# US 5,349,674 A · Automated enrollment of a computer system into a service network of computer systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,349,674 A - Document ID: US5349674A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/569,110 - Filed: 1990-08-17 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1990-08-17 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Nathanial Calvert; John L. Koehler; Erik D. Lindberg; Mark A. McKelvey; Steven P. Mervosh; Jeffrey A. Newton; George B. Scarborough; Ruth A. Upchurch; Sandra D. Westling - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349674A ## CPC - G06F 11/2294: {by remote test} - G06F 11/0748: {in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault (remote testing G06F11/2294)} - H04L 69/00: Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass (networks security protocols H04L9/40; wireless communication networks H04W) - G06F 11/22: Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing - G06F 11/2205: {using arrangements specific to the hardware being tested} - G06F 11/2736: {using a dedicated service processor for test} - G06F 11/32: with visual {or acoustical} indication of the functioning of the machine - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A service network has several computer systems connected together. A computer system can either be a "Service Requestor" (SR), a "Service Provider" (SP), or a hybrid of the two, a "Service Provider/Requestor" (SP/R). The service network is built by an enrollment process that adds computer systems into the service network. A SP (or SP/R acting as an SP) already in the network can initiate the enrollment of an SR (or SP/R acting as an SR) into the network. In addition, a SR (or SP/R acting as an SR) can initiate a request for enrollment into the network. If such a request is initiated, it must be approved automatically or with human intervention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of enrolling a service provider into a service network of computer systems, said method being performed by a service requestor, said service requestor being a first computer system and said service provider being a second computer system, said method comprising the steps of: identifying contact information about said service provider; determining a component list for which said service requestor desires to receive service; building an enrollment request from said contact information and from said component list; transmitting said enrollment request to said service provider; and receiving from said service provider an enrollment confirmation notice which is responsive to said enrollment request. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step within said service requestor of: updating a support database upon receipt of said enrollment confirmation notice, said enrollment confirmation notice indicating the status of said enrollment request. ### Claim 3 A method of enrolling a service requestor into a service network of computer systems, said method being performed by a service provider, said service requestor being a first computer system and said service provider being a second computer system, said method comprising the steps within said service provider of: identifying contact information about said service requestor; determining a component list for which said service requestor is entitled to receive service; building an enrollment request from said contact information and from said component list; transmitting said enrollment request to said service requestor; and receiving an enrollment confirmation notice from said service requestor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising the step within said service provider of: updating an entitlement database upon receipt of said enrollment confirmation notice. ### Claim 5 A method of enrolling a service requestor into a service network of computer systems, said method being performed by a service provider, said service requestor being a first computer system and said service provider being a second computer system, said method comprising the machine executed steps within said service provider of: receiving an enrollment request from said service requestor, said enrollment request containing contact information and a component list for which said service requestor desires service; automatically approving said enrollment request based upon information previously entered in an entitlement database; and sending an enrollment confirmation notice to said service requestor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising the step within said service provider of: updating said entitlement database after said enrollment request is approved, said enrollment confirmation notice indicating the status of said enrollment request. ### Claim 7 A method of enrolling a service provider into a service network of computer systems, said method being performed by a service provider/requestor, said service provider/requestor being a first computer system and said service provider being a second computer system, said method comprising the steps within said service provider/requestor of: identifying contact information about said service provider; determining a component list for which said service provider/requestor desires to receive service; building an enrollment request from said contact information and from said component list; transmitting said enrollment request to said service provider; and receiving from said service provider an enrollment confirmation notice which is responsive to said enrollment request. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising the step within said service provider/requestor of: updating a support database upon receipt of said enrollment confirmation notice, said enrollment confirmation notice indicating the status of said enrollment request. ### Claim 9 A method of enrolling a service requestor into a service network of computer systems, said method being performed by a service provider/requestor, said service provider/requestor being a first computer system and said service requestor being a second computer system, said method comprising the steps within said service provider/requestor of: identifying contact information about said service requestor; determining a component list for which said service requestor is entitled to receive service; building an enrollment request from said contact information and from said component list; transmitting said enrollment request to said service requestor; and receiving an enrollment confirmation notice from said service requestor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the step within said service provider/requestor of: updating an entitlement database upon receipt of said enrollment confirmation notice. ### Claim 11 A method of enrolling a service requestor into a service network of computer systems, said method being performed by a service provider/requestor, said service provider/requestor being a first computer system and said service requestor being a second computer system, said method comprising the machine executed steps within said service provider/requestor of: receiving an enrollment request from said service requestor, said enrollment request containing contact information and a component list for which said service requestor desires service; automatically approving said enrollment request based upon information previously entered in an entitlement database; and sending an enrollment confirmation notice to said service requestor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising the step within said service provider/requestor of: updating said entitlement database after said enrollment request is approved, said enrollment confirmation notice indicating the status of said enrollment request.