Method and system for configuring a computer system via a wireless communication link

• US 7,149,884 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Broder, Damon W., O'Connor, Clint H., Liao, Reynold L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DU, THUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/770,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/100, 700/108, 700/112, 700/116, 700/117, 700/95, 455/419, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A computing product is first assembled according to a predetermined hardware configuration and placed in a shipping container thus providing a containerized computer system. The computing product has a wireless communication subsystem for wirelessly receiving configuration information. The containerized computer system is fully configured before shipping the computer system to a predetermined customer by exchanging information between the wireless communication subsystem and a wireless information network in the manufacturing facility.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a computing product comprising:

placing an assembled computing product in a shipping container to provide a containerized computing product;

transmitting configuration information to the assembled computing product via a wireless communication connection;

receiving the configuration information by the assembled computing product;

configuring the containerized computing product with the received configuration information, via the wireless configuration information; and

providing information to a wireless information network to track, monitor and confirm work in progress until manufacturing is completed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration information is hardware configuration information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration information is software configuration information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting configuration information further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting driver information for peripheral devices to the assembled computing product.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting configuration information further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting operating system configuration information to the assembled computing product.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting configuration information further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting application software configuration information to the assembled computing product.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting application software to the assembled computing product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the application software is selected by a predetermined customer.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the application software configuration is defined by a predetermined customer.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the application software configuration is defined by a customer'"'"'s service provider.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified hardware configuration in the assembling is a customer selected configuration.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing product is a battery powered portable computer system.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

confirming the computing product is appropriately configured subsequent to the configuring.

14. A method of manufacturing a battery-powered portable computer system, the computer system having a wireless communication subsystem, the method comprising:

assembling a computer system according to a selected hardware configuration;

placing the computer system in a shipping container thus providing a containerized computer system;

transmitting configuration information to the containerized computer system;

receiving the configuration information by the containerized computer system through the wireless communication subsystem;

configuring the containerized computer system according to the configuration information; and

providing information to a wireless information network to track, monitor and confirm work in progress until manufacturing is completed.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

putting the containerized computer system into a standby state prior to placing the computer system in the shipping container.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

waking up the computer from the stand by state prior to the transmitting.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

putting the containerized computer system into a power down state subsequent to the configuring.

18. A method of configuring a computer system, the computer system having a wireless communication subsystem, the method comprising:

assembling a computer system according to a predetermined hardware configuration;

placing the computer system in a shipping container thus providing a containerized computer system; and

completing software configuration of the containerized computer system before shipping the computer system to a predetermined customer by exchanging information between the wireless communication subsystem and a wireless information network, wherein the information includes information used to track, monitor and confirm work in progress until manufacturing is completed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the completing further comprises:

transmitting configuration information through the wireless information network to the containerized computer system; and

receiving the configuration information by the containerized computer system through the wireless communication subsystem.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

configuring the containerized computer system according to the received configuration information before shipping the computer system.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

configuring the containerized computer system when the computer system is first turned on by the customer.