Remote Image Builder Server for Information Handling Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling system manufacturers face challenges in maintaining compatibility and efficiency due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of custom image configuration and testing, which often results in labor-intensive processes and increased manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A system and method allowing customers to remotely access an image builder server via network communications to create and test images for information handling systems, utilizing an image library and virtual systems to build and manage images, reducing the need for physical media shipment and manual labor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If customers configure and test custom images locally before shipment to manufacturers, then image customization flexibility is improved, but time consumption and susceptibility to delivery failures increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage customization flexibilityVSAvoidtime consumption for image preparation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of customers preparing images locally and shipping them to manufacturers, the patent inverts the process by allowing customers to remotely access and configure images directly at the manufacturer's system. This eliminates the need for physical media shipment and local preparation time while maintaining full customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a network communication intermediary that connects customers to the manufacturer's image building system. This intermediary enables remote image configuration and transfer, eliminating the need for physical media shipment and reducing time consumption while preserving customization flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If sophisticated purchasers configure and test custom images themselves, then customization control is improved, but risk of configuration errors and malicious programs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization controlVSAvoidrisk of configuration errors

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturer's system acts as an intermediary that receives customer customization requests and executes them in a controlled environment. This maintains customer control over image content while ensuring that all configurations are tested and validated by the manufacturer's quality control processes before being used in production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Customers can remotely configure and test their own custom images through the manufacturer's system, maintaining self-service customization control. However, the actual image building and testing occurs in the manufacturer's controlled environment, which prevents configuration errors and malicious programs from affecting the production system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If manufacturers test custom images with each hardware configuration variation, then compatibility reliability is improved, but labor intensity and manufacturing expense increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility assuranceVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-testing of custom images against multiple hardware configuration variations. The image building and testing process is performed automatically by the system without requiring manual labor, thereby maintaining high compatibility reliability while improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing expenses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If physical media containing custom images is copied and shipped to manufacturers, then image transfer completeness is improved, but delivery and media failure risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage transfer accuracyVSAvoiddelivery and media failure risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of physical media copying and shipping with electronic network communication. Custom images are transferred digitally through secure network connections, eliminating all risks associated with physical media handling, delivery, and storage while maintaining complete and accurate image transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7426052B2System and method for remotely building an information handling system manufacturing image

Publication Date: 2008.09.16 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system image builder server associated with a manufacturer supports remote access by customers through networked communications, such as the Internet, to create images for loading on information handling systems manufactured for the customers. An image creation engine of the server accesses an image library to build an image with image components selected in accordance with customer parameters. The image is built on hardware or virtual test information handling systems interfaced with the image creation engine. Customers may remotely upload custom image components to the library, such as custom applications and settings, and remotely test the operation of the image on the test information handling systems before promoting the built image to a manufacture environment for manufacture of information handling systems with the image.