System and method for installing software onto a built-to-order computer system using an identification device

• US 7,159,018 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Hyden, William P., Amro, Hatim Y., Romohr, Steven D., Nadon, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, ASHOKKUMAR B
• Application Number:
  US09/921,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,979 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/222, 709/220, 717168-178, 713/1, 713/2, 700/1, 700/65, 700/96, 700/97, 700/95, 700/117
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A system including a server, a computer system, and a device coupled to a port of the computer system is provided. The server includes a script associated with an identifier. The device includes the identifier. The computer system is configured to read the identifier from the device, provide the identifier to the server, and cause a script associated with the identifier to be executed to cause one or more software components to be installed onto the computer system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a system BIOS;

a server including a script associated with a dongle based identification device, an identifier and order information;

a computer system coupled to the server and including a port;

the dongle based identification device coupled to the port, the dongle based device including the identifier;

the computer system configured to;

in response to being powered up, boot by executing instructions from the BIOS;

read the identifier from the dongle based device;

provide the identifier to the server;

in response to receiving the identifier, the server causing the identifier to be matched with the order information and the script; and

cause the script associated with the identifier to be executed to cause one or more software components to be installed onto the computer system; and

the identifier being removed from the computer system along with the dongle based identification device and returned to a pool of identification devices for reuse.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to cause the script to be executed on the computer system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to cause the script to be executed on the server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the server includes the one or more software components.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the order information includes a list of software components to be installed onto the computer system, and wherein the list includes the one or more software components.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the script is configured to detect the one or more software components to be installed using the list.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the port comprises a serial port.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the port comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a programmable device.

10. A method comprising:

providing a computer system including a system BIOS;

providing a server including a script associated with a dongle based identification device, an identifier and order information;

coupling the dongle based identification device to the port, the dongle based device including the identifier;

configuring the computer system to;

in response to being powered up, boot by executing instructions from the BIOS;

read the identifier from the dongle based device;

provide the identifier to the server;

in response to receiving the identifier, the server causing the identifier to be matched with the order information and the script; and

cause the script associated with the identifier to be executed to cause one or more software components to be installed into the computer system; and

removing the identifier from the computer system along with the dongle based identification device and returned to a pool of identification devices for reuse.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

executing the script on the computer system.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

executing the script on the server.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving the one or more software components from the server prior to the one or more software components being installed onto the computer system.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the script comprises:

detecting order information associated with the computer system on the server.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein executing the script comprises:

accessing a list of software components to be installed onto the computer system from the order information, the list including the one or more software components.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein executing the script comprises:

causing the one or more software components to be installed onto the computer system in response to detecting the one or more software components from the list.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

reading the identifier from the device coupled to the port of a computer system, the port comprising a serial port.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

reading the identifier from the device coupled to the port of a computer system, the port comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

reading the identifier from the device coupled to the port of a computer system, the device comprising a programmable device.