Graphical representation of system information on a remote computer
First Claim
1. A computerized diagnostic tool for displaying system information on a graphical display comprising:
- a source computer;
a remote computer;
a transmission medium connecting the source computer to the remote computer;
computer program code implementing in said source computer the gathering of system information from said source computer into a system information file, wherein the system information identifies at least one hardware component that resides in the source computer;
computer program code implementing the transmission of said system information file from the source computer to the remote computer via the transmission medium; and
computer program code implementing in said remote computer the display of a graphical representation of the system information contained in the system information file.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus useful as a computerized diagnostic tool for gathering system information into a file and transmitting the system information file to a remote location where it can be presented as a graphical display 10 of the system information. As a computerized diagnostic tool, the present invention can be used to assist a support person in providing technical support to an end user in connection with the configuration of a remote computer. It also provides a means for storing system information relating to a particular customer'"'"'s computer for subsequent reference. The present invention includes a system that can store, display and process system information. Computer program code running on a source computer 1 directs the source computer 1 to survey system information on the source computer. Following the survey, the program code creates a file containing system information and transmits the system information file 9 to a remote computer separate from the source computer. Transmission may be accomplished via any effective transmission medium such as the Internet. Computer program code on the remote computer then displays a graphical representation of the system information. The program code on the source computer 1 is also capable of compressing the system information file 9 in order to facilitate transmitting.
61 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computerized diagnostic tool for displaying system information on a graphical display comprising:
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a source computer;
a remote computer;
a transmission medium connecting the source computer to the remote computer;
computer program code implementing in said source computer the gathering of system information from said source computer into a system information file, wherein the system information identifies at least one hardware component that resides in the source computer;
computer program code implementing the transmission of said system information file from the source computer to the remote computer via the transmission medium; and
computer program code implementing in said remote computer the display of a graphical representation of the system information contained in the system information file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of graphically representing system information of a source computer on a remote computer comprising:
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gathering system information from the source computer into a system information file, wherein the system information identifies at least one hardware component that resides in the source computer;
transmitting said system information file from the source computer to the remote computer; and
displaying a graphical representation of the system information contained in the system information file on the remote computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable code embodied therein for displaying system information on a graphical display the computer readable code in said article of manufacture comprising:
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computer readable code responsive to a command to gather system information on a source computer into a system information file, wherein the system information identifies at least one hardware component that resides in the source computer;
computer readable code responsive to a command to transmit the system information file from the source computer to a remote computer; and
computer readable code responsive to a command to display a graphical representation of the system information file on the remote computer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A programmed computer for graphically displaying system information gathered by and received from a source computer, the programmed computer comprising:
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a memory having at least one region for storing computer readable program code;
a processor for executing computer readable program code stored in said memory;
a system information file transmitted from a source computer and stored in said memory, wherein the system information identifies at least one hardware component that resides in the source computer; and
code responsive to a command to graphically display the information contained in the system information file. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A user interface on a computer invocable by computer readable code comprising:
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a first display region graphically representing a typical components of a computer; and
a second display region graphically representing actual installed components and peripherals of a source computer remote from the computer displaying the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification