System and method for statistical file preload for factory installed software in a computer

• US 6,549,914 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Valys, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US09/572,479
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/7, 707/10, 707/104.1, 345/968, 717/174, 717/175, 717/177, 717/178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A method for statistical file preload of an image in a computer system is disclosed. The method includes statistically analyzing a bandwidth requirement of computer readable files to be downloaded to a target computer during a software download portion of a computer manufacturing process. The files are ordered into an ordered list of files as a function of the analyzed bandwidth requirements. Lastly, files from the ordered list of files are selected for inclusion in a preload image as a function of a prescribed manufacturing criteria.

Claims

1. A system apparatus comprising:

a storage device;

means for generating a system descriptor record;

means for assembling hardware in accordance with the system descriptor record, the storage device having a statistical file preload image including a list of files identified by file names and corresponding signatures;

means for statistically analyzing a bandwidth requirement of computer readable files to be downloaded to a target computer during a software download portion of a computer manufacturing process;

means for ordering the files into an ordered list of files as a function of the analyzed bandwidth requirements;

means for selecting files from the ordered list of files for inclusion in the preload image as a function of a prescribed manufacturing criteria;

a difference image downloaded to the storage device, the difference image being a function of the difference between an image of software in accordance with the system descriptor record and the preload image; and

means for combining the difference image with the preload image according to recomposition instructions for installing a resultant image on the storage device of the system.

2. A computer comprising:

a processor; and

a storage accessible by said processor, said storage including a statistical file preload image, the statistical file preload image formed by a process of;

a.) statistically analyzing a bandwidth requirement of computer readable files to be downloaded to a target computer during a software download portion of a computer manufacturing process,

b.) ordering the files into an ordered list of files as a function of the analyzed bandwidth requirements, and

c.) selecting files from the ordered list of files for inclusion in the preload image as a function of a prescribed manufacturing criteria;

means for downloading a difference image to the storage, the downloaded image being a function of the difference between an image of software in accordance with the system descriptor record and the preload image; and

means for combining the downloaded image with the preload image according to recomposition instructions for installing a resultant image on the storage device of the computer system.

3. A manufacturing method for producing a computer system comprising:

obtaining an order;

generating a system descriptor record in response to the order;

assembling hardware in accordance with the system descriptor record, the hardware including a storage device, the storage device having a statistical file preload image including a list of files, the list of files identified by file names and corresponding signatures, the statistical file preload image including an image formed by a process of;

a.) statistically analyzing a bandwidth requirement of computer readable files to be downloaded to a target computer during a software download portion of a computer manufacturing process,

b.) ordering the files into an ordered list of files as a function of the analyzed bandwidth requirements, and

c.) selecting files from the ordered list of files for inclusion in the preload image as a function of a prescribed manufacturing criteria;

downloading a difference image to the storage device, the downloaded image being a function of the difference between an image of software in accordance with the system descriptor record and the preload image; and

combining the downloaded image with the preload image according to recomposition instructions for installing a resultant image on the storage device of the computer system.

4. A system for manufacturing a computer comprising:

a front end processor for obtaining an order, the front end processor generating build instructions and a system descriptor record in response to the order;

download prep means for preparing a download image and recomposition instructions as a function of the system descriptor record, files, preload image signatures, and part number signatures;

means for assembling hardware components according to the build instructions, the hardware components including a storage device having a preload image thereon, the preload image including a statistical file preload image including a list of files, the list of files identified by file names and corresponding signatures, the statistical file preload image including an image formed by a process of;

a.) statistically analyzing a bandwidth requirement of computer readable files to be downloaded to a target computer during a software download portion of a computer manufacturing process,

b.) ordering the files into an ordered list of files as a function of the analyzed bandwidth requirements, and

c.) selecting files from the ordered list of files for inclusion in the preload image as a function of a prescribed manufacturing criteria;

means for downloading a difference image to the storage device, the downloaded image being a function of the difference between an image of software in accordance with the system descriptor record and the preload image;

software vendor package decomposition means for decomposing at least one install application from a software vendor and generating at least one file and part number signature for a corresponding install application; and

a signature database of part number signatures and preload image signatures.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

means for combining the downloaded image with the preload image according to re-composition instructions for installing a resultant image on the storage device of the computer.