Multidimensional Barcodes For Information Handling System Manufacture, Assembly And Service

• US 20130069781A1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Terwilliger, Kevin, Lauffer, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Multi-dimensional barcodes at a product include service identifiers for the product so that an end user with a portable information handling system captures an image of the multi-dimensional barcode and extracts the service identifiers to obtain service information from a service network location. For example, a service identifier embeds a URL that links to a video demonstrating how to assemble the product. As another example, a service identifier links to a service network location and includes a unique identifier so that an end user retrieves warranty or purchase information for the product.

Claims

1. A method for servicing a product having plural components, the method comprising:

packaging the plural components with one or more two-dimensional barcodes;

shipping the plural components to an end user location;

capturing an image of at least one of the one or more two-dimensional barcodes at the end user location with a portable information handling system camera;

analyzing the image to extract a service identifier from the at least one two-dimensional barcode with the portable information handling system; and

applying the service identifier at the portable information handling system to retrieve a video through the Internet, the video demonstrating assembly of the plural components into the product.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plural components comprise a chassis having plural slots, each slot supporting an information handling system module, and an information handling system module, the video demonstrating assembly of the information handling system module into the chassis.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining a location of the portable information handling system with a global positioning system integrated in the portable information handling system; and

mapping the location of the components by reference to the portable information handling system location.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein capturing an image further comprises capturing an image of a first multi-dimensional barcode having a first service identifier associated with the chassis and a second multi-dimensional barcode having a second service identifier associated with the information handling system module, the method further comprising applying the first and second service identifiers to map the location of the information handling system module in the chassis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plural components comprise an information handling system and a storage device, the video demonstrating assembly of the storage device at the information handling system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plural components comprise an information handling system and a processor, the video demonstrating assembly of the processor at the information handling system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plural components comprise an information handling system and a storage medium storing an application, the video demonstrating installation of the application on the information handling system.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the application comprises an operating system.

9. A system for managing service of an information handling system having plural components, the system comprising:

a chassis having plural slots, each slot operable to support an information handling system module;

a multi-dimensional barcode associated with each slot and having a service identifier for each associated slot;

a service network location storing service information for the service identifiers;

a portable information handling system having a camera operable to capture images of the multi-dimensional barcodes; and

an application running on the portable information handling system and operable to analyze the images to extract the service identifiers and to provide the service identifiers to the service network location for tracking information handling system modules supported by the slots.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a chassis manager integrated with the chassis and operable to manage operation of information handling system modules installed in the chassis slots, the chassis manager interfaced with the service network location to define IP addresses for information handling system modules installed in the chassis slots based upon the service identifiers.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a video stored on the service network location and associated with the service identifiers, the video demonstrating installation of an information handling system module in the chassis, the application further operable to present the video at the portable information handling system.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising a rotational portion associated with each slot, the rotational portion rotating to an exposed position when the slot is empty and rotating to a hidden position when the slot is occupied by an information handling system module.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the hidden position has a transparent portion that provides viewing of the multi-dimensional barcode.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the application is further operable to invert a multi-dimensional barcode viewed through the transparent portion.

15. A method for servicing a product having plural components, the method comprising:

labeling a first and second of the plural components with a first and second multi-dimensional barcode;

including a first service identifier in the first multi-dimensional barcode and a second service identifier in the second multi-dimensional barcode;

capturing one or more images of the first and second multi-dimensional barcode with a portable information handling system;

extracting the first and second service identifiers from the one or more images with the portable information handling system;

sending the first and second service identifiers from the portable information handling system through a network to a service network location; and

in response to the sending, providing through the network to the portable information handling system service information for interacting the first and second components with each other.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the service information comprises a video demonstrating interaction of the first and second components with each other.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first component comprises an information handling system chassis rail and the second component comprises an information handling system module and the service information comprises instructions for assembly of the chassis rail to the module.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the service information comprises mapping a location of the first and second components with a global positioning system of the portable information handling system.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the service information comprises communications to determine an IP address of the first component.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the service information comprises a replacement component for replacing the first component, the replacement component compatible with the second component.