Method and system for configuring a computer system via a wireless communication link

• US 20020099804A1
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Liao, Reynold L., Broder, Damon W., OʼConnor, Clint H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A computing product is first assembled according to a predetermined hardware configuration and placed in a shipping container thus providing a containerized computer system. The computing product has a wireless communication subsystem for wirelessly receiving configuration information. The containerized computer system is fully configured before shipping the computer system to a predetermined customer by exchanging information between the wireless communication subsystem and a wireless information network in the manufacturing facility.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a computing product comprising:

assembling a computing product according to a specified hardware configuration;

transmitting configuration information to the assembled computing product via a wireless communication connection;

receiving the configuration information by the assembled computing product; and

configuring the assembled computing product with the received configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration information is hardware configuration information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration information is software configuration information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting configuration information further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting driver information for peripheral devices to the assembled computing product.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting configuration information further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting operating system configuration information to the assembled computing product.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting configuration information further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting application software configuration information to the assembled computing product.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting application software to the assembled computing product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the application software is selected by a predetermined customer.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the application software configuration is defined by a predetermined customer.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the application software configuration is defined by a customer'"'"'s service provider.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified hardware configuration in the assembling is a customer selected configuration.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing product is a battery powered portable computer system.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

confirming the computing product is appropriately configured subsequent to the configuring.

15. The method of manufacturing a battery-powered portable computer system of claim 14 further comprising:

putting the containerized computer system into a standby state prior to placing the computer system in the shipping container.

16. The method of manufacturing a computer system of claim 14 further comprising:

waking up the computer from the stand by state prior to the transmitting.

17. The method of manufacturing a battery-powered portable computer system of claim 14 further comprising:

putting the containerized computer system into a power down state subsequent to the configuring.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the completing further comprises:

transmitting configuration information through the wireless information network to the containerized computer system; and

receiving the configuration information by the containerized computer system through the wireless communication subsystem.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

configuring the containerized computer system according to the received configuration information before shipping the computer system.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

configuring the containerized computer system when the computer system is first turned on by the customer.

14. A method of manufacturing a battery-powered portable computer system, the computer system having a wireless communication subsystem, the method comprising:

assembling a computer system according to a selected hardware configuration;

placing the computer system in a shipping container thus providing a containerized computer system;

transmitting configuration information to the containerized computer system;

receiving the configuration information by the containerized computer system through the wireless communication subsystem; and

configuring the containerized computer system according to the configuration information.

18. A method of configuring a computer system, the computer system having a wireless communication subsystem, the method comprising:

assembling a computer system according to a predetermined hardware configuration;

placing the computer system in a shipping container thus providing a containerized computer system; and

completing software configuration of the containerized computer system before shipping the computer system to a predetermined customer by exchanging information between the wireless communication subsystem and a wireless information network.