Lifetime support process for rapidly changing, technology-intensive systems
First Claim
1. A system operable for a predetermined period of time without maintenance, the system comprising:
- a first portion operable to perform a function;
a second portion; and
a control portion coupled to the first and second portions and operable to cause the second portion to perform the function for a remainder of the predetermined period if the first portion fails during the predetermined period.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is operable without repair for a predetermined maintenance-free operating period (MFOP). The system includes a first portion that is operable to perform a function, a second portion, and a control portion coupled to the first and second portions. The control portion is operable to cause the second portion to perform the function for a remainder of the MFOP if the first portion fails during the MFOP. For example, a system on board a submarine that comes in to port every ninety days can have a ninety-day MFOP. Therefore, crewmembers do not need to repair the system while the submarine is at sea on a mission. This servicing strategy may reduce costs by allowing one to eliminate training crew to repair the sonar system, preparing and printing repair documentation for the crew, and carrying this documentation, spare parts, and repair equipment on board the submarine.
26 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system operable for a predetermined period of time without maintenance, the system comprising:
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a first portion operable to perform a function;
a second portion; and
a control portion coupled to the first and second portions and operable to cause the second portion to perform the function for a remainder of the predetermined period if the first portion fails during the predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method, comprising:
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operating a system for a predetermined period of time without performing maintenance to the system; and
if a first portion of the system performing a function fails during the predetermined period, then causing a second portion of the system to perform the function for a remainder of the predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first system that is operable to perform a first function and that is repairable only during predetermined maintenance periods;
a second system; and
a control system coupled to the first and second systems and operable to cause the second system to perform the first function until the next predetermined maintenance period if the first system fails between maintenance periods. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method, comprising:
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detecting a failure of a system between predetermined maintenance periods;
if the system was performing a task before the failure, then performing the task without the system until a next predetermined maintenance period; and
repairing the system during the next predetermined maintenance period. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method, comprising:
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operating a system for a predetermined period of time without performing maintenance to the system;
if a first portion of the system performing a function fails during the predetermined period, then causing a second portion of the system to perform the function for a remainder of the predetermined period; and
refreshing the first portion of the system after the predetermined period of time, the refreshing causing the first portion to be repaired if the first portion failed during the predetermined period of time.
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31. A method, comprising:
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designing a system to have predetermined maintenance-free operability periods; and
scheduling technology refreshes of the system at intervals that are no longer than the respective maintenance-free operability periods. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method, comprising:
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designing a system to have predetermined maintenance-free operability periods; and
scheduling technology insertions to the system at intervals that are no longer than the respective maintenance-free operability periods. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification