Method for internal mechanical component configuration detection
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a mechanical component configuration in a computer system, the method comprising:
- encoding a mechanical component;
identifying an attribute of the mechanical component via the encoding; and
providing the attribute to detection logic located on a system board, the detection logic providing the attribute to a configuration diagnostic system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting a mechanical component and thereby verify any warranty covering the mechanical component includes encoding a mechanical component, identifying an attribute of the mechanical component via the encoding, providing the attribute to detection logic located on a system board, the detection logic providing the attribute to a configuration diagnostic system. A method of detecting warranty violations further includes providing a mechanical component with a unique identifier and transmitting identifying data to diagnostic software that includes a log or marker capable of detecting and logging changes in the mechanical component. The method further includes transmitting the data identifying the change in the mechanical component via a network connection to warranty verification software. A computer system includes a processor coupled to a bus, at least one memory coupled to the bus, a plurality of input/output devices coupled to the bus, an operating system stored in memory, and a mechanical component encoded to identify an attribute of the mechanical component via the encoding. The computer system includes a system board including detection logic that provides the attribute to a configuration diagnostic system.
29 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a mechanical component configuration in a computer system, the method comprising:
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encoding a mechanical component;
identifying an attribute of the mechanical component via the encoding; and
providing the attribute to detection logic located on a system board, the detection logic providing the attribute to a configuration diagnostic system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
placing an activating member on the mechanical component, wherein the activating member activates a switch in the computer system, the configuration of the activating member identifying the attribute of the mechanical component.
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3. The method of claim 2 wherein the switch is operably coupled to the detection logic.
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4. The method of claim 2 wherein the activating member includes a series of tabs, the series of tabs that uniquely identify the attribute of the mechanical component.
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5. The method of claim 4 wherein the series of tabs are arranged in one of a plurality of predetermined patterns, each of the patterns of the predetermined patterns identifying an attribute of the mechanical component.
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6. The method of claim 2 wherein the activating member includes a conductive member, the conductive member uniquely identifying the attribute of the mechanical component upon conductive coupling with the switch.
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7. The method of claim 6 wherein the conductive member includes conductive ink placed on the mechanical component in a unique pattern, the conductive ink adapted to contact the switch via at least one spring member on the system board, the unique pattern identifying the attribute.
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8. The method of claim 2 wherein the activating member includes an optically readable code.
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9. The method of claim 8 wherein the optically readable code is a bar code.
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10. A method for verifying warranty data of a computer system, the method comprising:
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encoding a mechanical component;
identifying an attribute of the mechanical component via the encoding;
providing the attribute to detection logic located on a system board, the detection logic providing the attribute to diagnostic software;
the diagnostic software identifying any change in the mechanical component via changes in the encoding, the diagnostic software logging the changes; and
transmitting the logged changes in the mechanical component via a network connection. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 24, 25)
reading the logged changes by warranty verification software via the network connection.
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13. The method of claim 10 wherein the mechanical component is one of a plurality of mechanical components with encoded attributes.
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24. The method of claim 10 wherein the mechanical component is of a type of a plurality of types that may be utilized in the computer system;
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wherein the attribute is an identification of the type with respect to the plurality of types;
wherein the identifying any changes in the mechanical component includes identifying whether the type of the mechanical component is a type that is specified for the computer system.
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25. The method of claim 24 wherein the type includes at least a portion of the mechanical component being of a particular color, wherein each type of the plurality includes at the least a portion of the mechanical component being of a color different from that of the other types of the plurality.
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14. A computer system comprising:
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a processor coupled to a bus;
at least one memory coupled to the bus;
a plurality of input/output devices coupled to the bus; and
an operating system stored in memory;
a mechanical component encoded to identify an attribute of the mechanical component via the encoding; and
a system board including detection logic that provides the attribute to a configuration diagnostic system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
an activating member on the mechanical component, wherein the activating member activates a switch in the computer system, the configuration of the activating member identifying the attribute of the mechanical component.
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16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the configuration of the switch identifies the attribute, the switch being operably coupled to the detection logic.
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17. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the switch is operably coupled to the detection logic.
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18. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the activating member includes a series of tabs, the series of tabs uniquely identifying the attribute of the mechanical component.
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19. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the series of tabs are arranged in one of a plurality of predetermined patterns, each of the patterns of the predetermined patterns identifying an attribute of the mechanical component.
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20. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the activating member includes a conductive member, the conductive member uniquely identifying the attribute of the mechanical component upon conductive coupling with the switch.
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21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein the conductive member includes conductive ink placed on the mechanical component in a unique pattern, the conductive ink adapted to contact the switch via at least one spring member on the system board, the unique pattern identifying the attribute.
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22. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the activating member includes an optically readable code.
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23. The computer system of claim 22 wherein the optically readable code is a bar code.
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26. A method comprising:
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identifying by a computer system an attribute of a mechanical component of the computer system that was encoded into the mechanical component, comparing by the computer system the attribute of the mechanical component with a previously stored attribute for the mechanical component. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
logging any difference between the identified attribute and the previously stored attribute.
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28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:
transmitting the logged difference to a second computer system.
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29. The method of claim 28 wherein the difference is transmitted to the second computer system via a network.
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30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:
determining whether a warranty agreement for the computer system has been violated based on the logged difference.
Specification