Method and system for manufacturing and servicing a computing product with the assistance of a wireless communication subsystem attached to a peripheral port

• US 6,865,436 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Clint H., Liao, Reynold L., Broder, Damon W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz-Rodriguez, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/702,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 700/95, 700/98, 700/117, 700/2, 700/3, 700/9, 700/65, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 717/167, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173, 717/174, 717/175, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178
• US Class Current: 700/117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31316 Output test result report after testing, inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31317 Outputs delivery ordersheet, relating to finished products, to packing cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A wireless access subsystem is first attached to a peripheral port of a computing product. The computing product is further assembled with other components and goes through various testing processes while being tracked and monitored by a manufacturing control server through wireless communications with the wireless access subsystem. The wireless access subsystem has a separate power supplier incorporated therein and operates independently from the computing product.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a computing product, the method comprising:

attaching a wireless access subsystem to the computing product;

powering up and testing the computing product;

suspending the computing product to a wake-up mode;

boxing the computing product for shipment to an end user with the wireless access subsystem attached;

moving the boxed computing product to a configuration area;

sending a wake-up signal to the boxed computing product;

installing software on the boxed computing product by using the attached wireless access subsystem to send software to the computing product from a host;

customizing the computing product by using the attached wireless access subsystem to configure the software in the computing product in response to configuration information from the host; and

powering down the computing product until awakened after receipt by the end user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless access subsystem has a separate power supply incorporated therein and operates independently from the computing product.

3. The method of claim 1 including detaching the wireless access subsystem after the computing product is completely manufactured.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the software includes an operating system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the software includes user application software.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the software includes driver software.

7. The method of claim 3 including reusing the wireless access subsystem in the configuration of another computing product.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless access subsystem is attached to a peripheral port of the computing product.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless access subsystem includes a memory for storing the configuration information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless access subsystem is a device conforming to the Bluetooth standard.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless access subsystem is a device conforming to the 802.11 standard.

12. A method of configuring a computing product comprising:

receiving, by a distributor, a boxed computing product on which software is installed;

sending a wake-up signal to the boxed computing product;

customizing, by a distributor, the boxed computing product by using a wireless access subsystem attached to the computing product to configure the software in the computing product for an end user in response to configuration information from a host; and

powering down the computer product until awakened after receipt by the end user.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the wireless access subsystem has a separate power supply incorporated therein and operates independently from the computing product.

14. The method of claim 12 including detaching the wireless access subsystem after the computing product is configured.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the software includes an operating system.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the software includes user application software.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the software includes driver software.

18. The method of claim 14 including reusing the wireless access subsystem in the configuration of another computing product.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the wireless access subsystem is attached to a peripheral port of the computing product.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the wireless access subsystem includes a memory for storing the configuration information.