Maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems

• US 7,454,606 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Incharge Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Incharge Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Marquiz, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Du; Thuan N
• Application Number:
  US11/138,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 713/1, 713/100, 714/23, 714/31, 714/36, 714/46, 714/4, 714/38
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A software and hardware driven CRASH REPAIR BOX allows a local computer to be diagnosed and repaired from a remote computer location. The CRASH REPAIR BOX is particularly useful in situations where the local host computer has failed to properly BOOT. Using a memory and memory controller, software for a particular user platform, such as WINDOWS XP™ or WINDOWS 2000™, will be loaded from the remote computer into the CRASH REPAIR BOX and stored in the memory. The BIOS in the local host computer is then reconfigured to BOOT from the memory in the CRASH REPAIR BOX. Thus, utilizing the platform software stored in the memory of the CRASH REPAIR BOX, the local host computer will be able to properly and fully BOOT. Once the local host computer is able to fully BOOT from the software stored in the memory, further diagnostics and repairs can then be conducted.

Claims

1. A maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems, the maintenance device comprising:

a. an internal functional operations comprising a Broadcom capability means, a network card, an auto dialer, a VOIP means, a button, a memory, a memory controller, a microphone, and a speaker, the auto dialer configured to dial a specific remote IP address, the VOIP means initiated by the button and operationally connected to a speaker from which a user may hear a responding technician'"'"'s communications and a microphone through which a user may communicate with a responding technician, the memory also storing a custom programmed user platform matching that of the failed computer'"'"'s user platform, the memory controller controlling read/write operations to and from the memory, the microphone operationally connected to the internal functional operations, and the speaker operationally connected to the internal functional operations;

b. the custom programming of the user platform in the memory enabling the maintenance device to be compatible with multiple operating systems;

c. the connection of the maintenance device to a computer system being external from a computer, and lying connectively between the computer and external accessories of a computer comprising a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse of a computer, and enabling the maintenance device to be operationally capturing information passing between the computer and the external accessories, operationally controlling the computer and the external accessories by remote access, and operationally allowing the diagnosis and repair of the failed computer system;

d. a housing retaining the internal functional operations, and having an USB cable, an area for a microphone, an area for a speaker, an area for a button connected to the VOIP means, and at least one port, the USB cable operatively connecting the internal functional operations to a USB port of a computer, the at least one port receiving the connection cord of an external computer accessory and operationally connecting the external computer accessory to the internal functional operations; and

e. a power supply means.

2. The maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems in accordance with claim 1, wherein the maintenance device becomes operational only when initiated by a user of the failed computer system through use of the button.

3. A maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems, the maintenance device comprising:

a. an internal functional operations comprising a Broadcom capability means, a network card, an auto dialer, a memory, a memory controller, the auto dialer configured to dial a specific remote IP address, the memory also storing a custom programmed user platform matching that of the failed computer'"'"'s user platform, the memory controller controlling read/write operations to and from the memory;

b. the custom programming of the user platform in the memory enabling the maintenance device to be compatible with multiple operating systems;

c. the connection of the maintenance device to a computer system being external from a computer and lying connectively between the computer and external accessories of a computer comprising a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse of a computer, and enabling the maintenance device to be operationally capturing information passing between the computer and the external accessories, operationally controlling the computer and the external accessories by remote access, and operationally allowing the diagnosis and repair of the failed computer system;

d. a housing retaining the internal functional operations, and having a USB cable, an area for a button connected to a VOIP feature, and at least one port, the USB cable operatively connecting the internal functional operations to a USB port of a computer, the at least one port receiving the connection cord of an external computer accessory and operationally connecting the external computer accessory to the internal functional operations; and

e. a power supply means.

4. The maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems in accordance with claim 3, wherein the maintenance device has a button operatively connected to the internal functional operations and through which the maintenance device becomes operational only when initiated by a user of the failed computer system through use of the button.

5. The maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems in accordance with claim 3, wherein the internal functional operations include a VOIP means, a speaker, and a microphone, the VOIP means initiated by the button and operationally connected to the speaker from which a user may hear a responding technician'"'"'s communications and to the microphone through which a user may communicate with a responding technician, the microphone operationally connected to the internal functional operations, and the speaker operationally connected to the internal functional operations.

6. A maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems, the maintenance device comprising:

a. an internal functional operations comprising a Broadcom capability means, a network card, an auto dialer, a memory, a memory controller, the auto dialer configured to dial a specific remote IP address, the memory also storing a user platform matching that of the failed computer'"'"'s user platform, the memory controller controlling read/write operations to and from the memory;

b. the connection of the maintenance device to a computer system being external from a computer, and lying connectively between the computer and external accessories of a computer comprising a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse of a computer, and enabling the maintenance device to be operationally capturing information passing between the computer and the external accessories, operationally controlling the computer and the external accessories by remote access, and operationally allowing the diagnosis and repair of the failed computer system;

c. a housing retaining the internal functional operations, and having a USB cable, an area for a button connected to a VOIP feature, and at least one port, the USB cable operatively connecting the internal functional operations to a USB port of a computer, the at least one port receiving the connection cord of an external computer accessory and operationally connecting the external computer accessory to the internal functional operations; and

d. a power supply means.

7. The maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems in accordance with claim 6, wherein the maintenance device has a button operatively connected to the internal functional operations and through which the maintenance device becomes operational only when initiated by a user of the failed computer system through use of the button.

8. The maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems in accordance with claim 6, wherein the internal functional operations include a VOIP means, a speaker, and a microphone, the VOIP means initiated by the button and operationally connected to the speaker from which a user may hear a responding technician'"'"'s communications and to the microphone through which a user may communicate with a responding technician, the microphone operationally connected to the internal functional operations, and the speaker operationally connected to the internal functional operations.

9. The maintenance device for remotely accessing and repairing failed computer systems in accordance with claim 6, wherein the memory is not programmed with a specific user platform until purchase during which or after which the memory is custom programmed with a user platform to match the user platform of the failed computer and enabling the maintenance device to be compatible with multiple operating systems.