Collecting information regarding electronic aging of products

• US 8,667,128 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Frank, Michael, Noorlag, Date Jan Willem
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirillova, Ellen A
• Application Number:
  US13/109,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour

Abstract

Monitoring aging information for multiple devices. Aging information of the devices may be received. Statistics regarding the multiple devices may be determined based on the aging information. For at least some of the devices, update information may be determined based on the respective aging information. The update information may include modifications to operating parameters of the devices. For example, the devices may operate according to initial parameters that are above sustainable parameters and the update information may lower the operating parameters based on the aging information.

Claims

1. A method for collecting aging information for a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

receiving aging information of the plurality of devices over a wide area network, wherein each device operates according to one or more operating parameters, wherein the one or more operating parameters are above one or more sustainable operating parameters, wherein the aging information specifies aging of one or more electronic circuits in each respective device and is determined as a function of operating conditions of the respective device, and wherein the plurality of devices are a common device type and a common generation;

storing the aging information from the plurality of devices on a memory medium, wherein the aging information from the plurality of devices is useable to assess operation of the plurality of devices;

determining improved operating parameters of the plurality of devices based on the aging information; and

sending the improved operating parameters to the plurality of devices over the wide area network, wherein the improved operating parameters are useable to configure the plurality of devices.

2. The method of claim 1, determining statistical information of operation of the plurality of devices based on the aging information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining average aging of the plurality of devices;

wherein the average aging of the plurality of devices is useable to assess operation of the plurality of devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving battery condition information from the plurality of devices over the wide area network;

storing the battery condition information from the plurality of devices on the memory medium;

wherein the aging information and the battery condition information from the plurality of devices are useable to assess operation of the plurality of devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving usage information from the plurality of devices over the wide area network;

storing the usage information from the plurality of devices on the memory medium;

wherein the aging information and the usage information from the plurality of devices are useable to assess operation of the plurality of devices.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium comprising program instructions for collecting aging information for a plurality of devices, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

receive aging information of the plurality of devices over a wide area network, wherein each device operates accordingly to one or more operating parameters, wherein the one or more operating parameters are above one or more sustainable operating parameters, wherein the aging information specifies aging of one or more electronic circuits in each respective device and is determined as a function of operating conditions of the respective device, and wherein the plurality of devices are a common device type and a common generation;

store the aging information of the plurality of devices on a memory medium, wherein the aging information from the plurality of devices is useable to assess operation of the plurality of devices;

determine improved operating parameters of the plurality of devices based on the aging information; and

send the improved operating parameters to the plurality of devices over the wide area network, wherein the improved operating parameters are useable to configure the plurality of devices.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 6,

wherein the aging information is determined as a function of actual use of the plurality of devices.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 6,

wherein the operating conditions comprise operating voltage, frequency, and/or temperature.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine statistical information of operation of the plurality of devices based on the aging information, wherein the statistical information is usable to assess operation of the plurality of devices; and

receive location information of each of the plurality of devices over the wide area network;

wherein the statistical information is determined using the location information to determine location-based usage of the plurality of devices.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 6, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine statistical information of operation of the plurality of devices based on the aging information, wherein the statistical information is usable to assess operation of the plurality of devices;

receive altitude information of each of the plurality of devices over the wide area network; and

wherein the statistical information is determined using the location information to determine location-based usage of the plurality of devices.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 6, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine statistical information of operation of the plurality of devices based on the aging information, wherein the statistical information is usable to assess operation of the plurality of devices; and

receive operating temperature information of each of the plurality of devices over the wide area network;

wherein the statistical information is determined using the operating temperature information.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 6, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine statistical information of operation of the plurality of devices based on the aging information, wherein the statistical information is usable to assess operation of the plurality of devices;

receive ambient temperature information of each of the plurality of devices over the wide area network;

wherein the statistical information is determined using the ambient temperature information.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 6,

wherein the plurality of devices are a common device type manufactured by a common manufacturer.