The Nanite Reconstruction of a device is used when a piece of technology from a specific time period cannot be redesigned to be effective with needed capabilities. The reconstruction process can happen in 2 modes. The primary mode is on a small scale, made for devices. It has a secondary mode made for larger scale equipment.
Small Scale Mode
Nanites are injected or otherwise applied to a device. They explore the device and determine the most optimal new configuration for required functions. The nanites then rapidly reconstruct the internal components of the device to allow for new functions.
Large Scale Mode
This is an advanced process where nanites are used in conduction with the Mark 1S Active Repair Drone to alter a piece of existing technology to different specifications. While an ideal situation is not to alter an existing device but fabricate a new device based on the existing device's physical template, this is not always possible. Through nanite reconstruction an existing device can be reconstructed at the molecular level (if needed) into new capabilities. Nanites are most often injected into a device with preloaded instructions on capabilities which are needed.
While smaller devices, such as a cell phone, can be reconstructed at the molecular level by nanites alone, larger technology such as a full size computer, may require the use of one or more repair drones. In general the drones are introduced to a location with information on what the nanites are expected to accomplish and then coordinate to deploy nanites into the correct locations in order to produce the desired results.
Small / hand held devices can be upgraded in a short amount of time, depending on how close their existing capabilities are to the desired results. Technologies which require more effort to upgrade will take longer, sometimes a device can take months to upgrade though this is uncommon.
Most often reconstruction of a device can take anywhere from an hour to a few days to provide modest upgrades. The most common use for this process is upgrading either processing power and/or transmission and reception capabilities, such upgrades usually take a few hours to complete. Larger upgrades for facility equipment (i.e. large installations) can take significantly longer.