SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR DETERMINING WHICH PARTS OF A PRODUCT TO REPLACE

• US 20080133440A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kirkaldy, Peter Stewart, Sedelmeyer, Steven, Bray, Donald A.
• Application Number:
  US11/566,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133440A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

A computer system, method and program product for determining an order to replace parts of a product in response to a problem with the product. Determinations are made as to a most likely one of the parts to have failed and caused the problem with the product and a next most likely one of the parts to have failed and caused the problem with the product. A determination is also made if the one part was already replaced within a predetermined period. If so, the one part is not recommended for replacement and instead the next part is recommended for replacement. If not, the one part is recommended for replacement.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for determining an order to replace parts of a product in response to a problem with said product, said method comprising;

the steps of;

determining a most likely one of said parts to have failed and caused said problem with said product;

determining a next most likely one of said parts to have failed and caused said problem with said product;

determining if said one part was already replaced within a predetermined period, and

if so, not recommending replacement of said one part and instead recommending replacement of said next part, and

if not, recommending replacement of said one part.

2. A computer implemented method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

replacing first the part recommended for replacement; and

if replacement of the part recommended for replacement does not correct said problem, replacing the other of said parts.

3. A computer program product for determining an order to replace parts of a product in response to a problem with said product, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable media;

first program instructions to determine a most likely one of said parts to have failed and caused said problem with said product;

second program instructions to determine a next most likely one of said parts to have failed and caused said problem with said product;

third program instructions to determine if said one part was already replaced within a predetermined period, and

if so, not recommend replacement of said one part and instead recommend replacement of said next part, and

if not, recommend replacement of said one part; and

wherein

said first, second and third program instructions are stored on said media in functional form.

4. A computer implemented method for determining an order to replace parts of a product in response to a problem with said product, said method comprising;

the steps of;

determining a most likely one of said parts to have failed and caused said problem with said product and a first score corresponding to a likelihood that said one part has failed, wherein a higher score indicates a greater likelihood that said one part has failed;

determining a next most likely one of said parts to have failed and caused said problem with said product and a second score corresponding to a likelihood that said next part has failed, wherein a higher score indicates a greater likelihood that said second part has failed;

determining if said one part was already replaced within a predetermined period, and

if so, decreasing said first score by a predetermined amount or percentage and/or increasing said second score by predetermined amount or percentage or fraction thereof, and

if not, maintaining said first score and said second score without change; and

recommending for replacement first whichever of said first part or said second part which has a higher score after the decreasing and increasing step or the maintaining step.

5. A computer implemented method as set forth in claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

replacing first the part recommended for replacement first; and

if replacement of the part recommended for replacement first does not correct said problem, replacing the other of said parts.