Process for configuring software in a build-to-order computer system

• US RE38,762 E1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Clint H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavis, John Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/545,581
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 717/174
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1097 Boot, Start, Initialise, Power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A process for manufacturing a computer system, including a selected hardware configuration and a selected software configuration, utilizes a CD-ROM writer connected to a manufacturing system network to select and write a custom software configuration to a CD-ROM. The CD-ROM is used to install the selected software configuration onto a custom hardware configuration and to subsequently serve as a permanent backup copy of the software configuration. The CD-ROM is written with an identifier of the specific computer hardware assembled in the manufacturing process and the identification written to the CD-ROM is checked when the software is loaded from the CD-ROM onto the computer so that the software is only accessible to the specified computer hardware.

Claims

1. A method of configuring software of a computer system comprising the steps of:

receiving a customer order for computer system, the customer order including a list of hardware configuration components and a list of software configuration components;

assembling hardware components designated by the list of hardware configuration components;

recording software components designated by the list of software configuration components on a CD-ROM storage device, the CD-ROM storage device providing the customer the capability to exactly restore the ordered software configuration components; and

loading software components from the CD-ROM storage device onto the assembled hardware components to ensure so that the computer system includes the ordered software configuration components.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

shipping the assembled hardware components and loaded software components and the CD-ROM storage device to the customer.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

retaining the list of software configuration components for subsequent replacement of the CD-ROM storage device.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the software components are selected from a group including:

BIOS files, operating systems, drivers, utilities, application software and vendor software.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

assigning an identification number to the assembled hardware components;

storing the identification number in the assembled hardware components;

writing the identification number to the CD-ROM storage device;

and

programming a CD-ROM storage device bootstrap process to compare the identification number written to the CD-ROM storage device with the identification number stored in the assembled hardware components and to complete the bootstrap operation only if the identification numbers match.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the hardware components assembling step and the software components recording step are performed in parallel.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

verifying that the list of software configuration components is compatible with the list of hardware configuration components; and

terminating the software-configuring method if the software list and hardware list are incompatible.

8. A computer system comprising:

a computer including assembled hardware configuration components and software configuration components, each of the hardware and software configuration components being designated on a customer order list;

a storage device having software components recorded thereon, the software components including the software configuration components designated by the customer order list; and

the assembled hardware components including the software configuration components loaded thereon from the storage device so that the computer system includes the ordered software configuration components, whereby the storage device provides the customer the capability to exactly restore the ordered software configuration components onto the assembled hardware components.

9. The computer system according to claim 8 wherein the software components are selected from a group including BIOS files, operating systems, drivers, utilities, application software and vendor software.

10. The computer system according to claim 8 wherein the assembled hardware components include an identification number.

11. The computer according to claim 10 wherein the identification number is stored in the assembled hardware components.