Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network computer configuring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-08
2001-01-09
Hua, Ly V. (Department: 2787)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network computer configuring
C709S208000, C714S046000, C340S815470, C713S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173320
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention concerns installation and configuration of equipment and pertains particularly to visual feedback given when installing equipment.
For many users of equipment such as computer equipment, computer peripherals and networking systems, installation of the equipment can often be a time-consuming and frustrating endeavor. This can be especially true when equipment from different vendors is networked together. If the installation fails, it is often difficult to identify whether the failure results from defective equipment, incompatible equipment or faulty installation.
For example, when installing a network print server into a local area network (LAN), verification of correct installation and configuration of the printer server is generally accomplished by sending a test print job from a computer, connected to the LAN, through the LAN to a printer attached to the network print server. Successful printing of the print job verifies that installation and configuration is successful.
A disadvantage to this method of verifying correct installation and configuration of the printer server is that there is no feedback to the user until installation and configuration has been (or at least is thought to be) completed. Additionally, the feedback is, in a sense, all or nothing. If there is a failure, there is generally no indication why the failure took place. Troubleshooting, therefore, can be frustrating and difficult for a user.
Another method used to confirm status of a network print server is to manually press a button on the network print server to request a configuration page be printed from the attached printer. The configuration page typically contains information about hardware self-test status, network connection status and software configuration.
While this can sometimes be useful when troubleshooting a failed installation, this method still has some disadvantages. For example, when a user is performing an installation, there are many installation steps which do not change the status of the printer server and thus does not change the information printed on the configuration page. Thus even if a user uses this feature to monitor installation, the feedback could be misleading because the user might not be able to detect a change in status as the result of performing a particular installation step. In addition, the user would generally have to read the manual in order to recognize the existence of this feature and for information about how to correctly activate the feature.
Another method used to confirm status of a network print server is to utilize a software utility that displays status of configuration of the network print server on the network. Such a software utility would run on a computer attached to the local area network.
One disadvantage of such a software utility is that the network print server has to be properly configured to the network before the software utility can access the printer server for status information. Additionally, until a printer has been properly installed, the software utility is unable to provide a hard copy of any information to a user. When there is no printer available, the software utility can only provide status and error information on a terminal screen. Any useful error information to a user is temporary and generally ceases to be displayed as soon as a user acknowledges “OK” and thereby closes the message window. Thus a user would typically be required to copy down by hand any information from an error message, which he or she would want to refer to at a later time. The software utility, of course, would have full functionality once the printer server and associated printer were correctly installed, however, at this time obtaining installation information would be less urgent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, feedback is provided to a user during installation of electronic equipment. Prior to installation of the electronic equipment, a plurality of installation feedback lights are placed on a case of the electronic equipment. During installation of the electronic equipment after attempting performance of an installation step, a determination is made as to whether performance of the installation step was successful. When performance of the installation step was successful, notification is provided to an installer that the installation step was successful. The notification includes activating one of the installation feedback lights.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when performance of the installation step was successful a success message is printed out which indicates the installation step was successful. The success message also provide any needed information for a next installation step.
When it is determined that performance of the installation step was not successful, notification that the installation step was successful is withheld from the installer. Additionally, an error message is printed out which indicates failure of the installation step and suggests possible actions to be taken by the installer to remedy the failure.
In the preferred embodiment, the installation feedback lights are activated, for example, by being turned on, by being blinked on and off, and/or by changing color. Also in the preferred embodiment, the installation step is a hardware step such as attaching a cable to the electronic equipment, or is a software configuration step, such as obtaining an internet protocol (IP) network address.
The present invention provides automated visual feedback during installation. This visual feedback offers useful information to the installer in the form of lights that are controlled by product firmware/software for each step of the hardware installation and software configuration. Light based visual feedback provides assurances to the installer that the last installation step was successful and increases the confidence of the installer to proceed to the next installation step. This enhanced confidence is critical to insure that new installers have a positive/successful experience when installing their first network print server.
The present invention also offers effective feedback through printed pages that confirm the successful completion of installation and configuration steps. Visual feedback from printed pages provides greater confidence to the installer that the last installation step was successfully completed and that the installer can now proceed to the next installation step.
The present invention also offers the automatic printing of a page that explains an error condition that the installation process encounters. A printed page outlining an error will be of additional use if the installer is required to contact a product support technician on the phone to resolve the error condition.
The present invention also facilitates automated visual feedback from printed pages that provide recommended troubleshooting instructions to assist the installer. The installation feedback lights can additionally be used for product maintenance. Installation feedback lights on electronic equipment that, for example, represent hardware cable connections and software configuration will provide valuable troubleshooting information to an installer when a network attached peripheral stops functioning.
Integration of manual, hardware, software, and status pages with the use of installation feedback lights, matching software messages, and matching status pages will increase the likelihood that an installer with have a successful installation experience.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3887913 (1975-06-01), Smith
patent: 5119489 (1992-06-01), Bond et al.
patent: 5315711 (1994-05-01), Barone et al.
patent: 5647056 (1997-07-01), Barrett et al.
patent: 5687315 (1997-11-01), Tezuka et al.
Crockett Robert G.
Hewlett--Packard Company
Hua Ly V.
LandOfFree
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