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Failure analysis system

  • US 5,161,158 A
  • Filed: 10/16/1989
  • Issued: 11/03/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for analyzing failure effect propagation in an electronic system having at least one system mode, the electronic system comprising a plurality of interconnected subsystems, each of which receives input signals and transmits output signals according to the subsystem'"'"'s own response logic, wherein said interconnected subsystems include at least two redundant subsystems, which generate identical output signals, and at least one switching mechanism for selecting one of the redundant subsystems as a primary signal source for a destination subsystem, the apparatus being integrated into a processor including a central processing unit, a memory, and input and output devices, the apparatus comprising:

  • (a) a knowledge base for simulating the electronic system in a variety of operating configurations, said knowledge base including subsystem interconnection data, and rule data, said rule data including operating configuration contingencies;

    (b) a user interface including means for receiving simulation condition data that identifies an operating configuration of the electronic system and failure data that identifies at least one subsystem failure; and

    (c) failure analysis means, coupled to the knowledge base and the user interface, for simulating an effect of a subsystem failure as the subsystem failure propagates through the electronic system by analyzing said failure data in accordance with said knowledge base and said simulation condition data, and for generating a set of subsystem failure responses that would occur in the electronic system if the subsystem failure were to occur.

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