Personalized software installation method for computer manufacturers

• US 7,610,583 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Milius, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, THUY CHAN
• Application Number:
  US10/127,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,744 Days
• Field of Search: 717/174, 717/105, 717/175, 717/171, 717/172, 717/177, 713/200, 713/2, 713/100, 715/744, 715/707
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a customized installation procedure to a consumer purchasing a build to order system. A particular consumer may provide personal information at a point of sale along with component selections for a build to order system. A manufacturer may assemble the personal information and selection list to generate a customized installation procedure for each consumer. The customized installation procedure may be placed upon a compact disk and may be inserted upon a first boot of a purchased build to order computer system. The customized installation procedure may provide a visual presentation on the complete installation of the computer system including software installation and connection of hardware components.

Claims

1. A method of generating a customized installation procedure for a build to order computer system, comprising:

(a) receiving a customer information set and an order for a build to order system, said customer information set including a user profile and a presentation format, said presentation format including a user-defined technical ability specified by a user, said order including a list of component selections made by the user, said list of component selections including at least three hardware components;

(b) producing a customized installation procedure based on said customer information set including the user profile and the presentation format and based on said order, said customized installation procedure including instructions for installation of said list of component selections; and

(c) transferring said customized installation procedure to a removable storage media, wherein said customized installation procedure is a visual presentation to aid said user in the installation of said computer system;

wherein the visual presentation of said customized installation procedure includes instructions for connecting said at least three hardware components, said visual presentation being configured to be displayed on a monitor of said computer system, and

wherein, the visual presentation of said customized installation procedure further includes at least one of larger font sizes, musical backgrounds, and personalized greetings that are selected based on the user profile and the presentation format included in said customer information set.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user profile includes at least one of age and sex.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said removable storage media includes at least one of a floppy disk, a digital versatile disk, and a compact disk.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said list of components includes the user'"'"'s selections for software, hardware, and peripherals.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

configuring said computer system to display on said monitor a prompt to insert said removable storage media.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said prompt is displayed in response to an initial boot of said computer system.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

shipping said computer system to the user;

wherein the initial boot of said computer system occurs after the shipping of said computer system to the user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said customized installation procedure includes a prompt to insert a compact disk containing a software application;

and

wherein said customized installation procedure includes instructions for connecting said at least three hardware components together.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user inputs indicating completion of each step of the customized installation procedure.

10. An apparatus for generating a customized installation procedure for a build to order computer system, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a customer information set and an order for said computer system, said customer information set including a user profile and a presentation format, said presentation format including a user-defined technical ability specified by a user, said order including a list of component selections made by the user, said list of component selections including at least three hardware components;

(b) means for producing a customized installation procedure based on said customer information set including the user profile and the presentation format and based on said order, said producing means being coupled to said receiving means, said customized installation procedure including instructions for installation of said list of component selections, and

(c) means for transferring said customized installation procedure to a removable storage media, said transferring means being coupled to said producing means, wherein said customized installation procedure is a visual presentation configured to be displayed on a monitor of said computer system to aid said user in the installation of said computer system;

wherein the visual presentation of said customized installation procedure includes instructions for connecting said at least three hardware components, and

wherein, the visual presentation of said customized installation procedure further includes at least one of larger font sizes, a musical background, and a personalized greeting that is selected based on the user profile and the presentation format included in said customer information set.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said receiving means is capable of connecting to a network, wherein said list of component selections made by said user is capable of being received by said receiving means through said network.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said network is a world wide web.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said user profile includes at least one of age and sex.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said removable storage media includes at least one of a floppy disk, a digital versatile disk, and a compact disk.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said list of component selections includes the user'"'"'s selections for software, hardware, and peripherals.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said computer system is configured to display on said monitor a prompt to insert said removable storage media.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said prompt is displayed in response to an initial boot of said computer system.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said customized installation procedure includes a prompt to insert a compact disk containing a software application;

and

wherein said customized installation procedure includes instructions for connecting said at least three hardware components together.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

means for receiving user inputs indicating completion of each step of the customized installation procedure.

20. A method for providing a customized installation procedure, comprising:

(a) configuring a computer system to prompt a user to insert a removable storage media containing a customized installation procedure upon a first boot of said computer system;

(b) displaying on a monitor of said computer system an initial presentation of said customized installation procedure, said customized installation procedure including an instruction to install at least three hardware components; and

(c) presenting a list of steps a user shall undertake to complete installation of said computer system;

wherein said customized installation procedure is based on a customer information set including a user profile and a presentation format, said presentation format including a user-defined technical ability specified by the user, and is based on an order for the computer system which is a build to order system, and

wherein, a visual presentation of said customized installation procedure includes at least one of larger font sizes, a musical background, and a personalized greeting that is selected based on the user profile and the presentation format included in said customer information set.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said initial presentation includes a list of solutions that were purchased with said computer system.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said list of steps includes insertion of specific storage media and connection of hardware components.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising receiving an alert from said user upon completion of a step of said list of steps, wherein a next step of said list of steps is presented.

24. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

configuring said computer system to display on said monitor a prompt to insert said removable storage media.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said prompt is displayed in response to an initial boot of said computer system.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

shipping said computer system to the user;

wherein the initial boot of said computer system occurs after the shipping of said computer system to the user.

27. The method as claimed in claim 20, said customized installation procedure includes a prompt to insert a compact disk containing a software application;

and

wherein said customized installation procedure includes instructions for connecting said at least three hardware components together.

28. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

receiving user inputs indicating completion of each step of the list of steps.