Method and apparatus upgrade assistance using critical historical product information

• US 20020178075A1
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Young, Ronald Dean, Thompson, Kurt Clifford, Wertzler, Paul William, Olson-Williams, Lonny R., Sammons, Van Dee, Emerick, Earl Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5019 Workload prediction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated methodology that simplifies upgrade choices for complex computer products through the use of automation and integration of product monitoring and business applications with, for example, web based capabilities. Historical information for computer systems is collected and transmitted to a remote support system. Over time, sufficient historical data provides a historical view of the systems indicative of usage and facilitating the choice of product enhancements, upgrades and customization. Further, this historical view may be integrated with the advances in the product that are kept by the remote support system as well as with the performance requirements of third party application providers.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computerized system to provide computer recommendation information for a plurality of computers, comprising:

generating an operation profile for a computer using machine information specific to the computer, wherein the operation profile indicates at least a usage trend for the computer; and

generating a recommendation for at least one computer system solution which satisfies at least the usage trend.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to generating the operation profile, receiving the machine information from the computer via a network connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the recommendation comprises processing system requirements specifications reflecting a desired use of the computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the recommendation comprises returning web based content to a web client.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a purchase order for the at least one computer system solution.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to iteratively modify the recommendation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the recommendation comprises processing system requirements specifications selected by a user from a plurality of system options available at network address.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of system options are provided by a plurality of third party solution providers.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the at least one computer system solution to indicate system specifications and a price.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing product options and associated prices to a user for selection;

receiving a product option selection from the user for at least one of the product options; and

outputting a starting configuration for the at least one computer system solution.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a configuration selection from the user to modify the starting configuration;

determining whether the configuration selection is valid; and

if so, producing a configured system viewable by the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a purchase order for the configured system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to modify the recommendation to produce a modified computer system solution.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

configuring the modified computer system solution to indicate system specifications and a price; and

receiving a purchase order for the configured modified computer system solution.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a purchase order for the modified computer system solution.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein generating the recommendation comprises returning web based content to a web client.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the history database is operated by one of a manufacture of the computer and a seller of the computer.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising allowing a user to iteratively modify the recommendation to produce a modified computer system solution.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing product options and associated prices to a user for selection;

receiving a product option selection from the user for at least one of the product options; and

outputting a starting configuration for the at least one computer system solution.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a configuration selection from the user to modify the starting configuration;

determining whether the configuration selection is valid; and

if so, producing a configured system output viewable by the user.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising configuring the at least one computer system solution to indicate system specifications and a price.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a purchase order for the modified computer system solution.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising allowing a user to modify the recommendation to produce a modified computer system solution.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining a price for the modified computer system solution.

26. The method of claim 25, receiving a purchase order for the modified computer system solution.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the system sizer is further configured produce system recommendations using user input.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising an order tool configured to process orders for the users for a suggested system satisfying the recommendations.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the machine information collection system, the history database and the system sizer are operated by a supplier of computer devices and the plurality of computers are operated by customers of the supplier.

31. The system of claim 27, further comprising storage space containing third party solutions for display to the users and accessible to the system sizer to use to produce the system recommendations.

32. The system of claim 27, further comprising a network connection to the plurality of computers.

33. The system of claim 27, further comprising a web server having a network connection to the plurality of computers and configured to provide the statistical information and the system recommendations to requesters.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the statistical information indicates usage trends for system resources of the plurality of computers.

35. The system of claim 27, further comprising a tool configured to determine a price and a valid configuration for a system satisfying the system recommendations.

36. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

a comparison tool configured allow users to compare product line options capable of satisfying the system recommendations; and

configuration tool configured to receive feature selections from the users and determine a valid configuration for a system satisfying the system recommendations.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising an order tool configured to process orders from the users for the system.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the statistical information indicates usage trends for system resources of the plurality of computers.

40. The system of claim 38, further comprising a tool configured to determine a price and a valid configuration for a system satisfying the system recommendations.

41. The system of claim 38, further comprising an order tool configured to process orders for a suggested system satisfying the system recommendations.

42. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

a machine information collection system configured to receive machine information for a plurality of computers; and

a history database containing statistical information generated using the machine information.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the machine information collection system, the history database and the system sizer are operated by a supplier of computer devices and the plurality of computers are operated by customers of the supplier.

44. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

a comparison tool configured allow users to compare product line options capable of satisfying the system recommendations; and

a configuration tool configured to receive feature selections from the users and determine a valid configuration for a system satisfying the system recommendations.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising an order tool configured to process orders from the users for the system.

16. A method of operating a computerized system to provide computer recommendation information for a plurality of computers, comprising:

receiving machine information for the plurality of computers;

storing the machine information to a history database;

generating an operation profile for a computer using machine information specific to the computer, wherein the operation profile indicates at least a history profile and a usage trend for the computer;

receiving system requirements specifications reflecting workload requirements for the computer not accounted for in the machine information; and

generating a recommendation for at least one computer system solution which satisfies a desired usage of the computer.

27. A system for generating recommendation information for computer devices, comprising:

a machine information collection system configured to receive machine information for a plurality of computers;

a history database containing statistical information generated using the machine information; and

a system sizer configured to produce system recommendations using at least one of the statistical information and third party solutions.

38. A system for generating recommendation information for computer devices, comprising:

a network connection to a network of computers; and

a system sizer configured produce system recommendations using at least one of statistical information for a plurality of computers, user input information and third-party solutions.