Multidimensional barcodes for information handling system manufacture, assembly and service

• US 8,833,661 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Terwilliger, Kevin, Lauffer, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Thien T
• Application Number:
  US13/233,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/383, 235/462.45, 235/462.01, 235/472.01, 340/10.1, 709/223
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Multi-dimensional barcodes at a product include service identifiers for the product so that an end user with a portable information handling system captures an image of the multi-dimensional barcode and extracts the service identifiers to obtain service information from a service network location. For example, a service identifier embeds a URL that links to a video demonstrating how to assemble the product. As another example, a service identifier links to a service network location and includes a unique identifier so that an end user retrieves warranty or purchase information for the product.

Claims

1. A system for managing service of an information handling system having plural components, the system comprising:

a chassis having plural slots, each slot operable to support an information handling system module;

a multi-dimensional barcode associated with each slot and having a service identifier for each associated slot;

a service network location storing service information for the service identifiers;

a portable information handling system having a camera operable to capture images of the multi-dimensional barcodes;

an application running on the portable information handling system and operable to analyze the images to extract the service identifiers and to provide the service identifiers to the service network location for tracking information handling system modules supported by the slots; and

a chassis manager integrated with the chassis and operable to manage operation of information handling system modules installed in the chassis slots, the chassis manager interfaced with the service network location to define IP addresses for information handling system modules installed in the chassis slots based upon the service identifiers.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a video stored on the service network location and associated with the service identifiers, the video demonstrating installation of an information handling system module in the chassis, the application further operable to present the video at the portable information handling system.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a rotational portion associated with each slot, the rotational portion rotating to an exposed position when the slot is empty and rotating to a hidden position when the slot is occupied by an information handling system module.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the hidden position has a transparent portion that provides viewing of the multi-dimensional barcode.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the application is further operable to invert a multi-dimensional barcode viewed through the transparent portion.