Computer manufacturing with smart configuration methods
First Claim
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1. A process for manufacturing computer systems with pre-installed software, comprising the steps of repeatedly:
- (a.) selecting a hardware and software configuration;
(b.) storing a list corresponding to said configuration;
(c.) assembling hardware components according to said list;
(d.) translating said list using an automatic inference procedure into a list of software components to be downloaded onto a computer system, wherein said automatic inference translating is performed according to a rules database separately stored from a software-loading-system; and
(e.) downloading software components from the software-loading-system according to said software component list, to create a predetermined software configuration on an assembled computer system.
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Abstract
A system of computer manufacturing with pre-installation of software which utilizes a software selection process controlled by a rules database to determine the proper software components to be pre-installed onto an assembled computer or hard drive. Additionally, the rules base determines the appropriate diagnostic and set-up software components to be installed in order to ensure a system that is ready-to-run upon receipt by a purchaser.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A process for manufacturing computer systems with pre-installed software, comprising the steps of repeatedly:
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(a.) selecting a hardware and software configuration;
(b.) storing a list corresponding to said configuration;
(c.) assembling hardware components according to said list;
(d.) translating said list using an automatic inference procedure into a list of software components to be downloaded onto a computer system, wherein said automatic inference translating is performed according to a rules database separately stored from a software-loading-system; and
(e.) downloading software components from the software-loading-system according to said software component list, to create a predetermined software configuration on an assembled computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for manufacturing computer systems with pre-installed software, comprising the steps of repeatedly:
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(a.) selecting a hardware and software configuration;
(b.) storing a list corresponding to said configuration;
(c.) assembling hardware components according to said list;
(d.) storing unique identification numbers for each hardware component;
(e.) storing a unique identification number for the operating system, if selected;
(f.) translating said list using an automatic inference procedure into a list of software components to be downloaded onto a computer system, wherein said automatic inference translating is accomplished according to a set of rules in a rules database stored separately from a software-downloading-system; and
(g.) downloading software components from a software-loading-system according to said software component list, to create a predetermined software configuration on an assembled computer system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for manufacturing computer systems with pre-installed software, comprising:
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(a.) a stored hardware and software configuration list;
(b.) a computer system assembled according to said list;
(c.) a program which translates said list using an automatic inference procedure into a list of software components to be downloaded onto said computer system, wherein said program translates said list using a set of rules stored separately from a software-loading-system; and
(d.) said software-loading-system downloads said software components according to said software component list, to create a predetermined software configuration on said computer system. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
(a.) unique identification numbers for each hardware component; and
(b.) a unique identification number for the operating system selected.
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33. The system of claim 31, wherein said hardware configuration list is created by scanning hardware part numbers.
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34. The system of claim 31, wherein said downloaded software components create a predetermined software configuration and also a self-test and software set-up environment on said system which is customized for the particular software configuration.
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35. The system of claim 31, wherein tags are used by said inference procedure to associate said hardware and software configuration with a set of rules.
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36. The system of claim 31, wherein said software component list is dependent on said hardware configuration.
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37. The system of claim 31, wherein said software component list is dependent on a language preference selection.
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38. The system of claim 31, wherein said software component list is dependent on an operating system preference selection.
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39. The system of claim 31, wherein said software component list includes diagnostic software.
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40. The system of claim 31, wherein said software component list includes set-up routines which are dependent on said hardware and software configuration.
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41. The system of claim 31, further comprising a database to store set of rules used by said inference procedure to translate said list.
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42. The system of claim 31, further comprising a database to store said hardware configuration and said software component list.
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43. The system of claim 31, further comprising a database to store hardware and software configurations not provided by a manufacturer which are installed on said assembled computer system.
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44. The system of claim 31, wherein said inference procedure translates said list by associating a language selection with software selections.
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45. The system of claim 31, wherein said inference procedure translates said list by associating a hardware selection with software selections.
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46. The system of claim 31, wherein said inference procedure translates said list by associating a software selection with software selections.
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47. A database structure for managing a software selection rules base in a computer manufacturing environment, comprising:
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a first data association including a key uniquely identifying software or hardware part information contained in said database;
a second data association including a key uniquely identifying model information contained in said database;
a third data association including a key uniquely identifying software configuration rules contained in said database;
a fourth data association including a key associating said part information to its appropriate rule;
wherein a many-to-one relationship exist between said first and second data associations;
wherein a many-to-one relationship exist between said fourth and first data associations; and
wherein a many-to-many relationship exist between said third and fourth associations;
wherein said first, second, third, and fourth associations define the rules base to be used in the selection of software, software set-up routines, and software and hardware diagnostics to be installed in computers in a manufacturing environment. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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Specification