Interactive self-service hard drive copying system
First Claim
1. An interactive self-service kiosk for initializing and copying programs and data from one computer hard drive to another computer bard drive, said kiosk comprising:
- (a) a kiosk housing;
(b) an interactive multimedia device in said kiosk housing operable for conducting a dialogue with a customer;
(c) a computer in said kiosk housing which, in response to the interactive multimedia device;
(1) provides means to determine type and configuration of a customer'"'"'s original and replacement computer hard drives,(2) provides means to initialize the customer'"'"'s replacement computer hard drive, and(3) provides means to copy the program and data information from the original computer hard drive to the replacement computer hard drive;
whereby the customer can employ the kiosk to initialize the replacement computer hard drive and copy the programs and data from the original computer hard drive to the replacement computer hard drive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stand-alone, interactive, self-service kiosk for initializing and copying computer hard drives and methods for the operation of the kiosk are disclosed. The kiosk, which includes a microprocessor, data storage and printer, is programmed to conduct a dialogue with a customer instructing them to connect their original and replacement hard drives to the kiosk. Once the hard drives are connected, the microprocessor automatically identifies the original and replacement hard drives, configures the replacement hard drive and copies all programs and data from the original hard drive to the replacement hard drive. When the copying process is complete, a printed report is generated with further instructions on installation of the hard drive and detailed information about any errors that may have occurred during the process. In a second embodiment, the kiosk includes a device to accept a payment card from the customer, and a telephone modem to connect to a central office for verification of funds. In a third embodiment the kiosk includes a removable media storage device with which the customer can make a backup of their hard drive. In a fourth embodiment the kiosk includes software for the optimization of the location of the programs and data on the replacement hard drive. In a fifth embodiment the kiosk includes a database of known computer viruses and software for the detection and removal of those viruses. In a sixth embodiment a database of video advertisements is stored in the kiosk which can be presented to the customer through multimedia devices. In a seventh embodiment a database of software titles is stored in the kiosk which the customer can choose to purchase and install automatically to their replacement hard drive.
34 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An interactive self-service kiosk for initializing and copying programs and data from one computer hard drive to another computer bard drive, said kiosk comprising:
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(a) a kiosk housing; (b) an interactive multimedia device in said kiosk housing operable for conducting a dialogue with a customer; (c) a computer in said kiosk housing which, in response to the interactive multimedia device; (1) provides means to determine type and configuration of a customer'"'"'s original and replacement computer hard drives, (2) provides means to initialize the customer'"'"'s replacement computer hard drive, and (3) provides means to copy the program and data information from the original computer hard drive to the replacement computer hard drive;
whereby the customer can employ the kiosk to initialize the replacement computer hard drive and copy the programs and data from the original computer hard drive to the replacement computer hard drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for copying programs and data from a first computer hard drive to a second computer hard drive using an interactive self-service kiosk, said kiosk comprising a housing;
- a computer in said housing; and
an interactive device operable for conducting a dialogue with a customer, said method comprising the steps of;(a) instructing the customer to plug the first and second computer hard drives into the kiosk, (b) determining that the computer hard drives are plugged in correctly, (c) determining the type and configuration of each of the computer hard drives, (d) initializing the second computer hard drive, and (e) copying the programs and data from the first computer hard drive to the second computer hard drive. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a computer in said housing; and
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16. A method for copying programs and data from a first computer hard drive to a second computer hard drive using a computer wherein the programs are inspected for the presence of computer viruses and positioned in optimized location on the second computer hard drive, said computer comprising a memory device;
- an interactive device operable for conducting a dialogue with a customer; and
a database of computer viruses and software to detect and remove said viruses, said method comprising the steps of;(a) reading the programs and data from the first computer hard drive into the memory, (b) searching the programs in the memory for the presence of said viruses listed in said database, (c) reporting the file names and virus names of those programs that may contain viruses to the customer, (d) soliciting a decision by the customer to remove the viruses from each file suspected of containing viruses, (e) removing the viruses from those of the files chosen by the customer that are suspected of containing viruses, and (f) writing the programs and data from the memory to optimized location on the second computer hard drive.
- an interactive device operable for conducting a dialogue with a customer; and
Specification