions to a set of anomaly distances;

computing a set of weights for the set of voting scores;

combining the set of weights and the set of voting scores to detect the anomaly; and

computing each feature sensors' accountability for a detected anomaly event.

Assignments (10)
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RF 064760/0389 Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068261/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF US PATENTS 9356603, 10026651, 10626048 AND INCLUSION OF US PATENT 7167871 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 064038 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064161/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064760/0389 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064038/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 9, 2022
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059911/0956 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: JUNG, DEOKWOO; CHENG, FANGZHOU; RAGHAVAN, AJAY; SASAKI, YUKINORI; MINEGISHI, AKIRA; OGURA, TETSUYOSHI; TAJIKA, YOSUKE
To: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED; PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049398/0152 →
Continuity (1)
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