A Theoretical Approach for Reliability Within Information Supply Chains With Cycles and Negations

Journal Article · Thu May 13 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · IEEE Transactions on Reliability

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/tr.2021.3068737· OSTI ID:1787518

Livesay, Michael ^[1]; Pless, Daniel ^[1]; Verzi, Stephen ^[1]; Stamber, Kevin ^[1]; Lilje, Anneliese ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Complex networks of information processing systems, or information supply chains, present challenges for performance analysis. Here, we establish a mathematical setting, in which a process within an information supply chain can be analyzed in terms of the functionality of the system’s components. Principles of this methodology are rigorously defended and induce a model for determining the reliability for the various products in these networks. Our model does not limit us from having cycles in the network, as long as the cycles do not contain negation. It is shown that our approach to reliability resolves the nonuniqueness caused by cycles in a probabilistic Boolean network. An iterative algorithm is given to find the reliability values of the model, using a process that can be fully automated. This automated method of discerning reliability is beneficial for systems managers. As a systems manager considers systems modification, such as the replacement of owned and maintained hardware systems with cloud computing resources, the need for comparative analysis of system reliability is paramount. The model is extended to handle conditional knowledge about the network, allowing one to make predictions of weaknesses in the system. Finally, to illustrate the model’s flexibility over different forms, it is demonstrated on a system of components and subcomponents.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1787518
• Report Number(s): SAND--2021-3460J; 694983
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Reliability, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Reliability Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 71; ISSN 0018-9529
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
boolean algebra
closed-loop systems
complex networks
network theory (graph)
reliability engineering