Component configuration utilizing vague specifications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer implemented method for configuring components for assembly within a data processing system comprising:
- receiving a request for a vaguely specified component from an inventory of available components for implementation into the data processing system, wherein the request includes a class of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, and a distinct part designation of the vaguely specified component, wherein the distinct part designation is a range indicating a minimum number of the at least one corresponding component and a maximum number of the at least one corresponding component to incorporate into the data processing system, wherein the minimum number of the at least one corresponding component indicates that the at least one corresponding component is not required, but can be selected if the at least one corresponding component is otherwise available, wherein the maximum number of the at least one corresponding component is equal to a total number of the at least one corresponding component identified, wherein the request identifies the vaguely specified component by a characteristic of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, or a combination thereof, but does not include a make number of the vaguely specified component or a model number of the vaguely specified component;
responsive to receiving the request, identifying at least one corresponding component from the inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, wherein the at least one corresponding component matches the characteristic of the vaguely specified component, the property of the vaguely specified component, or the combination thereof; and
displaying the at least one corresponding component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and a computer program product configures components in a data processing system. A request for a vaguely specified component for implementation into a data processing system is received. Responsive to receiving the request, at least one corresponding component is identified. The corresponding component is then displayed to a user for implementation of the corresponding component.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for configuring components for assembly within a data processing system comprising:
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receiving a request for a vaguely specified component from an inventory of available components for implementation into the data processing system, wherein the request includes a class of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, and a distinct part designation of the vaguely specified component, wherein the distinct part designation is a range indicating a minimum number of the at least one corresponding component and a maximum number of the at least one corresponding component to incorporate into the data processing system, wherein the minimum number of the at least one corresponding component indicates that the at least one corresponding component is not required, but can be selected if the at least one corresponding component is otherwise available, wherein the maximum number of the at least one corresponding component is equal to a total number of the at least one corresponding component identified, wherein the request identifies the vaguely specified component by a characteristic of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, or a combination thereof, but does not include a make number of the vaguely specified component or a model number of the vaguely specified component; responsive to receiving the request, identifying at least one corresponding component from the inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, wherein the at least one corresponding component matches the characteristic of the vaguely specified component, the property of the vaguely specified component, or the combination thereof; and displaying the at least one corresponding component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product comprising:
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a non-transitory computer usable readable storage medium having computer usable program code for configuring components for assembly within a data processing system, the computer program product comprising; computer usable program code for receiving a request for a vaguely specified component from an inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, wherein the request includes a class of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, and a distinct part designation of the vaguely specified component, wherein the distinct part designation is a range indicating a minimum number of the at least one corresponding component and a maximum number of the at least one corresponding component to incorporate into the data processing system, wherein the minimum number of the at least one corresponding component indicates that the at least one corresponding component is not required, but can be selected if the at least one corresponding component is otherwise available, wherein the maximum number of the at least one corresponding component is equal to a total number of the at least one corresponding component identified, wherein the request identifies the vaguely specified component by a characteristic of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, or a combination thereof, but does not include a make number of the vaguely specified component or a model number of the vaguely specified component; computer usable program code, responsive to receiving the request, for identifying at least one corresponding component from the inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, wherein the at least one corresponding component matches the characteristic of the vaguely specified component, the property of the vaguely specified component, or the combination thereof; and computer usable program code, responsive to identifying the at least one corresponding component, for displaying the at least one corresponding component. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A data processing system comprising:
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a bus; a communications unit connected to the bus; a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device includes computer usable program code; and a processor unit connected to the bus, wherein the processor unit executes the computer usable program to receive a request for a vaguely specified component from an inventory of available components for implementation into the data processing system, wherein the request includes a class of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, and a distinct part designation of the vaguely specified component, wherein the distinct part designation is a range indicating a minimum number of the at least one corresponding component and a maximum number of the at least one corresponding component to incorporate into the data processing system, wherein the minimum number of the at least one corresponding component indicates that the at least one corresponding component is not required, but can be selected if the at least one corresponding component is otherwise available, wherein the maximum number of the at least one corresponding component is equal to a total number of the at least one corresponding component identified, wherein the request identifies the vaguely specified component by a characteristic of the vaguely specified component, a property of the vaguely specified component, or a combination thereof, but does not include a make number of the vaguely specified component or a model number of the vaguely specified component, responsive to receiving the request, identify at least one corresponding component from the inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, wherein the at least one corresponding component matches the characteristic of the vaguely specified component, the property of the vaguely specified component, or the combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer implemented method for configuring components in a data processing system comprising:
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receiving a request for a vaguely specified component from an inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, the request comprising a first class of the vaguely specified component, a first property of the vaguely specified component, and a first distinct part designation of the vaguely specified component, wherein the distinct part designation is a range indicating a minimum number of the at least one corresponding component and a maximum number of the at least one corresponding component to incorporate into the data processing system, wherein the minimum number of the at least one corresponding component indicates that the at least one corresponding component is not required, but can be selected if the at least one corresponding component is otherwise available, wherein the maximum number of the at least one corresponding component is equal to a total number of the at least one corresponding component identified; parsing a list of available components from the inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, each of the available components including one of a group of classes and at least one of a group or properties; identifying at least one of available components from the list of available components, wherein the at least one of a group of classes matches the first class and at least one of a group or properties matches the first property; and displaying the at least one available component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A computer program product in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for configuring components in a data processing system comprising:
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first instructions for receiving a request for a vaguely specified component from an inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, the request comprising a first class of the vaguely specified component, a first property of the vaguely specified component, and a first distinct part designation of the vaguely specified component, wherein the distinct part designation is a range indicating a minimum number of the at least one corresponding component and a maximum number of the at least one corresponding component to incorporate into the data processing system, wherein the minimum number of the at least one corresponding component indicates that the at least one corresponding component is not required, but can be selected if the at least one corresponding component is otherwise available, wherein the maximum number of the at least one corresponding component is equal to a total number of the at least one corresponding component identified; second instructions for parsing a list of available components from the inventory of available components for implementation into a data processing system, each of the available components including one of a group of classes and at least one of a group or properties; third instructions for identifying at least one of available component from the list of available components wherein the at least one of a group of classes matches the first class and at least one of a group or properties matches the first property; and fourth instructions for displaying the at least one available component. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification