US5263164A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and structure for determining transaction system hardware and software configurations

Assignee: HP Inc

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Filing: 1991-01-09

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Granted: 1993-11-16

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Expires: 2011-01-09

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Abstract

Abstract A method and structure are provided for automating the collection of information from a customer and providing a specification of a transaction system to fullfil the customer's needs and desires. An ordering step is used in order to obtain information via a convenient user interface to determine the customer's intended use of the machine and the performance desired. As a result of this ordering process, the system hardware configuration is determined automatically. During the implementation process, the system is used to assemble a package of software, to run the hardware thus configured and implement the chosen user functions. If desired, this information is stored for later use in the event the user wishes to modify the configuration of his system, or to order additional system configurations different than that of the initial system.

Inventors

👤 Danny O. Kannady
👤 William M. Horner
👤 Srinivasan Rao

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 17:38

CPC Classifications

G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0874; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/919

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26

Claim 1

Independent Claim 149 words

A system configuration tool for providing a custom designed transaction system in response to user specified requirements, comprising: means for defining facts for use in determining the configuration of a system which is capable of performing desired transaction functions; means for utilizing said facts to obtain data defining said desired transaction functions; means for receiving and storing said data; means for storing a set of predefined hardware options; means for storing a set of predesigned application modules serving as software options; means for defining, based upon said data, a transaction system hardware configuration selected from said set of predefined hardware options, said hardware configuration being capable of providing said desired transaction functions; and means for defining, based upon said data, a software configuration selected from said set of, predesigned application modules, said software configuration capable of running on said hardware configuration in order to provide said desired transaction functions.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 149 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

A system as in claim 1 wherein said means for defining facts comprises a template file.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system as in claim 1 which further comprises means for obtaining specific information required in response to a selected one or more desired transaction functions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as in claim 1 which further comprises means for providing a report defining said transaction system hardware configuration.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as in claim 1 which further comprises means for providing a report defining said desired transaction functions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system as in claim 1 which further comprises means for providing a set of software and data files in response to said desired transaction functions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as in claim 4 wherein the format of said report is specified in a template file.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as in claim 5 wherein the format of said report is specified in a template file.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as in claim 6 wherein the format of said report is specified in a template file.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 46 words

A system as in claim 1 which further comprises a master state table comprising a plurality of state transitions, and means for providing an operational state table comprising a selected set of said transitions contained in said master state table based upon said desired transaction functions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system as in claim 1 which further comprises means for allowing a user to define a layout of an input keyboard on said system being configured, based upon a set of choices available in response to said desired transaction functions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

A system as in claim 3 wherein said additional specific information includes information specific to the application to be run by a transaction system user.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 137 words

A method for providing a custom designed transaction system in response to user specified requirements, comprising computer implemented steps of: defining facts for use in determining the configuration of a system which is capable of performing desired transaction functions; utilizing said facts to obtain data defining said desired transaction functions; receiving and storing said data; storing a set of predefined hardware options; storing a set of predesigned application modules serving as software options; defining, based upon said data, a transaction system hardware configuration selected from said set of predefined hardware options, said hardware configuration being capable of providing said desired transaction functions; and defining, based upon said data, a software configuration selected from said set of predesigned application modules, said software configuration capable of running on said hardware configuration in order to provide said desired transaction functions.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 137 words

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as in claim 13 wherein said step of defining facts comprises the step of using a template file which defines said facts.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as in claim 1 which further comprises the step of obtaining specific information required in response to a selected one or more desired transaction functions.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method as in claim 13 which further comprises the step of providing a report defining said transaction system hardware configuration.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as in claim 13 which further comprises the step of providing a report defining said desired transaction functions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as in claim 13 which further comprises the step of providing a set of software and data files in response to said desired transaction functions.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 16 wherein the format of said report is specified in a template file.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 17 wherein the format of said report is specified in a template file.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 18 wherein the format of said report is specified in a template file.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method as in claim 13 which further comprises the step of using a master state table comprising a plurality of state transitions to provide an operational state table comprising a selected set of said transitions contained in said master state table based upon said desired transaction functions.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method as in claim 13 which further comprises the step of allowing a user to define a layout of an input keyboard on said system being configured, based upon a set of choices available in response to said desired transaction functions.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as in claim 15 wherein said additional specific information includes information specific to the application to be run by a transaction system user.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-11-15	1997-05-17	1997-11-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-11-15	2001-05-17	2001-11-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-11-15	2005-05-17	2005-11-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

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