A malfunction condition judgment apparatus (MCJA) that judges malfunction
condition (MC) of an observed object based on a change of observed
values. The MCJA acquires time series data for values of each of a
plurality of variables; calculates, with respect to each of the
variables, a statistic defining a probability density function of that
variable at T1, based on the value of that variable at T1 and that
statistic at a point of time prior to T1; calculates dissimilarity
showing an extent of variation between the statistic calculated for each
variable and a statistic of a criterial probability density function
predetermined corresponding to that variable; and picks, out of the
plurality of variables, a variable for which the calculated dissimilarity
is larger than a predetermined reference value, as the variable by which
MC of the observation object is detected.