IP Library Granted Patent US 9,331,896
Granted Patent B2
US 9,331,896 · App. 14/294,479 · Granted May 3, 2016

Server information handling system NFC ticket management and fault storage

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,331,896
App. No.
14/294,479
Granted
May 3, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Server information handling system deployment and maintenance is enhanced with automated trouble ticket generation at a mobile telephone through an NFC transaction with a management controller. NFC transactions coordinate authorization for replacement component installation and server information handling system replacement. In one embodiment, a bezel includes an NFC device that interfaces with a management controller and stores configuration information to aid installation of replacement server information handling systems in the event of a system failure. A back-up battery provides power to an NFC support circuit that stores fault codes detected by the management controller so that fault codes are available during management controller failures.

Claims (61)

1. A system for reporting server information handling system faults, the system comprising:

a management controller integrated with the server information handling system and operable to track faults by fault codes;

a near field communication (NFC) device interfaced with the management controller and operable to communicate the fault codes with an NFC transaction;

a portable information handling system operable to communicate with an NFC transaction;

a fault application running on the portable information handling system and operable to retrieve the fault codes from the management controller with an NFC transaction and apply the fault codes to automatically generate a trouble ticket identified with the server information handling system; and

an administrative tool interfaced with the fault application and operable to receive the trouble ticket identified with the server information handling system.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery interfaced with the server information handling system; and

an NFC support circuit interfaced with the battery, the management controller and the NFC device, the NFC support circuit operable to run with power from the battery upon failure of the server information handling system, the NFC support circuit providing fault codes stored in a memory at the failure to the NFC device for communication by the NFC transaction to the portable information handling system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the memory comprises random access memory.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the administrative tool is further operable to apply the fault codes to issue a service ticket identified with the server information handling system, the service ticket directing replacement of an identified component at the server information handling system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the administrative tool is further operable to communicate the identified component to the management controller and the management controller is further operable to require an NFC transaction from the identified component before authorizing interaction of the identified component with the server information handling system.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the administrative tool is further operable to communicate the service ticket to the fault application, and wherein the fault application is further operable to perform an NFC transaction with the identified component to retrieve configuration information from the identified component, modify the configuration and perform an NFC transaction with the management controller to configure the server information handling system to accept the identified component.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the administrative tool is further operable to communicate the service ticket to the fault application, and wherein the fault application is further operable to perform an NFC transaction with the identified component to retrieve configuration information from the identified component, and to interact with the identified component through an NFC transaction with the management controller using the configuration information after installation of the identified component in the server information handling system.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a bezel that couples to the information handling system, the bezel supporting the NFC device; and

an NFC support circuit disposed in the information handling system and operable to interface the NFC device and the management controller, the NFC support circuit including a microcontroller operable to coordinate NFC transactions of management controller information by the NFC device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the management controller stores a service identifier;

the NFC device stores a service identifier and configuration information; and

the NFC support circuit is operable to erase the configuration information if the management controller service identifier does not match the NFC device service identifier.

10. A method for reporting server information handling system faults, the method comprising:

detecting a fault indication at a server information handling system;

retrieving a fault code associated with the fault indication by an NFC transaction between the server information handling system and a mobile telephone; and

automatically populating a trouble ticket on the mobile telephone with the fault code and with an identifier of the server information handling system retrieved by the NFC transaction.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

forwarding the trouble ticket from the mobile telephone to an administrative tool; and

issuing a service ticket from the administrative tool to authorize replacement of a component at the server information handling system.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

performing an NFC transaction from a replacement component identified by the service ticket to the server information handling system;

in response to the NFC transaction, authorizing access at the server information handling system to install the replacement component.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

installing a replacement component identified by the service ticket into the server information handling system;

performing an NFC transaction from the installed replacement part to the mobile telephone;

editing configuration information of the replacement part on the mobile telephone; and

performing an NFC transaction of the edited configuration information from the mobile telephone to the replacement part.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

performing an NFC transaction of component information from a replacement component identified by the service ticket to the mobile telephone;

installing the replacement component into the server information handling system; and

performing an NFC transaction of the component information from the mobile telephone to the server information handling system.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

selecting a replacement server information handling system in response to the trouble ticket;

removing the failed server information handling system from a support slot;

removing a bezel from the failed server information handling system, the bezel having an NFC device;

attaching the bezel to the replacement server information handling system;

performing an NFC transaction from the mobile telephone to the bezel; and

in response to the NFC transaction, configuring the replacement server information handling system with configuration information stored in the bezel and interfaced with the NFC device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

in response to the NFC transaction, comparing an identifier of the replacement server information handling system with an expected identifier; and

erasing the configuration information stored in the bezel if the identifier does not match the expected identifier.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein detecting a fault indication at a server information handling system further comprises:

detecting a power failure at the server information handling system; and

in response to detecting a power failure, storing the fault code in memory accessible by an NFC device of the server information handling system when the server information handling system is powered down.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the memory comprises a memory powered by a back-up battery.

19. A server information handling system comprising:

a processor operable to process information with instructions;

memory operable to store the information and instructions;

a management controller operable to manage operations of the processor responsive to remote instructions receive through a network;

an NFC device interfaced with the management controller; and

a trouble ticket manager interfaced with the management controller and having non-transitory memory storing instructions executable on the NFC device, the instructions operable to communicate trouble ticket information from the NFC device to an external NFC device in response to detection of a fault by the management controller.

20. The server information handling system of claim 19 wherein the trouble ticket manager is further operable to coordinate replacement of a component associated with the fault, the replacement authorized by NFC transaction.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0748 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0050 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0688 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0757 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0711 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040016/0903 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0748 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0688 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0711 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2014
From: TERWILLIGER, KEVIN D.; TAYLOR, TRAVIS E.; AHMED, SYED S.; PALMER, JOHN R.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 033017/0661 →