Method for assembling hardware components in a computer system

• US 20040039561A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Wadley, James Richard, Montano, Brian Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a computer system (100) is disclosed in which the selection of hardware components in the computer system is evaluated to determine the compatibility of the hardware components of the computer system. Compatibility among hardware components is evaluated as well as compatibility between the hardware components and the base architecture of the computer system. As part of the evaluation of the selection of the hardware components of the computer system, the installation location of each hardware component is determined and a graphical representation (402) of the hardware components and their installation locations is created as an aid to the assembly of the computer system.

Claims

1. A method for installing hardware components in a computer system, comprising:

compiling a list of the hardware components;

assigning an installation location for each hardware component of the computer system;

evaluating the compatibility of each hardware component of the computer system with respect to the other hardware components of the computer system;

evaluating the compatibility of each hardware component of the computer system with respect to the base architecture of the computer system;

identifying in graphical form the assigned installation locations of the hardware components of the computer system following the successful evaluation of the compatibility of the hardware components with respect to (a) the other hardware components of the computer system and (b) the base architecture of the computer system; and

installing the hardware components according to the assigned installation locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the compatibility of each hardware component of the computer system with respect to the base architecture of the computer system further comprises the step of evaluating the compatibility of the installation location with respect to the selected hardware component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of hardware components includes custom hardware components selected for installation by the customer of the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of compiling a list of hardware components comprises the step of generating an architecture resource file that includes an identification of the hardware components and base architecture of the computer system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying instructions identifying incompatible hardware components.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of compiling a list of hardware components comprises the step of receiving a customer order and generating a list of hardware components from the customer order.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of assigning an identification number to the computer system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification number is a serial number.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification number identifies the assembled hardware components.

10. A computer system, comprising

a processor;

a memory;

a storage device;

the computer system having been manufactured in accordance with a manufacturing process, the manufacturing process comprising;

compiling a list of the hardware components;

assigning an installation location for each hardware component of the computer system;

evaluating the compatibility of each hardware component of the computer system with respect to the other hardware components of the computer system;

evaluating the compatibility of each hardware component of the computer system with respect to the base architecture of the computer system;

identifying in graphical form the assigned installation locations of the hardware components of the computer system following the successful evaluation of the compatibility of the hardware components with respect to (a) the other hardware components of the computer system and (b) the base architecture of the computer system; and

installing the hardware components according to the assigned installation locations.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the hardware components comprise a set of hardware components that were selected for installation by the customer.

12. A method for assigning installation locations for hardware components in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a list of hardware components;

evaluating the compatibility of each hardware component;

selecting an installation location for each hardware component in the computer system; and

displaying a graphical representation of the installation locations of the hardware components of the computer system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of hardware components includes custom hardware components selected for installation by the customer of the computer system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of evaluating the compatibility of each hardware component includes the step of evaluating the compatibility of each component with respect to other hardware components of the computer system and the base architecture of the computer system.