Computing device deployment using mass storage device
View Patent ↗Computing device deployment and configuration using a mass storage device is provided. A generic computing device is provided to a customer or end user. A mass storage device is used to distribute configuration information to the generic computing device. The configuration information includes customer-specified or ordered software applications or other features. The configuration information can also include updates to the computing device system software. The customer or end user couples the mass storage device to the generic computing device in order to load the configuration information into the computing device. After the configuration information is loaded, the computing device is configured for the customer's use. Further features, such as creating customized images, are also provided.
1. A method for imaging a computing device from an attached storage device or providing access to the attached storage device, the method comprising steps of:
determining whether to boot the computing device from the attached storage device, wherein the determining step comprises:
comparing an image on the attached storage device with an installed image in a memory of the computing device;
parsing the image on the attached storage device for a boot flag, wherein the boot flag indicates at least one condition for booting the image; and
evaluating the at least one condition;
responsive to the determining, executing boot code on the computing device to acquire the image from the attached storage device; and
booting the computing device using the acquired image.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the executing step comprises acquiring the image from the attached storage device which comprises a flash memory mass storage device which is attached to a universal serial bus port.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining step further comprises:
accessing the installed image in the memory of the computing device; and
identifying the image on the attached storage device.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the booting step comprises:
loading the image from the attached storage device into a computing device memory; and
determining whether the image requires authentication.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving authentication data; and
decrypting the image using the authentication data.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the authentication data from a user responsive to determining whether the image requires authentication.
7. A system for imaging a computing device from an attached storage device or providing access to the attached storage device, the system comprising:
means for determining whether to boot the computing device from the attached storage device, wherein the means for determining comprises:
means for comparing an image on the attached storage device with an installed image in a memory of the computing device;
means for parsing the image on the attached storage device for a boot flag, wherein the boot flag indicates at least one condition for booting the image; and
means for evaluating the at least one condition;
responsive to the determining means, means for executing boot code on the computing device to acquire the image from the storage device; and
means for booting the computing device using the acquired image.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the means for executing comprises means for acquiring the image from the attached storage device which comprises a flash memory mass storage device which is attached to a universal serial bus port.
9. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the means for determining further comprises:
means for accessing the installed image in the memory of the computing device; and
means for identifying the image on the attached storage device.
10. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the means for booting comprises:
means for loading the image from the attached storage device into a computing device memory; and
means for determining whether the image requires authentication.
11. The system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
means for receiving authentication data; and
means for decrypting the image using the authentication data.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the means for receiving comprises means for receiving the authentication data from a user responsive to determining whether the image requires authentication.
13. A computer readable storage device encoded with instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising code for:
determining whether to boot a computing device from an attached storage device, wherein the code for determining comprises code for:
comparing an image on the attached storage device with an installed image in a memory of the computing device;
parsing the image on the attached storage device for a boot flag, wherein the boot flag indicates at least one condition for booting the image; and
evaluating the at least one condition;
responsive to the determining, executing boot code on the computing device to acquire the image from the attached storage device; and
booting the computing device using the acquired image.
14. The computer readable storage device according to claim 13 , wherein the code for executing comprises code for acquiring the image from the attached storage device which comprises a flash memory mass storage device which is attached to a universal serial bus port.
15. The computer readable storage device according to claim 13 , wherein the code for determining further comprises code for:
accessing the installed image in the memory of the computing device; and
identifying the image on the attached storage device.
16. The computer readable storage device according to claim 13 , wherein the code for booting comprises code for:
loading the image from the attached storage device into a computing device memory; and
determining whether the image requires authentication.
17. The computer readable storage device according to claim 13 , wherein the instructions further comprise code for:
receiving authentication data; and
decrypting the image using the authentication data.
18. The computer readable storage device according to claim 17 , wherein the code for receiving comprises code for receiving the authentication data from a user responsive to determining whether the image requires authentication.
19. A system for imaging or providing access to a computing device from an attached storage device or providing access to the attached storage device, the system comprising:
a processor configured to determine whether to boot the computing device from the attached storage device, configured to execute boot code on the computing device to acquire the image from the attached storage device in response to determining, and configured to boot the computing device using the acquired image,
wherein to determine whether to boot the computing device from the attached storage device, the processor is configured to compare an image on the attached storage device with an installed image in a memory of the computing device, the processor is configured to parse the image on the attached storage device for a boot flag, wherein the boot flag indicates at least one condition for booting the image, and the processor is configured to evaluate the at least one condition.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein to execute boot code, the processor is configured to acquire the image from the attached storage device which comprises a flash memory mass storage device which is attached to a universal serial bus port.
21. The system according to claim 19 , wherein to determine whether to boot the computing device from the attached storage device, the processor is configured to access the installed image in the memory of the computing device and configured to identify the image on the attached storage device.
22. The system according to claim 19 , wherein to boot the computing device, the processor is configured to load the image from the attached storage device into a computing device memory and configured to determine whether the image requires authentication.
23. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to receive authentication data and configured to decrypt the image using the authentication data.
24. The system according to claim 23 , wherein to receive the authentication data, the processor is configured to receive the authentication data from a user responsive to determining whether the image requires authentication.