Method and system for testing information handling system components

• US 20060085204A1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Montero, Adolfo Sandor
• Application Number:
  US10/959,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method and a system are provided for determining whether an information handling system (“IHS”) component is in condition for a warranty return. In response to determining that the IHS component is in condition for a warranty return and in response to an encryption algorithm, an encrypted return authorization number associated with the IHS component'"'"'s identification number is determined.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether an information handling system (“

IHS”

) component is in condition for a warranty return; and

in response to determining that the IHS component is in condition for a warranty return and in response to an encryption algorithm, determining an encrypted return authorization number associated with the IHS component'"'"'s identification number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the return authorization number is verifiable by a customer services representative to determine whether the IHS component is actually in condition for a warranty return.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the IHS component is actually in condition for a warranty return includes:

receiving, from a user, a number represented to be a return authorization number associated with the IHS component'"'"'s identification number;

in response to the IHS component'"'"'s identification number and in response to the encryption algorithm, determining an actual return authorization number; and

determining whether the actual authorization number is substantially identical to the number represented to be the return authorization number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the IHS component is in condition for a warranty return includes determining whether the IHS component has failed.

5. The method of claim 1, and comprising:

in response to determining that the IHS component is not in condition for a warranty return, outputting a message indicating that the component is not in condition for a warranty return.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the IHS component is a media drive.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the IHS component is a battery.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the battery is in condition for a warranty return includes:

determining whether the battery is in a failure mode.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the battery is in condition for a warranty return includes:

determining whether the battery has failed to communicate with the IHS.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the battery is in condition for a warranty return includes:

determining whether the battery has lost more capacity, for a given amount of usage, than it was designed to lose.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the amount of usage is indicated by the battery'"'"'s charge/discharge cycle count.

12. An information handling system (“

IHS”

) comprising;

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, which stores instructions executable by the IHS to cause the IHS to;

determine whether an information handling system (“

IHS”

) component is in condition for a warranty return; and

in response to determining that the IHS component is in condition for a warranty return and in response to an encryption algorithm, determine an encrypted return authorization number associated with the IHS component'"'"'s identification number.

13. The IHS of claim 12, wherein the return authorization number is verifiable by a customer services representative to determine whether the IHS component is actually in condition for a warranty return.

14. The IHS of claim 13, wherein determining whether the IHS component is actually in condition for a warranty return includes:

receiving, from a user, a number represented to be a return authorization number associated with the IHS component'"'"'s identification number;

in response to the IHS component'"'"'s identification number and in response to the encryption algorithm, determining an actual return authorization number; and

determining whether the actual authorization number is substantially identical to the number represented to be the return authorization number.

15. The IHS of claim 12, wherein determining whether the IHS component is in condition for a warranty return includes determining whether the IHS component has failed.

16. The IHS of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the IHS to further cause the IHS to:

in response to determining that the IHS component is not in condition for a warranty return, output a message indicating that the component is not in condition for a warranty return.

17. The IHS of claim 12, wherein the IHS component is a media drive.

18. The IHS of claim 12, wherein the IHS component is a battery.

19. The IHS of claim 18, wherein determining whether the battery is in condition for a warranty return includes:

determining whether the battery is in a failure mode.

20. The IHS of claim 18, wherein determining whether the battery is in condition for a warranty return includes:

determining whether the battery has failed to communicate with the IHS.

21. The IHS of claim 18, wherein determining whether the battery is in condition for a warranty return includes:

determining whether the battery has lost more capacity, for a given amount of usage, than it was designed to lose.

22. The IHS of claim 21, wherein the amount of usage is indicated by the battery'"'"'s charge/discharge cycle count.