Patent ID: 8392869

Claim:
A method of system lifetime evaluation, comprising: iteratively performing Worst Case Analysis (WCA) on a system design with respect to different system lifetimes using a computer to determine the lifetime at which the worst case performance of the system indicates the system will pass with zero margin or fail within a predetermined margin for error given the environment experienced by the system during its lifetime; wherein performing WCA on a system with respect to a specific system lifetime comprises: identifying subcircuits within the system; performing Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) with respect to each subcircuit to determine whether the subcircuit fails EVA for the specific system lifetime; when the subcircuit passes EVA, determining that the subcircuit does not fail WCA for the specified system lifetime; when a subcircuit fails EVA performing at least one additional WCA process that provides a tighter bound on the WCA than EVA to determine whether the subcircuit fails WCA for the specified system lifetime; determining that the system passes WCA with respect to the specific system lifetime when all subcircuits pass WCA; and determining that the system fails WCA when at least one subcircuit fails WCA.