Method for replacing technologically aging sub-systems in a system

• US 6,711,738 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hebel, Robert, Polacin, Arkadiusz, Herbert, Manfred, Muehlenstedt, Friedo, Bauer, Martin, Bolle, Nikolaus, Lusser, Markus, Kuth, Rainer, Wolf, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Chavis, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shrader, Lawrence J
• Application Number:
  US09/723,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168-178, 709/310, 707/200-205
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

In a method for replacing technologically aging sub-systems and software in a system of which the sub-systems are components, a data bank is maintained by a service provider for each customer. In the data bank, the sub-system currently installed at the customer is indicated. Before replacing a part of a sub-system, the data bank is interrogated to determine whether, dependent on the age class of the sub-system, the entire sub-system should be replaced. If so, replacement of the entire sub-system is undertaken, and the data bank is updated. Similarly, before upgrading software for a customer'"'"'s sub-system, the data bank is interrogated to determine whether replacement of the sub-system is required, given the age class of the sub-system. If so, the sub-system is replaced and software appropriate for the replaced sub-system is then installed.

Claims

1. A method for replacing technologically aging sub-systems in a system, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a central customer databank for customers of a party responsible for servicing systems respectively owned by said customers, each of said systems containing at least one sub-system using technologically aging hardware and using technologically aging software;

in said databank, for each customer, classifying said sub-system in an age class dependent on an age of said hardware and said software;

before repairing said hardware of a sub-system for a customer, interrogating said databank to determine, dependent on the age class of the sub-system for said customer, whether a complete sub-system replacement is required;

if interrogation of said databank indicates a complete sub-system replacement is required, completely replacing the sub-system for said customer and updating said databank entry for that customer to indicate replacement of the sub-system;

before upgrading said software of a sub-system for a customer, interrogating said databank to determine whether a complete sub-system replacement for that customer is required dependent on the age class of the sub-system; and

if interrogation of said databank indicates that a complete replacement of the sub-system is required, replacing said sub-system and upgrading software for the replacement sub-system to a latest generation, and updating said databank to indicate the replacement sub-system and the upgraded software.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising classifying said sub-systems in respective age groups dependent on a criterion selected from the group consisting of memory type, processor type and level of integrated circuit.