Data processing system and method for permitting a server to remotely access a powered-off client computer system's asset information

• US 6,381,636 B1
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sievert, Michael, Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard, Ward, James Peter, Ellison, Brandon Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/265,920
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/208-211
• US Class Current: 709/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3065 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in reporting the monitored data error or fault reporting or logging G06F11/0766

Abstract

A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to remotely access asset information stored within one of a plurality of client computer systems. The client computer systems are coupled to the server computer system utilizing a network. Asset information is stored in a storage device within the particular client computer system. The asset information includes information identifying a plurality of components of the client computer system. The server computer system transmits a message to the client computer system while the client computer system is powered-off. A network adapter is included within the client computer system. The network adapter accesses the storage device to obtain the asset information while the client computer system is powered-off.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for permitting a server computer system to remotely access asset information stored within one of a plurality of client computer systems, said one of a plurality of client computer systems being coupled to said server computer system utilizing a network, said method comprising the steps of:

storing said asset information in a constantly-powered storage device within said one of said plurality of client computer systems, said asset information including information identifying a plurality of components of said one of said plurality of client computer systems;

said server computer system transmitting a message to said one of said plurality of client computer systems while said one of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off to access said asset information from said storage device; and

a constantly-powered network adapter included within said one of said plurality of client computer systems in response to a receipt of said message accessing said storage device to obtain said asset information while said one of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of said network adapter transmitting said obtained asset information to said server computer system while said one of said client computer systems is powered-off.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of said server computer system transmitting said message to all of said plurality of client computer systems while each of said client computer systems is powered-off, wherein all of said plurality of client computer systems receive said message approximately simultaneously.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of in response to all of said plurality of client computer systems receiving said message, a network adapter included within each of said plurality of client computer systems accessing a storage device within each of said plurality of client computer systems to obtain asset information stored within said storage device while each of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of said network adapter included within each of said plurality of client computer systems transmitting said obtained asset information to said server computer system while each of said client computer systems is powered-off.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of supplying an auxiliary power to said constantly-powered storage device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of supplying an auxiliary power to said constantly-network adapter.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said asset information in a constantly-powered, electronically erasable memory storage device.

9. A data processing system for permitting a server computer system to remotely access asset information stored within one of a plurality of client computer systems, said one of a plurality of client computer systems being coupled to said server computer system utilizing a network, comprising:

a constantly-powered storage device within said one of said plurality of client computer systems for storing said asset information, said asset information including information identifying a plurality of components of said one of said plurality of client computer systems;

said server computer system executing code for transmitting a message to said one of said plurality of client computer systems while said one of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off to access said asset information from said storage device; and

a network adapter included within said one of said plurality of client computer systems in response to a receipt of said message, executing code for accessing said storage device to obtain said asset information while said one of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising said network adapter executing code for transmitting said obtained asset information to said server computer system while said one of said client computer systems is powered-off.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising said server computer system executing code for transmitting said message to all of said plurality of client computer systems while each of said client computer systems is powered-off, wherein all of said plurality of client computer systems receive said message approximately simultaneously.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising in response to all of said plurality of client computer systems receiving said message, a network adapter included within each of said plurality of client computer systems capable of accessing a storage device within each of said plurality of client computer systems to obtain asset information stored within said storage device while each of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising said network adapter included within each of said plurality of client computer systems executing code for transmitting said obtained asset information to said server computer system while each of said client computer systems is powered-off.

14. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a power supply for supplying an auxiliary power to said constantly-powered storage device.

15. The system according to claim 9, further comprising said power supply for supplying an auxiliary power to said constantly-network adapter.

16. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a constantly-powered, electronically erasable memory storage device for storing said asset information.

17. A data processing system for permitting a server computer system to remotely access asset information stored within one of a plurality of client computer systems, said one of a plurality of client computer systems being coupled to said server computer system utilizing a network, comprising:

a constantly-powered, electronically erasable memory storage device within said one of said plurality of client computer systems for storing said asset information, said asset information including information identifying a plurality of components of said one of said plurality of client computer systems;

said server computer system executing code for transmitting a message to said one of said plurality of client computer systems while said one of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off;

a constantly-powered network adapter included within said one of said plurality of client computer systems capable of accessing said storage device to obtain said asset information while said one of said plurality of client computer systems is powered-off;

said network adapter executing code for transmitting said obtained asset information to said server computer system while said one of said client computer systems is powered-off; and

a power supply for supplying an auxiliary power to said constantly-powered storage device and said constantly-powered network adapter.