System and method for device configuration and management using a universal serial bus port

• US 6,895,499 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP A Texas Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Frazier, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US09/473,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 709/221, 709/224, 709/228, 710/8
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method and system for configuring and managing devices including network devices, such as a server computer, is provided in which a computer (24) is coupled to the network device through a USB connection (22). After the computer (24) recognizes the device as a USB-compliant device, the computer establishes data communication with the device. Following the establishment of data communication according to the USB standard, the device can be configured or monitored through the computer.

Claims

1. A method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of a computer network, comprising the steps of:

coupling a communications link between the headless computer and a configuration computer, the communications link coupled at a USB port of each of the headless computer and the configuration computer, wherein the headless computer comprises a computer that does not include a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and video card;

establishing data communication between the headless computer and the configuration computer through the communications link coupled between the USB ports of the headless computer and configuration computer; and

communicating data between the headless computer and the configuration computer to configure the software of the headless computer.

2. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing data communication between the headless computer and the configuration computer comprises the steps of,

transmitting from the configuration computer to the headless computer a query concerning the identity of the headless computer;

and

receiving from the headless computer data indicative of the identity of the headless computer.

3. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 2, further comprising the step of determining at the configuration computer whether the headless computer is a USB-compliant device.

4. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 3, further comprising the step of performing a configuration routine at the configuration computer on the basis of the identity of the headless computer to permit the configuration computer to communicate with the headless computer if the headless computer is determined to be USB-compliant.

5. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 4, further comprising the step of initiating configuration application software at the configuration computer.

6. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 5, further comprising the steps of communicating between the configuration computer and the headless computer to cause the headless computer to initiate configuration application software at the configuration computer to permit data communication between the configuration computer and the headless computer.

7. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 1, wherein the configuration computer is a portable computer.

8. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 1, wherein the configuration computer is a palmtop computer.

9. The method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 1, wherein the headless computer is a server computer.

10. A method for configuring the software of a headless, USB-compliant computer, the headless computer having the ability to transmit data according to a data transmission protocol that accommodates hot-swapping of peripherals and automatic identification of peripherals capability, comprising:

coupling a communications link between the headless computer and a configuration computer, the communications link coupled at a USB port of each of the headless computer and the configuration computer, the port having the capability of transmitting data according to the data transmission protocol, wherein the headless computer comprises a computer that does not include a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and video card;

establishing data communication between the headless computer and the configuration computer through communications link and the ports of the headless computer and the configuration computer; and

communicating data between the headless computer and the configuration computer to configure the software of the headless computer.

11. The method for configuring the software of the headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 10, wherein the step of establishing data communication between the headless computer and the configuration computer comprises the steps of:

transmitting data from the configuration computer to the headless computer a query concerning the identity of the headless computer; and

receiving from the headless computer data indicative of the identity of the headless computer.

12. The method for configuring the software of the headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 11, further comprising the step of determining at the configuration computer whether the headless computer has the ability to transmit data according to the data transmission protocol.

13. The method for configuring the software of the headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 11, further comprising the step of performing a configuration routine at the configuration computer on the basis of the identity of the headless computer to permit the configuration computer to communicate with the headless computer if the headless computer is determined to have the ability to transmit data according to the data transmission protocol.

14. The method for configuring the software of the headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 13, further comprising the step of initiating configuration application software at the configuration computer.

15. The method for configuring the software of the headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 14, further comprising the steps of communicating between the configuration computer and the headless computer to cause the headless computer to initiate configuration application software at the configuration computer to permit data communication between the configuration computer and the headless computer using a graphical user interface.

16. The method for configuring the software of the headless, USB-compliant computer of claim 10, wherein the headless computer is a server computer.