Self-repairing computing device and method of monitoring and repair
AssigneeSelf Repairing Computers, Inc.
InventorsKenneth Largman, Anthony More, Jeffrey Blair
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention may backup, maintain backups, or recover data associated with a computing system. The computing system may include any number of components including hardware and software, and any memory accessible to the computing system. The computing system may focus on a user computing system and potentially the supporting environment which stabilizes the functionality of the user computing system (e.g., operating system, BIOS, etc.). Typically data associated with the computing system is identified by a variety of characteristics, the data is stored as a backup, and subsequently data within the backup may be restored or used to evaluate an existing computing system.
Claims22
A method for a computing device repairing itself to operation after initiating booting from a first boot device disposed within a main computing device hardware box of the computing device, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of:
- in response to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computing device during the booting from the first boot device or during any operating state, booting from a second boot device;
- the second boot device storing software installed on said second boot device at anytime prior to booting from the second boot device;
- protecting at least a portion of the software on the second boot device from further modification after installation;
- the second boot device being physically present with the computing device prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair;
- and
- repairing software stored on the first boot device while operating from the second boot device and selectively either:
- (i) maintaining operation of the computing device from the second boot device to restore operation of the computing device during repairing of the software on the first boot device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computing device from the second boot device to the first boot device after the software has been repaired to restore operation of the computing device;
- wherein the signal is generated by at least one of:
- (i) by a user altering the state of a physical switch different from an on-off switch of the computing device and exposed on an exterior surface of the computing device, or (ii) automatically generated by the computing device after detecting a need for a repair.
A computing device that repairs itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the computing device comprising:
- a computing device hardware box;
- a bootable first boot device disposed within the computing device hardware box;
- a bootable second boot device, the bootable boot device having software installed onto the second boot device at anytime prior to booting from the second hard disk drive boot device that is protected from further modification by at least one of (a) switching the second boot device to a state of unavailability;
- or (b) switching the second boot device to a read-only state;
- a switching logic responsive to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computing device during the booting or during any operating state, that controls booting of the computing device from the second boot device;
- the second boot device being physically present within the computing device hardware box prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair;
- and
- means for repairing software on the first boot device while booted from the second boot device that selectively either:
- (i) maintains operation of the computing device from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computing device during repairing of the software on the first hard disk device, or (ii) changes to operation of the computing device from the second boot device to the first boot device after repair of the software to restore operational status of the computing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.