The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 30, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 26, 1998
Alan E. Beelitz, Austin, TX (US);
Paul J. Maia, Cedar Park, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
A system for specifying, ordering, and building a build-to-order computer system. After initiating an ordering session, a user such as a purchaser or designer is presented with a list of options such as a list of operating systems offered by a computer system vendor or manufacturer that may be implemented on a targeted computer system. After receiving an indication of a selection from a first list of options, the system accesses a computer system readable master data base to generate a second list of options such as software programs wherein each option of the second list is compatible with the selection from the first list. The master data base includes entries for every option offered by the computer system vendor or manufacturer and includes at least one tag indicating compatibly with other entries in the master data base. The system can be used to present to the user a plurality of lists wherein all of the options presented are compatible with the previous selections. The system writes indications of the selections in a data file. The data file is provided to manufacturing wherein the selections are implemented on a targeted computer system using the data file. The system may also include a sniffing feature used to determine particular hardware parameters of the targeted computer system. The system uses the determined parameters in generating the compatible lists of options. The system enables a purchaser to buy and order a computer system over a computer network such as the Internet.