Method for dynamically managing multicast sessions for software downloads and related systems

• US 7,899,877 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Meaney, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jakovac; Ryan J
• Application Number:
  US11/130,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,114 Days
• Field of Search: 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for dynamically managing multicast sessions for software downloads and, more particularly, for such software downloads used in build-to-order manufacturing information handling systems. Multiple multicast sessions are automatically managed simultaneously, where each session can have its own unique set of session parameters, in such a way as to support a high mix, high volume manufacturing build-to-order environment. Multicast session control parameters, such as start time and client count, are defined for each multicast session base upon download requests from the information handling systems as they reach the software installation phase.

Claims

1. A manufacturing system for manufacture of information handling systems including a managed multicast download system, comprising:

a manufacturing line configured to manufacture a plurality of information handling systems, the manufacturing line including a software installation phase in which datasets are downloaded to the information handling systems through a plurality of multicast downloads while the information handling systems are being manufactured;

a plurality of information handling systems being manufactured within the manufacturing line and configured to communicate through communication channels with multicast infrastructure to receive datasets through the communication channels during the manufacture of the information handling systems;

multicast infrastructure in communication with the manufacturing line and configured to download datasets to the information handling systems through the communication channels using a plurality of multicast downloads; and

a multicast session manager in communication with the manufacturing line and the multicast infrastructure, the multicast session manager being configured to receive multicast download requests related to the information handling systems when they reach the software installation phase, to create a plurality of multicast sessions based upon the requests, to assign each information handling system to a multicast session, and to provide one or more multicast session control parameters to the multicast infrastructure to cause the datasets to be downloaded to the plurality of information handling systems through the communication channels of while the information handling systems are being manufactured within the manufacturing line;

wherein the one or more multicast session control parameters comprises a start time for each multicast session, the start time representing a time period after which the multicast session download will begin;

wherein the start time is calculated by the multicast session manager utilizing a time at which a multicast download session is being created plus a wait time, wherein the wait time represents an amount of time after which a run-rate for the manufacturing line would be affected;

wherein the wait time is also calculated utilizing a value representing a time to download a dataset requested to be downloaded and a value representing a time allowed in the manufacturing line for software installation;

wherein the wait time is also calculated utilizing a value representing a time to download additional datasets not part of the multicast download and a value representing additional post-download set-up time; and

wherein the plurality of information handling systems are being manufactured within a build-to-order manufacturing line where information handling systems are built according to customer selected configurations.

2. The manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more multicast session control parameters comprises a client count for each multicast session, the client count representing a number of information handling systems after which if assigned to the multicast session, the multicast session will begin.

3. The manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more multicast session control parameters comprises a start time and a client count for each multicast session, wherein the start time representing a time period after which the multicast session download will begin, and wherein the client count representing a number of information handling systems after which if assigned to the multicast session, the multicast session will begin.

4. The manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the information handling systems comprise personal computers.

5. A multicast session manager for a manufacturing system for information handling systems, comprising a session parameter controller configured to receive multicast download requests related to a plurality of information handling systems being manufactured in a manufacturing line when they reach a software installation phase during their manufacture, to create a plurality of multicast sessions based upon the requests, to assign each information handling system to a multicast session, to define one or more multicast session control parameters for each multicast session, and to cause datasets to be downloaded to the information handling systems through communication channels while the information handling systems are being manufactured within the manufacturing line;

wherein the one or more multicast session control parameters comprises a start time for each multicast session, the start time representing a time period after which the multicast session download will begin;

wherein the start time is calculated by the multicast session manager utilizing a time at which a multicast download session is being created plus a wait time, wherein the wait time represents an amount of time after which a run-rate for the manufacturing line would be affected;

wherein the wait time is also calculated utilizing a value representing a time to download a dataset requested to be downloaded and a value representing a time allowed in the manufacturing line for software installation;

wherein the wait time is also calculated utilizing a value representing a time to download additional datasets not part of the multicast download and a value representing additional post-download set-up time; and

wherein the plurality of information handling systems are being manufactured within a build-to-order manufacturing line where information handling systems are built according to customer selected configurations.

6. The multicast session manager of claim 5, wherein the one or more multicast session control parameters comprises a client count for each multicast session, the client count representing a number of information handling systems after which if assigned to the multicast session, the multicast session will begin.

7. A method for downloading datasets to information handling systems

during the manufacture of the information handling systems in a manufacturing line, comprising:

providing a plurality of information handling systems being manufactured within a manufacturing line and configured to manufacture the plurality of information handling systems, the plurality of information handling systems being configured to communicate through communication channels during the manufacture of the information handling systems;

receiving multicast download requests related to the plurality of information handling systems in the manufacturing line when they reach a software installation phase while the information handling systems are being manufactured;

creating a plurality of multicast sessions based upon the requests;

assigning each information handling system to at least one multicast session; and

downloading one or more datasets to the information handling systems through the communication channels using the plurality of created multicast sessions while the information handling systems are being manufactured within the manufacturing line;

wherein the defining step comprises defining a start time for each multicast session, the start time representing a time period after which the multicast session download will begin;

wherein the start time is calculated by a multicast session manager utilizing a time at which a multicast download session is being created plus a wait time, wherein the wait time represents an amount of time after which a run-rate for the manufacturing line would be affected;

wherein the wait time is also calculated utilizing a value representing a time to download a dataset requested to be downloaded and a value representing a time allowed in the manufacturing line for software installation;

wherein the wait time is also calculated utilizing a value representing a time to download additional datasets not part of the multicast download and a value representing additional post-download set-up time; and

wherein the plurality of information handling systems are being manufactured within a build-to-order manufacturing line where information handling systems are built according to customer selected configurations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the creating step further comprises defining one or more multicast session control parameters for each multicast session being created.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the defining step comprises defining a client count for each multicast session, the client count representing a number of information handling systems after which if assigned to the multicast session, the multicast session will begin.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the information handling systems are personal computers.