Apparatus and method for checking component compatibility in a build to order computer system

• US 6,735,757 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: OʼNeal, Frank W. IV, Kroening, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Starks, Jr., Wilbert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOKER, KELVIN
• Application Number:
  US09/735,152
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 717/175, 717/178, 717/100, 717/120, 717/170, 717/121, 717/122, 717/101, 717/168, 345/721, 361/692, 361/702, 361/756, 361/759, 700/95, 700/83, 700/79, 700/242, 700/241, 700/117, 700/116, 700/114, 700/112, 707/203
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4418 Suspend and resume; Hibernate and awake

Abstract

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for checking component compatibility during the manufacture and installation of a build to order computer system. When components are selected to manufacture the computer, each component may be included in a database that may indicate the revision number of the component and whether the component has any compatibility conflicts with other components. The system may select the latest revision of a component that does not have compatibility conflicts with other components utilized in the computer system. Further, the apparatus and method of the present invention may check new revisions of a component to verify whether a compatibility conflict present in earlier revisions still exists and may update the database when additional compatibility conflicts are identified.

Claims

1. A system for generating a custom component configuration for a computer, comprising:

(a) a component library, said component library including a set of components utilized in manufacturing a computer, said component library including a compatibility property and a revision property for a member of said set of components; and

a step library, said step library including a set of installation and testing instructions suitable for generating a custom component configuration for said computer, wherein said system is capable of analyzing a desired custom component configuration and selecting at least one component necessary for manufacturing said desired custom component configuration from said set of components, said at least one component being the latest revision that does not have a compatibility conflict with an additional component in said custom component configuration by analyzing said compatibility property and said revision property of said at least one component and said additional component, wherein said compatibility property of said component library is updated when compatibility conflicts are identified.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said component library and said step library are included within a database.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said revision property signals at least one of version and revision of said member of said set of components.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compatibility property identifies whether said member of said set of components has a compatibility conflict with said additional component.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a new revision of said member of said set of components is automatically tested for conflicts present in earlier revisions of said component.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one component is not installed when all revisions of said at least one component have a compatibility conflict with said additional component in said custom component configuration.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is capable of selecting a similar component when said at least one component has a compatibility conflict with said additional component in said custom component configuration.

8. A computer implemented method of generating a custom component configuration for a computer, comprising:

(a) analyzing a custom component configuration as selected by a customer;

(b) identifying at least one component necessary to generate said custom component configuration to be included within said computer, said at least one component having a compatibility property and a revision property;

(c) identifying installation and testing steps associated with said at least one component;

(d) selecting the latest revision of said at least one component that does not have a compatibility conflict with an additional component to be included within said custom component configuration by analyzing said compatibility property and said revision property of said at least one component;

(e) installing said at least one component when said at least one component does not have a compatibility conflict with said additional component, and

(f) updating said compatibility property of said at least one component when additional compatibility conflicts are identified.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said revision property signals at least one of version and revision of said at least one component.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said compatibility property identifies whether said at least one component has a compatibility conflict with said additional component.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of automatically testing for compatibility conflicts present in earlier revisions of said at least one component when a new revision of said at least one component is available.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of selecting a similar component when said at least one component has a compatibility conflict with said additional component in said custom component configuration.

13. A system for generating a custom component configuration for a computer, comprising:

(a) means for organizing a list of components available for use in manufacturing a computer;

(b) means for organizing a list of steps, said list of steps including a set of installation and testing instructions suitable for generating a custom component configuration for said computer; and

(c) means for selecting a component for installation of said custom component configuration;

said selecting means including;

a compatibility property associated with said component; and

a revision property associated with said component;

wherein a component is selected by analyzing said means for organizing a list of components to find a compatible component to install into said computer system,

said component being the latest revision of said component that does not have a compatibility conflict with an additional component in said custom component configuration, said compatibility property being updated when additional compatibility conflicts are identified.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for organizing a list of components and said means for organizing a list of steps are included within a database.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said revision property signals at least one of version and revision of said component.

16. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said compatibility property identifies whether said component has a compatibility conflict with said additional component.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a new revision of said component is automatically tested for conflicts present in earlier revisions of said component.

18. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said component is not installed when all revisions of said component have a compatibility conflict with said additional component in said custom component configuration.

19. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said system is capable of selecting a similar component when said component has a compatibility conflict with said additional component in said custom component configuration.