Patent ID: 8094706
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring reliability of a digital system with operational aging thereof, the method comprising: periodically measuring in situ, by the digital system, a current maximum frequency of operation of the digital system to monitor degradation in maximum frequency of operation of the digital system over time with operational aging thereof during end use of the digital system, the current maximum frequency of operation being determined from processing a test instruction vector, and being a highest frequency of operation of the digital system for which results from the testing pass, wherein the periodically measuring comprises: generating a warning signal indicative of reliability degradation of the digital system responsive to a measured or estimated maximum frequency of operation of the digital system being below the warning threshold frequency of operation for the digital system, wherein the warning threshold frequency is greater than or equal to a manufacturer specified minimum frequency of operation for the digital system.