Computer manufacturing with smart configuration methods
AssigneeCompaq Computer Corporation
InventorsJerald C. Fisher, Lien Dai Nguyen, James Young, Gunnar P. Seaburg, Galen W. Hedlund, Richard S. Katz
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Abstract
A system of computer manufacturing with pre-installation of software which utilizes a software selection process controlled by a rules database to determine the proper software components to be pre-installed onto an assembled computer or hard drive. Additionally, the rules base determines the appropriate diagnostic and set-up software components to be installed in order to ensure a system that is ready-to-run upon receipt by a purchaser.
Claims48
A process for manufacturing computer systems with pre-installed software, comprising the steps of repeatedly:
- (a.) selecting a hardware and software configuration;
- (b.) storing a list corresponding to said configuration;
- (c.) assembling hardware components according to said list;
- (d.) translating said list using an automatic inference procedure into a list of software components to be downloaded onto a computer system, wherein said automatic inference translating is performed according to a rules database separately stored from a software-loading-system;
- and
- (e.) downloading software components from the software-loading-system according to said software component list, to create a predetermined software configuration on an assembled computer system.
A process for manufacturing computer systems with pre-installed software, comprising the steps of repeatedly:
- (a.) selecting a hardware and software configuration;
- (b.) storing a list corresponding to said configuration;
- (c.) assembling hardware components according to said list;
- (d.) storing unique identification numbers for each hardware component;
- (e.) storing a unique identification number for the operating system, if selected;
- (f.) translating said list using an automatic inference procedure into a list of software components to be downloaded onto a computer system, wherein said automatic inference translating is accomplished according to a set of rules in a rules database stored separately from a software-downloading-system;
- and
- (g.) downloading software components from a software-loading-system according to said software component list, to create a predetermined software configuration on an assembled computer system.
A system for manufacturing computer systems with pre-installed software, comprising:
- (a.) a stored hardware and software configuration list;
- (b.) a computer system assembled according to said list;
- (c.) a program which translates said list using an automatic inference procedure into a list of software components to be downloaded onto said computer system, wherein said program translates said list using a set of rules stored separately from a software-loading-system;
- and
- (d.) said software-loading-system downloads said software components according to said software component list, to create a predetermined software configuration on said computer system.
A database structure for managing a software selection rules base in a computer manufacturing environment, comprising:
- a first data association including a key uniquely identifying software or hardware part information contained in said database;
- a second data association including a key uniquely identifying model information contained in said database;
- a third data association including a key uniquely identifying software configuration rules contained in said database;
- a fourth data association including a key associating said part information to its appropriate rule;
- wherein a many-to-one relationship exist between said first and second data associations;
- wherein a many-to-one relationship exist between said fourth and first data associations;
- and
- wherein a many-to-many relationship exist between said third and fourth associations;
- wherein said first, second, third, and fourth associations define the rules base to be used in the selection of software, software set-up routines, and software and hardware diagnostics to be installed in computers in a manufacturing environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.