Method and apparatus for estimating the refresh strategy or other refresh-influenced parameters of a system over its life cycle

A method for determining a total cost of a system over a life cycle of the system, the method comprising:

• calculating with a computer processor executing computer instructions a current price curve and a future price curve for a part of the system;
• calculating with the computer processor executing computer instructions a total cost of the system based on the current and future price curves;
• and
• outputting the calculated total cost of the system;
• wherein calculating the total cost of the system comprises:
• selecting a refresh rate of a system life cycle for refreshing a currently installed generation of the part with a future generation;
• calculating a potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system based on a functional capacity of the future generation of the part relative to a functional capacity of the currently installed generation;
• and
• calculating a refresh cost for refreshing the currently installed generation of the part with the future generation based on a price of the currently installed generation and the potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system.

A method for determining a total cost of a system over a life cycle of the system, the method comprising:

• calculating with a computer processor executing computer instructions a current price curve and a future price curve for a part of a system;
• calculating with the computer processor executing computer instructions a total cost of the system based on the current and future price curves;
• and
• outputting the calculated total cost of the system;
• wherein calculating the total cost of the system comprises:
• selecting a refresh rate of a system life cycle for refreshing a currently installed generation of the part with a future generation;
• calculating a potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system based on a functional capacity of the future generation of the part relative to a functional capacity of an initially installed generation of the part and on an importance of the part to the system;
• and
• calculating a refresh cost for refreshing the currently installed generation of the part with the future generation based on a cost of the initially installed generation and the potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system.

A method for determining a total cost of a system over a life cycle of the system, the method comprising:

• calculating with a computer processor executing computer instructions a current price curve and a future price curve for a part of a system;
• calculating with the computer processor executing computer instructions a total cost of the system based on the current and future price curves;
• and
• outputting the calculated total cost of the system;
• wherein calculating the total cost of the system comprises:
• calculating a pre-refresh operation and support cost for the system as a function of a price of a currently installed generation of the part;
• selecting a refresh period of a system life cycle for refreshing the currently installed generation of the part with a future generation;
• calculating a potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system based on a functional capacity of the future generation of the part relative to a functional capacity of an initially installed generation of the part and on an importance of the part to the system;
• calculating a refresh cost for refreshing the currently installed generation of the part with the future generation based on a cost of the initially installed generation of the part and the potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system;
• calculating a capacity-independent portion of an operation and support cost for the refresh period as a function of a pre-refresh cost of all parts in the system;
• and
• calculating a capacity-dependent portion of the operation and support cost for the refresh period as a function of the cost of the currently installed generation of the part and the functional capacity of the future generation of the part.

A method for determining a total cost of a system over a life cycle of the system, the method comprising:

• calculating with a computer processor executing computer instructions a current price curve and a future price curve for a part of a system;
• calculating with the computer processor executing computer instructions the total cost of the system based on the current and future price curves;
• and
• outputting the calculated total cost of the system;
• wherein calculating the total cost of the system comprises:
• selecting a refresh period of a system life cycle for refreshing a currently installed generation of the part with a future generation;
• calculating a potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system based on a functional capacity of the future generation of the part relative to a functional capacity of an initially installed generation of the part;
• and
• calculating a refresh cost for refreshing the currently installed generation of the part with the future generation based on a price of the initially installed generation, the potential post-refresh functional capacity of the system, and a level of difficulty for refreshing the currently installed generation with the future generation.