Automated information handling system component compatibility

• US 8,827,149 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Terwilliger, Kevin D., Lauffer, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US13/829,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20140263605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/487, 235/462.09, 235/462.1
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1404 Methods for optical code recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

An application running on portable information handling system automatically inventories the portable information handling system to identify one or more components that perform one or more functions based upon information embedded in a barcode. For example, a barcode affixed to an information handling system identifies the information handling system as having a near field communication (NFC) device. The application searches the portable information handling system to determine if the portable information handling system has a NFC device and, if so, presents an activator at a display to use the NFC device to communicate with the information handling system NFC device.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing with an information handling system, the method comprising:

capturing an image of a barcode affixed to the information handling system with a portable information handling system;

extracting barcode information from the barcode with the portable information handling system;

in response to the barcode information, automatically searching the portable information handling system to locate a component integrated in the portable information handling system; and

in response to locating the component, presenting a function associated with the component at a display of the portable information handling system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the barcode information comprises a near field communication (NFC) device identifier; and

automatically searching comprises searching the portable information handling system for a NFC device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the portable information handling system comprises a mobile telephone.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the information handling system comprises a server information handling system.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the information handling system comprises a laptop information handling system.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein presenting a function comprises presenting an image at the display of the portable information handling system that depicts a location of the NFC device of the information handling system.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein presenting a function comprises presenting an activator at the display, the activator operable to activate the NFC device of the portable information handling system to interact with an NFC device disposed in the information handling system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the barcode information comprises a wireless device identifier; and

automatically searching comprises searching the portable information handling system for a wireless device having the wireless device identifier.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless device comprise Bluetooth.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

failing to locate the component; and

in response to failing to locate the component, disregarding the barcode information associated with the component.

11. An information handling system comprising:

a portable housing;

a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;

a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor to store the instructions and information;

a display interfaced with the processor and operable to present the information as visual images;

a camera operable to capture images;

a barcode reader operable to extract barcode information from a barcode captured as a barcode image by the camera; and

a component identifier module stored in the memory and having instructions operable to execute on the processor, the instructions applying the barcode information to locate a component integrated within the housing and to present an interface at the display for using the component in association with a source of the barcode.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the component comprises a NFC device disposed in the portable housing.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 wherein interface comprises an activator operable to activate the NFC device of the portable information handling system to interact with an external NFC device.

14. The information handling system of claim 13 wherein the interface comprises a depiction of the external NFC device location at the source of the barcode.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 wherein the source of the barcode is an information handling system having the barcode presented at its housing.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 wherein the barcode comprises a QR code.

17. A system for automated information handling system capability compatibility, the system comprising:

memory integrated in the information handling system and operable to store instructions;

instructions stored in the memory and operable to;

extract information from a barcode image, the image captured by a camera integrated in the information handling system;

search for a component integrated in the information handling system based upon the information extracted from the barcode; and

in response to finding the component, presenting an activator at a display of the information handling system for activation of the component to perform a function associated with the barcode.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the component comprises a NFC device and the function associated with the barcode comprises retrieving information with the NFC device from source NFC device associated with the barcode.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the instructions are further operable to present a depiction of a location of the source NFC device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the barcode comprises a QR code.

21. A method for interfacing with an information handling system, the method comprising:

capturing an image of a barcode affixed to the information handling system with a portable information handling system;

extracting barcode information from the barcode with the portable information handling system;

in response to the barcode information, automatically searching the portable information handling system to locate a component;

in response to locating the component, presenting a function associated with the component at a display of the portable information handling system;

failing to locate the component; and

in response to failing to locate the component, disregarding the barcode information associated with the component.