Dynamic Multidimensional Barcodes For Information Handling System Service Information

• US 20130071029A1
• 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, Bishnoi, Pankaj, Lawrence, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 8,746,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0766 Error or fault reporting or storing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/321 Display for diagnostics, e.g. diagnostic result display, self-test user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

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. An information handling system comprising:

a chassis;

plural processing components disposed in the chassis and operable to cooperate to process information;

diagnostics running on one or more of the processing components and operable to determine one or more fault codes, each fault code associated with a fault at the information handling system; and

a display interfaced with the diagnostics, the display operable to present the one or more fault codes as a multi-dimensional barcode.

2. The information handling of claim 1 wherein the display comprises an electronic paper display.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the display comprises an LED display.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the multi-dimensional barcode comprises a quick response code.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the chassis comprises plural slots, each slot operable to accept an information handling system module, the multi-dimensional barcode including a slot identifier of the slot having an information handling system module associated with the fault code.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the multi-dimensional barcode includes a network address for a network location that provides service for the information handling system.

7. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the multi-dimensional barcode includes a unique identifier of the information handling system.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 further comprising an application executing on a portable telephone having a wireless wide area network interface and a camera, the application operable to analyze an image of the multi-dimensional barcode captured by the camera to extract the network address and unique identifier and to contact the network address with the unique identifier to retrieve service information for the information handling system.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the service information comprises a video demonstrating a service operation at the information handling system.

10. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the service information comprises a telephone connection with a service center to discuss a service operation at the information handling system.

11. A method for servicing an information handling system, the method comprising:

presenting diagnostics information at a display associated with the information handling system, the diagnostics information embedded in a quick response code;

capturing an image of the quick response code with a portable telephone camera;

analyzing the image with the portable telephone to determine the diagnostics information at the portable telephone; and

applying the diagnostics information at the portable telephone to present service information at the portable telephone.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the display comprises an electronic paper display interfaced with diagnostics of the information handling system.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the display comprises an LED display interfaced with diagnostics of the information handling system.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the diagnostics information comprises a network address of a service network location and a unique identifier, and wherein applying the diagnostics information further comprises sending the unique identifier to the service network location to retrieve service information associated with the information handling system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the service information comprises warranty information of the information handling system.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the diagnostics information comprises a network address of a service network location and a diagnostics code, and wherein applying the diagnostics information further comprises sending the diagnostics code to the service network location to retrieve service information associated with the diagnostics code.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the service information comprises a video that demonstrates corrective action associated with the diagnostics code.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the diagnostics information comprises a telephone number for obtaining service information and the method further comprises automatically calling the telephone number with the portable telephone.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

executing diagnostics at the information handling system to generate a diagnostics code; and

including the diagnostics code in the diagnostics information.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the diagnostics information comprises a network address and a unique identifier, the method further comprising:

sending the unique identifier to the network address with the portable telephone; and

initiating remote diagnostics at the information handling system from the network address by reference to the unique identifier.