Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for configuring computers

US7424444B1 · kind B1 · utility

5Cited by
46References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 1999
Grant dateSep 9, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/30
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically manufacturing a computer. An order is received from a customer. A manufacturing plant assembles together the hardware and software components from stores specified by the order, and loads the software packages onto the computer. A Web page is provided for the customer to specify any software modifications required. Those modifications are recorded as auto-modification files. The auto-modification files and the order details are checked against each other and the manufacturer's current capabilities for consistency by a validation unit. Each auto-modification file in turn is called by the manufacturing control unit, which determines the configuration data corresponding thereto and enters that configuration data into the computer as the software packages are being loaded.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.