Computer systems and methods employing thin-client internet launching mechanisms

Abstract

Improvements to computer systems and methods that permit platform identification to provide service and technical support to users. The present invention employs a compact Internet agent that is preferably part of a basic input output system (BIOS) of user computer systems. An operating system of the user computer systems operate to set up a registry. Each user computer system contains a web browser that is used to contact the central server by way of the Internet, for example when it is launched. The Internet agent is used to identify the user computer system during system BIOS boot. The BIOS launches when a user computer system is turned on, which launches the Internet agent. The Internet agent adds a predetermined number (preferably two) MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) headers to a registry. The default browser web page is changed to point to a web page on the central server. The MIME headers are inactive and useless until the web browser is launched and the user computer system connects to the web page. The central server analyzes the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) request upon connection. If the MIME headers are identified, the server identifies the user computer system, optionally asks the user for registration, and pushes service content to the user computer system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.