Self-configuring computer system
First Claim
1. A self-configuring data processing system comprising a processor unit, at least one mass-storage disk and a video display, the system comprising:
- a. a first set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of an operating system on a different hardware platform;
b. a second set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of video displays;
c. a third set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of hardware accessories;
d. an interrogation module for interrogating the system to determine parameters associated with at least one disk, the video display and system accessories; and
e. a startup module for permanently designating a subset of each of the first, second and third sets of discrete files for automatic selection each time the processor is actuated based on the interrogation, the startup module establishing the size of at least one disk based on the disk parameters determined by the interrogation module and creating at least one logical drive including uncompressed disk files and a compressed volume file to facilitate disk compression.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self configuring computer system, which configures and loads appropriate software to support custom configurations without manual intervention by the user or the manufacturer, is disclosed. The invention includes an "interrogation" module, stored on a system disk and loaded when the computer is first activated, that scans the system for components requiring specific software to operate. The interrogation module obtains identification data from these components and, based thereon, enables a startup module to select the appropriate software from a series of disk-based files. The startup module also executes configuration software having a characteristic naming pattern when the system is first activated, performs various one-time setup or configuration operations on at least the main system disk to render it compatible with the operating system, and selects the proper version of the operating system for the purchased system.
166 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A self-configuring data processing system comprising a processor unit, at least one mass-storage disk and a video display, the system comprising:
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a. a first set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of an operating system on a different hardware platform; b. a second set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of video displays; c. a third set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of hardware accessories; d. an interrogation module for interrogating the system to determine parameters associated with at least one disk, the video display and system accessories; and e. a startup module for permanently designating a subset of each of the first, second and third sets of discrete files for automatic selection each time the processor is actuated based on the interrogation, the startup module establishing the size of at least one disk based on the disk parameters determined by the interrogation module and creating at least one logical drive including uncompressed disk files and a compressed volume file to facilitate disk compression. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self-configuring data processing system comprising:
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a. a processor unit; b. at least one mass-storage disk; c. a video display; d. a position-sensing device; e. a keyboard; f. a first set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of an operating system on a different hardware platform; g. a second set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of video displays; h. a third set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk, each file containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of hardware accessories; i. an operating system; j. an interrogation module for interrogating, in cooperation with the operating system, the data-processing system to determine parameters associated with at least one disk, the video display and system accessories; and k. a startup module for permanently designating, in cooperation with the operating system, a subset of each of the first, second and third sets of discrete files for automatic selection each time the processor is actuated based on the interrogation, the startup module establishing the size of at least one disk based on the disk parameters determined by the interrogation module and creating at least one logical drive including uncompressed disk files and a compressed volume file to facilitate disk compression.
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14. A self-configuring data processing system comprising a processor unit, at least one mass-storage disk and a video display, the system comprising:
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a. a set of discrete files electronically stored on a disk; b. an interrogation module for interrogating the system to determine parameters associated with at least one disk, the video display and system accessories; and c. a startup module for permanently designating subsets of the discrete files for automatic selection each time the processor is actuated based on the interrogation, the file subsets each containing processor instructions for operating one of the disk, the video display and the system accessories identified by the interrogation module, the file subsets being designated to a startup file and the startup module erasing undesignated files from the set of discrete files. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of causing a dam processing system comprising a processor unit, at least one mass-storage disk and a video display to configure itself upon startup, the method comprising:
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a. electronically storing sets of discrete files on a disk, a first set of files containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of an operating system on a different hardware platform, a second set of files containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of video displays, and a third set of containing processor instructions capable of directing the operation of a plurality of hardware accessories; b. interrogating the system to determine parameters associated with at least one disk, the video display and system accessories; and c. permanently designating subsets of the discrete files for automatic selection each time the processor is actuated based on the interrogation, the file subsets each containing processor instructions for one of the operating the disk, the video display and the system accessories identified by the interrogation module; and d. erasing undesignated files in at least one of the first, second and third sets of files. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification