Method, computer program product, and system for selecting and migrating information and device drivers to a computer system

• US 7,917,600 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Boesch, S. Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Hwang; Joon H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nano; Sargon N
• Application Number:
  US12/053,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/213, 709220-222, 709/217, 705 1- 10
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method performed by a first computer system includes receiving one or more of a plurality of files from a second computer system in response to a selection of the one or more of the plurality of files by a customer of the second computer system and receiving network settings from the second computer system. The method also includes providing a third computer system to the user, providing a medium that includes the network settings to the customer where the medium is configured to provide the network settings to the third computer system, and providing the one or more of the plurality of files to the third computer system in response to a request received from the third computer system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an order for a new computer from a customer, wherein the customer is in possession of a used computer;

providing a transfer wizard to the customer on the used computer;

receiving at least one file that is located on the used computer, over a network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting the at least one file using the transfer wizard on the used computer;

storing the at least one file on a storage device;

receiving information about at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, over the network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting at least one used computer device driver using the transfer wizard on the used computer;

storing at least one new computer device driver, which is associated with the information about the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, on the storage device;

determining a plurality of network settings, wherein the plurality of network settings are operable to allow the new computer to communicate over the network in order to access the storage device;

providing the plurality of network settings on the new computer, wherein the new computer is operable to use the network settings to connect to the storage device over the network, retrieve the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver stored on the storage device, and store the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver on the new computer;

providing the new computer to the customer; and

allowing the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver to be retrieved by the new computer from the storage device subsequent to providing the new computer to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the transfer wizard is operable to detect the at least one file on the used computer;

and

provide the customer with an ability to select the file.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the transfer wizard is operable to provide the customer with an ability to select a set of files from a plurality of files stored on the used computer, wherein the set of files is associated with a file type.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein the transfer wizard is operable to provide the customer with an ability to select the set of files by providing the customer with a means for selecting a file extension associated with the file type.

5. The method of claim 2,

wherein the transfer wizard is operable to provide the customer with an ability to select a set of files from a plurality of files stored on the used computer, wherein the set of files is associated with a directory.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a web address to the customer, wherein the web address is usable by the new computer to access the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing the web address to the customer by storing the web address on the new computer prior to providing the new computer to the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the information about at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, over the network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting the at least one used computer device driver using the transfer wizard on the used computer further comprises:

using the information about the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the user computer to determine if an updated version exists; and

in response to an updated version not existing, storing the at least one new computer device driver that comprises the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer;

in response to an updated version existing, storing the at least one new computer device driver that comprises an updated version of the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer.

9. A system comprising:

a memory,

at least one secure computer for;

receiving an order for a new computer from a customer, wherein the customer is in possession of a used computer;

providing a transfer wizard to the customer on the used computer;

receiving at least one file that is located on the used computer, over a network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting the at least one file using the transfer wizard on the used computer;

storing the at least one file on a storage device;

receiving information about at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, over the network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting at least one used computer device driver using the transfer wizard on the used computer;

storing at least one new computer device driver, which is associated with the information about the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, on the storage device;

determining a plurality of network settings, wherein the plurality of network settings are operable to allow the new computer to communicate over the network in order to access the storage device;

providing the plurality of network settings on the new computer, wherein the new computer is operable to use the network settings to connect to the storage device over the network, retrieve the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver stored on the storage device, and store the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver on the new computer;

providing the new computer to the customer; and

allowing the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver to be retrieved by the new computer from the storage device subsequent to providing the new computer to the customer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the transfer wizard is operable to

detect the at least one file on the used computer;

and

provide the customer with an ability to select the file.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the

transfer wizard is operable to provide the customer with an ability to select a set of files from a plurality of files stored on the used computer, wherein the set of files is associated with a file type.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the

transfer wizard is operable to provide the customer with an ability to select the set of files by providing the customer with a means for selecting a file extension associated with the file type.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the

transfer wizard is operable to provide the customer with an ability to select a set of files from a plurality of files stored on the used computer, wherein the set of files is associated with a directory.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one secure computer is for:

providing a web address to the customer, wherein the web address is usable by the new computer to access the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one secure computer is for:

providing the web address to the customer by storing the web address on the new computer prior to providing the new computer to the customer.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the receiving the information about at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, over the network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting the at least one used computer device driver using the transfer wizard on the used computer further comprises:

using the information about the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the user computer to determine if an updated version exists; and

in response to an updated version not existing, storing the at least one new computer device driver that comprises the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer;

in response to an updated version existing, storing the at least one new computer device driver that comprises an updated version of the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer.

17. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising:

at least one computer program processable by a computer to cause the computer to;

receive an order for a new computer from a customer, wherein the customer is in possession of a used computer;

provide a transfer wizard to the customer on the used computer;

receive at least one file that is located on the used computer, over a network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting the at least one file using the transfer wizard on the used computer;

store the at least one file on a storage device;

receive information about at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, over the network from the used computer, in response to the customer selecting at least one used computer device driver using the transfer wizard on the used computer;

store at least one new computer device driver, which is associated with the information about the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer, on the storage device;

determine a plurality of network settings, wherein the plurality of network settings are operable to allow the new computer to communicate over the network in order to access the storage device;

provide the plurality of network settings on the new computer, wherein the new computer is operable to use the network settings to connect to the storage device over the network, retrieve the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver stored on the storage device, and store the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver on the new computer;

provide the new computer to the customer; and

allow the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver to be retrieved by the new computer from the storage device subsequent to providing the new computer to the custom.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the transfer wizard is operable to

detect the at least one file on the used computer;

and

provide the customer with an ability to select the file.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the transfer wizard is operable to

provide the customer with an ability to select a set of files from a plurality of files stored on the used computer, wherein the set of files is associated with a file type.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the transfer wizard is operable to

provide the customer with an ability to select the set of files by providing the customer with a means for selecting a file extension associated with the file type.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the transfer wizard is operable to

provide the customer with an ability to select a set of files from a plurality of files stored on the used computer, wherein the set of files is associated with a directory.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer to cause the computer to:

provide a web address to the customer, wherein the web address is usable by the new computer to access the at least one file and the at least one new computer device driver.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer to cause the computer to:

provide the web address to the customer by storing the web address on the new computer prior to providing the new computer to the customer.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the new computer device driver includes an updated version of the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer.

25. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the new computer device driver includes the at least one used computer device driver that is located on the used computer.