IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,380,760
Granted Patent B2
US 8,380,760 · App. 13/161,943 · Granted Feb 19, 2013

System and method for automated deployment of an information handling system

Inventors: Jeremiah Johnson (Georgetown, TX); Steve Oates (Georgetown, TX); Kurt Stonecipher (Austin, TX); Greg Bomsta (Maple Grove, MN); Kevin Hanes (Georgetown, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,380,760
App. No.
13/161,943
Filed
Jun 16, 2011
Granted
Feb 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Examiner
LE, DEBBIE M
Art Unit
2168
USPC
707/804
Abstract

A system and method for automated deployment of an information handling system are disclosed. A method for managing the deployment of an information handling system may include executing a deployment application on an information handling system, the deployment application including one or more tasks associated with the deployment of the information handling system. The method may further include automatically determining for a particular task whether an execution time for the particular task is within a predetermined range of execution times. The method may further include automatically performing an error-handling task in response to determining that the execution time for the particular task is not within the predetermined range of execution times.

Claims (71)

1. A method for performing a task associated with an information handling system, comprising:

receiving at an information handling system identifying information from a source local to the information handling system, the identifying information identifying a particular one of a plurality of profiles;

automatically identifying the particular profile associated with the information handling system based on at least the identifying information received from the local source;

automatically accessing a database to:

access available profile information associated with the particular profile; and

identify unavailable supplemental profile information associated with the particular profile for performing a task associated with the information handling system;

automatically generating a customized user interface at the information handling system for inputting the supplemental profile information unavailable to the database, the customized user interface being customized based on at least the unavailable supplemental profile information;

receiving the supplemental profile information via the customized user interface; and

automatically performing the task based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the identifying information includes at least one of: a name of a particular class of end users, a name of a particular end user, a username of the particular end user, an identification number of the particular end user, a serial number of the information handling system, and a service code of the information handling system.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the database is stored on a computer-readable medium local to the information handling system.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the task comprises deploying selected data from a deployment container stored on computer-readable media local to the information handling system, the selected data based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the deployment container comprises a Windows Imaging Format (WIM) file.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the task comprises automatically installing and automatically configuring an operating system on the computer-readable media local to the information handling system based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the task comprises automatically installing and automatically configuring at least one application program on the computer-readable media local to the information handling system based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

8. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

local computer-readable media communicatively coupled to the processor, the computer-readable media having stored thereon:

a database; and

a program of instructions executable by the processor and operable to when executed:

receive identifying information from a source local to the information handling system, the identifying information identifying a particular one of a plurality of profiles;

automatically identify the particular profile associated with the information handling system based on at least the identifying information received from the local source;

automatically access the database to:

access available profile information associated with the particular profile; and

identify unavailable supplemental profile information associated with the particular profile for deploying the information handling system;

automatically generate a customized user interface for inputting the supplemental profile information unavailable to the database, the customized user interface being customized based on at least the unavailable supplemental profile information;

receive the supplemental profile information via the customized user interface; and

automatically perform a task associated with the information handling system based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

9. An information handling system according to claim 8 , wherein the identifying information includes at least one of: a name of a particular class of end users, a name of a particular end user, a username of the particular end user, an identification number of the particular end user, a serial number of the information handling system, and a service code of the information handling system.

10. An information handling system according to claim 8 :

the computer-readable media further having stored thereon a deployment container;

the program of instructions further operable to, as part of automatically performing the task, automatically deploy selected data from the deployment container to the computer-readable media, the selected data based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

11. An information handling system according to claim 8 , wherein the deployment container comprises a Windows Imaging Format (WIM) file.

12. An information handling system according to claim 8 , the program of instructions further operable to, as part of automatically performing the task, automatically install and automatically configure an operating system on the computer-readable media based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

13. An information handling system according to claim 8 , the program of instructions further operable to automatically install and automatically configure at least one application program on the computer-readable media based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

14. A method for performing a task in an information handling system, comprising:

storing a database on computer-readable media, the database including profile information associated with one or more profiles;

storing a program of instructions on computer-readable media, the program of instructions operable to, when executed on an information handling system:

receive identifying information from a source local to the information handling system, the identifying information identifying a particular one of a plurality of profiles;

automatically identify the particular profile associated with the information handling system based on at least the identifying information received from the local source;

automatically access the database to:

access available profile information associated with the particular profile; and

identify unavailable supplemental profile information associated with the particular profile for deploying the information handling system;

automatically generate a customized user interface for inputting the supplemental profile information unavailable to the database, the customized user interface being customized based on at least the unavailable supplemental profile information;

receive the supplemental profile information via the customized user interface; and

automatically perform a task associated with the information handling system based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the identifying information includes at least one of: a name of a particular class of end users, a name of a particular end user, a username of the particular end user, an identification number of the particular end user, a serial number of the information handling system, and a service code of the information handling system.

16. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising storing at least one of the database and the program of instructions on computer-readable media local to the information handling system.

17. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the deployment container comprises a Windows Imaging Format (WIM) file.

18. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

storing a deployment container on computer-readable media local to the information handling system; and

wherein the program of instructions is further operable to, as part of automatically performing the task, automatically deploy selected data from the deployment container to computer-readable media local to the information handling system, the selected data based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

19. A method according to claim 14 , the program of instructions further operable to, as part of automatically performing the task, automatically install and automatically configure an operating system on the computer-readable media based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

20. A method according to claim 14 , the program of instructions further operable to, as part of automatically performing the task, automatically install and automatically configure at least one application program on the computer-readable media based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

21. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:

receive identifying information from a source local to an information handling system, the identifying information identifying a particular one of a plurality of profiles;

automatically identify the particular profile associated with the information handling system based on at least the identifying information received from the local source;

automatically access the database to:

access available profile information associated with the particular profile; and

identify unavailable supplemental profile information associated with the particular profile for deploying the information handling system;

automatically generate a customized user interface for inputting the supplemental profile information unavailable to the database, the customized user interface being customized based on at least the unavailable supplemental profile information;

receive the supplemental profile information via the customized user interface; and

automatically perform a task associated with the information handling system based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

22. An information handling system according to claim 21 , wherein the identifying information includes at least one of: a name of a particular class of end users, a name of a particular end user, a username of the particular end user, an identification number of the particular end user, a serial number of the information handling system, and a service code of the information handling system.

23. An information handling system according to claim 21 , the instructions further operable to, as part of automatically performing the task, automatically deploying selected data from a deployment container stored on computer-readable media local to the information handling system, the selected data based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

24. An information handling system according to claim 21 , wherein the deployment container comprises a Windows Imaging Format (WIM) file.

25. An information handling system according to claim 21 , the instructions further operable to, as part of automatically performing the task, automatically install and automatically configure an operating system on the computer-readable media based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

26. An information handling system according to claim 21 , the instructions further operable to automatically install and automatically configure at least one application program on the computer-readable media based on at least one of the identifying information, the profile information accessed from the database, and the supplemental profile information received via the customized user interface.

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: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
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: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2011
From: JOHNSON, JEREMIAH; OATES, STEVE; STONECIPHER, KURT; BOMSTA, GREG; HANES, KEVIN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 026457/0634 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12040206 · Feb 29, 2008
Related Publication 20110246515A1 · Oct 6, 2011