Statistical Signal Level Display for Long-Term Stochastic Behavior

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for displaying signal level distributions of measurement signals over time or frequency only capture short-term behavior, leading to the loss of information from briefly active signal components, making it impossible to represent the long-term behavior of stochastic measurement signals effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that determine statistical measurement parameters for all frequencies of a frequency distribution across multiple observation intervals, using probability distributions to evaluate and display the maximum or mean values of signal levels, with sporadically updated parameters shown in brighter shades to differentiate them from frequently updated frequency values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the display continuously updates with current frequency distribution in each observation interval, then the display shows real-time signal level distribution, but briefly active signal components are lost after the observation interval ends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal information retentionVSAvoidloss of briefly active signal components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining statistical measurement parameters (maximum, mean, minimum values) for each observation interval before the interval ends. These statistical values are stored and used to represent signal components that may disappear in subsequent intervals, ensuring they are not lost in the continuous update process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the raw frequency distribution data into statistical measurement parameters (maximum, mean, minimum values) that characterize the signal levels over multiple observation intervals. This parameter transformation allows brief signal components to be represented by their statistical characteristics rather than requiring continuous presence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the display shows only current frequency distribution values, then the display updates quickly and simply, but long-term behavior of stochastic measurement signals cannot be represented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay update speedVSAvoidloss of long-term signal behavior information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Statistical measurement parameters are determined in advance for each observation interval and stored for later use. This allows the display to show both current values and historical statistical information without requiring continuous reprocessing of raw data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a temporal dimension to the frequency distribution display by incorporating statistical parameters from multiple observation intervals. The display shows not only current frequency distribution but also maximum, mean, and minimum values across time, transforming a 2D frequency-time display into a 3D representation that includes statistical depth

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If the display differentiates between frequently updated frequency values and sporadically updated statistical parameters, then information hierarchy is improved, but display complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation differentiationVSAvoiddisplay structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using different visual representations (color intensity, brightness, or symbol size) for different types of data points. Frequently updated frequency values are displayed with one visual characteristic while sporadically updated statistical parameters are displayed with different characteristics, allowing hierarchical information presentation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2095138B1Method and device for the determination of a statistical measurement value
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2095138B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2095138B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2095138B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for the determination of a statistical measurement value for all respective frequencies of a frequency distribution of signal levels from a measurement signal captured in several observation intervals. The device counts in each observation interval the frequency of the respective signal level range and the respective value of the time or frequency raster of the frequency distribution of the respective measured signal level of the measurement signals of new and stored data, in order to represent said data on an indicator system (2). After each observation interval for each signal level range and each value of time or frequency raster of the frequency distribution, the respective statistical measurement value from the respective newly buffered frequency and all measurement values in respective earlier observation intervals and buffered frequencies are determined and buffered.