Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-24
2001-10-02
Hua, Ly V. (Department: 2131)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
C713S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298443
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A computer system is typically purchased and supplied as a combined hardware-software system. In the past, software has been supplied via flexible (floppy) diskettes that was manually loaded into a diskette drive by a purchaser and downloaded diskette-by-diskette. As the memory and disk drive capacity has expanded and the size of software images has soared, loading of software via flexible diskette has become very cumbersome. For example, the size of a typical software system image has expanded to a range of 2 to 600 megabytes and is expected to continuing growing in the future. A large number of flexible diskettes, for example on the order of 50 diskettes, is typically used to transfer a typical software system image.
Many computer system suppliers have replaced flexible diskettes with high-capacity compact disk (CD) ROMs for supplying software images. The computer system suppliers that supply software on CD ROMs only sell a limited number of hardware configurations (for example 4 to 8) that utilize even fewer software configurations (for example 2 or 3). The software system includes a common operating system, hardware drivers, software utilities, and application programs for usage among all computer systems of a particular configuration. These computer system suppliers have the software diskettes pressed en masse, generally in batches in the ten thousand to the hundred thousands range, so that identical software systems are supplied interchangeably to many computer systems.
The conventional hardware computer system typically includes various different hardware subsystems. During installation of these conventional mass-produced software systems to hardware computer systems, some software configuration is generally performed. The downloading process often includes routines that automatically detect an identification of the hardware subsystems and build appropriate drivers for the detected subsystems.
Many different hardware vendors supply the hardware subsystems and often many different software suppliers supply software modules supplied on the mass-produced diskettes. A common problem with the conventional technique for supplying software to a computer system using mass-produced software is that various inconsistencies often arise among the various hardware subsystems and the software modules. The first time a particular hardware-software system configuration is combined is when a customer attempts to bring up the system, long after the system has left the factory. A customer typically does not have the expertise to correctly set up various configurable characteristics of the hardware and software to optimally execute the software on a particular hardware configuration, Therefore, bringing up a system is often a painful and time-consuming exercise for the both the computer system customer and the vendor with the customer making frequent usage of the vendor's customer help services.
Dell Computer Corporation™ avoids the difficulties of software-hardware system integration by “custom” building each computer system to order. A customer orders a computer, specifying particular hardware subsystems and software packages. The software-hardware integration, including installation of particular drivers for the hardware that is installed in full native mode in the computer, is performed in the factory by Dell Computer Corporation™, tested, and assured of compatibility before the combined system leaves the factory. The software is thus assured to operate with the particular ordered hardware system and also assured to operate in conjunction with particular drivers and the operating system.
One consequence of the build-to-order business model is that each software load is potentially unique. Therefore, software cannot be supplied by mass-produced diskettes. Dell™ has therefore supplied a software image by bringing up the software on the specified hardware in the factory, assuring that the software load operates properly, then shipping the computer system with the software image loaded onto a hard disk drive in the computer system.
The hard disk drive is a somewhat volatile medium, therefore the image in the hard disk drive may be changed, either intentionally or unintentionally. Because the software image is supplied on the hard disk drive, any unsuitable changes in the software image are not easily corrected. When a customer has a problem that is corrected by writing correct data to the hard disk and the customer has not made a backup medium, then Dell™ makes the corrections by supplying a replacement hard disk containing the original supplied software image. Typically a third party maintenance person is sent to the customer site to swap out the corrupted hard drive with the replacement hard drive and perform the installation process. Dell™ makes the replacement whether the difficulty with the hard drive is caused by system failure or by unauthorized or prohibited actions by the customer. For example, a customer may install a different hardware subsystem and incorrectly install software drivers for controlling the hardware subsystem, thereby corrupting the hard drive,
The replacement hard disk drives are used as a primary method for sending software to the field to correct many problems. The problems include, for example, corruption of files by the customer or by a virus, difficulties with installation of a hardware subsystem that was not supplied by the factory, a decision by the customer to change the operating system, a bad factory software download, malfunction of the hard drive, and the like.
Unfortunately, replacement of the hard drive is expensive and often inconvenient for the customer. Hard drive replacement is expensive not only due to the cost of the hard drive but also due to the equally large cost of a third party maintenance call and extensive handling and testing of the returned hard drive.
What is needed is a system and technique for supplying a “build-to-order” software image to a computer system that reduces cost and improves convenience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and system for supplying a software image to a computer system utilize a custom-programmed compact disk (CD) ROM that is configured for a specified individual computer system and constrained to be downloaded to and operable on only the specified individual computer system. The method and system further utilize an installation procedure for restoring the specified computer system to the software state that the computer was in at the time the computer left the factory after initial configuration and downloading. The custom-programmed CD ROM is delivered to a customer in combination with a bootable flexible diskette, and an instructional technical instruction sheet for usage by the customer to restore the computer system to a “factory new” software condition.
A protection technique is defined utilizing three components including the computer system, the custom-programmed CD ROM, and the bootable flexible diskette that are mutually and uniquely keyed so that loading of the software image is only possible when all three components are employed in combination. Thus a specific custom-programmed CD ROM and a specific bootable flexible diskette with the same keying can only be used to download software to the specific computer system hardware that has the same keying. The protection technique eliminates a possibility that the software image could be loaded onto any computer hardware other than the computer hardware keyed to receive the software. The protection technique uses cross-referencing tag identification (ID) numbers on all three key items including writing of the tag ID to the custom-programmed CD ROM and the bootable flexible diskette, and a unique service tag number of the computer hardware. Only a matched combination of the specific cross-keyed custom-programmed CD ROM, the specific associated bootable flexible diskette, and the uniquely-keyed computer hardware, employed together, allow reloading of the software image contained on the custom-programmed CD ROM.
A firs
Colligan Tom
Ellis Jonathan
Robertson Hunter
Dell USA L.P.
Haynes and Boone L.L.P.
Hua Ly V.
LandOfFree
Method and system for supplying a custom software image to a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and system for supplying a custom software image to a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and system for supplying a custom software image to a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2552171