Method and apparatus linking diagnostic and configuration information with service information

• US 20040162851A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Da-Nhat
• Application Number:
  US10/370,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

A method of servicing electronic equipment includes receiving a service code wirelessly broadcast from the electronic equipment to a service apparatus. The code may be in the form of a uniform resource identifier to facilitate identifying a database. The database is accessed to retrieve information associated with the code. Access to the database may be limited by user authorization defined by a user key. The retrieved information is communicated to at least one of the electronic equipment or a display of the service apparatus. The retrieved information may include any combination of service instructions, configuration parameters, or firmware for the electronic equipment. In one embodiment, a visual service indicator flashes with a first flash sequence in response to a service code event of the electronic equipment and then with a second flash sequence in response to a wireless communication from the service apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of servicing electronic equipment, comprising:

a) receiving a code wirelessly broadcast from the electronic equipment;

b) accessing a database to retrieve information associated with the code; and

c) presenting the retrieved information on a display of a service apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is local to the service apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is not local to the service apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the code is in the form of a uniform resource identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step b) further comprises accessing a web server.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step b) further comprises restricting the retrieval of information in accordance with a user authorization indicated by a user key.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication is uni-directional.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication between the service apparatus and electronic equipment uses optical frequencies.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the retrieved information includes at least one of the following types of information:

service instructions, and configuration parameters for the electronic apparatus.

10. A method of servicing electronic equipment, comprising:

a) receiving a code wirelessly broadcast from the electronic equipment to a service apparatus;

b) accessing a database to retrieve information associated with the code; and

c) communicating the retrieved information to at least one of the electronic equipment and a display of the service apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication is bi-directional.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication between the electronic equipment and the service apparatus uses optical frequencies.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising establishing a wireless communication link between the electronic equipment and the service apparatus.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein step b) further comprises restricting information retrieval in accordance with a user authorization indicated by a user key.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the database is local to the service apparatus.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the database is not local to the service apparatus.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein c) further comprises communicating at least a portion of the retrieved information to the electronic equipment, wherein the retrieved information includes at least one of the following types of information:

configuration parameters, and firmware.

18. A method of servicing electronic equipment, comprising:

a) flashing a visual indicator of the electronic equipment using a first flash sequence in response to a service code event of the electronic equipment;

b) wirelessly broadcasting the service code independently of the presence of any service apparatus; and

c) flashing the visual indicator using a second flash sequence in response to a received wireless communication from a service apparatus, wherein the first and second flash sequences are distinct.

19. A service apparatus for servicing electronic equipment, comprising:

a local nonvolatile memory, the memory storing a database containing at least one of the following types of information;

service instructions, configuration parameters, and firmware for the electronic apparatus;

a display; and

a wireless communication port, wherein information associated with a received service code wirelessly broadcast from the electronic equipment is retrieved from the database, wherein the retrieved information is communicated to at least one of the display and the electronic equipment.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the wireless communication port communicates using optical frequencies