Process for configuring software and hardware in a build-to-order computer system

• US 20020091456A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: OʼConnor, Clint
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A process for manufacturing a computer system, including a selected hardware configuration and a selected software configuration is disclosed. An order is placed on an order entry system which generates a hardware list and a software list from the order. In one embodiment, the hardware list is checked to verify that the selected hardware components are compatible with each other. In another other embodiment, the software list is checked to verify that the software components on the list are compatible with one another. In another embodiment, the software and hardware lists are cross checked to verify compatibility of the hardware components with the software components. The software components are recorded on a storage device to enable a user to restore the software components at a later time should that ever become necessary.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a computer system comprising the steps of:

receiving, by an order entry system, an order for a computer system;

generating a hardware list and a software list from the order, the hardware list including hardware components, the software list including software components;

verifying that the software components of the software list are compatible with the hardware components of the hardware list;

assembling the hardware components designated by the hardware list if compatibility is found in the verifying step; and

loading the software components of the software list onto the assembled hardware components if compatibility is found in the verifying step.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of terminating the manufacturing method if the software components of the software list and the hardware components of the hardware list are found to be incompatible in the verifying step.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording the software components designated by the software list on a storage device to enable a user to restore the software components at a later time.

4. A method of manufacturing a computer system comprising the steps of:

receiving, by an order entry system, an order for a computer system;

generating a hardware list and a software list from the order, the hardware list including hardware components, the software list including software components;

verifying that the software components of the software list are compatible with each other;

assembling the hardware components designated by the hardware list if compatibility is found in the verifying step; and

loading the software components of the software list onto the assembled hardware components if compatibility is found in the verifying step.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of terminating the manufacturing method if the software components of the software list are found to be incompatible in the verifying step.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of recording the software components designated by software list on a storage device to enable a user to restore the software components at a later time.

7. A method of manufacturing a computer system comprising the steps of:

receiving, by an order entry system, an order for a computer system;

generating a hardware list and a software list from the order, the hardware list including hardware components, the software list including software components;

verifying that the hardware components of the hardware list are compatible with each other;

assembling the hardware components designated by the hardware list if compatibility is found in the verifying step; and

loading the software components of the software list onto the assembled hardware components if compatibility is found in the verifying step.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of terminating the manufacturing method if the hardware components of the hardware list are found to be incompatible in the verifying step.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of recording the software components designated by the software list on a storage device to enable a user to restore the software components at a later time.

10. A computer system comprising:

hardware components designated by a hardware list generated by a manufacturing system in response to an order supplied to the manufacturing system by an order management system; and

software components designated by a software list generated by the manufacturing system in response to the order supplied to the manufacturing system by the order management system, the software components being checked against the hardware components by the manufacturing system to verify that the software components are compatible with the hardware components prior to assembly of the hardware components and loading of the software components on the assembled hardware components.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the hardware components are selected from the group including processors, memory, and storage drives.

12. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the software components are selected from a group including BIOS files, operating systems, drivers, utilities, application software and vendor software.

13. The computer system of claim 10 further comprising:

a storage device having software components recorded thereon, the software components including the software components designated by the software list; and

the assembled hardware components including the software components loaded thereon from the storage device so that the computer system includes the software components designated by the software list, whereby the storage device provides a user with the capability to restore the software components onto the assembled hardware components.

14. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the assembled hardware components include an identification number.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the identification number is stored in the assembled hardware components.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the hardware components are selected from a group including processors, memory, and storage drives.

18. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the software components are selected from a group including BIOS files, operating systems, drivers, utilities, application software and vendor software.

19. The computer system of claim 16 further comprising:

a storage device having software components recorded thereon, the software components including the software components designated by the software list; and

the assembled hardware components including the software components loaded thereon from the storage device so that the computer system includes the software components designated by the software list, whereby the storage device provides a user with the capability to restore the software components onto the assembled hardware components.

20. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the assembled hardware components include an identification number.

21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein the identification number is stored in the assembled hardware components.

16. A computer system comprising:

hardware components designated by a hardware list generated by a manufacturing system in response to an order supplied to the manufacturing system by an order management system; and

software components designated by a software list generated by the manufacturing system in response to the order supplied to the manufacturing system by the order management system, the software components being checked against each other by the manufacturing system to verify that the software components are compatible with each other prior to assembly of the hardware components and loading of the software components on the assembled hardware components.

22. A computer system comprising:

hardware components designated by a hardware list generated by a manufacturing system in response to an order supplied to the manufacturing system by an order management system; and

software components designated by a software list generated by the manufacturing system in response to the order supplied to the manufacturing system by the order management system, the hardware components being checked against each other by the manufacturing system to verify that the hardware components are compatible with each other prior to assembly of the hardware components and loading of the software components on the assembled hardware components.

23. The computer system of claim 22 wherein the hardware components are selected from a group including processors, memory, and storage drives.

24. The computer system of claim 22 wherein the software components are selected from a group including BIOS files, operating systems, drivers, utilities, application software and vendor software.

25. The computer system of claim 22 further comprising:

a storage device having software components recorded thereon, the software components including the software components designated by the software list; and

the assembled hardware components including the software components loaded thereon from the storage device so that the computer system includes the software components designated by the software list, whereby the storage device provides a user with the capability to restore the software components onto the assembled hardware components.

26. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the assembled hardware components include an identification number.

27. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the identification number is stored in the assembled hardware components.