Apparatus and method for simultaneously clearing and installing data on a plurality of computing devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12292808-B2
Application number	US-202218062664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2022
Priority date	Dec 7, 2022
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

This application relates to apparatus and methods for simultaneously servicing a plurality of computing devices. In one example, a testing system includes a testing frame with a plurality of cabinets, each of the plurality of cabinets housing a computing device under test. Further, the testing frame includes a control cabinet housing a testing computing device, where the testing computing device is communicatively coupled, through one or more hubs located in one or more networking cabinets of the testing frame, to each of the plurality of computing devices under test. The testing frame may also include a bracket that secures a monitor and a keyboard, where the monitor and keyboard are communicatively coupled to the testing computing device. The testing computing device can simultaneously service the plurality of computing devices, such as by causing the deletion of user data, the loading of software, and the testing of various functions.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method by a testing computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
transmitting a delete user data message to each of a plurality of computing devices positioned in one of a plurality of cabinets of a testing frame, wherein the delete user data message causes each of the plurality of computing devices to delete user data;
transmitting a delete operating system message to each of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the delete operating system message causes each of the plurality of computing devices to delete a first operating system;
transmitting an install operating system message to each of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the install operating system message causes each of the plurality of computing devices to install a second operating system;
transmitting, to each of the plurality of computing devices, a device data request message; and
receiving, from each of the plurality of computing devices in response to the device data request message, a device data response message comprising device data, the device data comprising a device type, a model number, a serial number, a name of an operating system, and a year of manufacture.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising identifying each of the plurality of computing devices based on data stored in a memory device that maps each of the plurality of computing devices to a corresponding port of at least one hub.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising identifying each of the plurality of computing devices based on data stored in a memory device that maps each of the plurality of computing devices to a network address of a corresponding cable.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving, in response to transmitting the delete user data message to each of the plurality of computing devices, a delete user data status message from each of the plurality of computing devices, the delete user data status message characterizing a first status based on the deletion of the user data;
receiving, in response to transmitting the delete operating system message to each of the plurality of computing devices, a delete operating system status message from each of the plurality of computing devices, the delete operating system status message characterizing a second status based on the deletion of the operating system;
receiving, in response to transmitting the install operating system data message to each of the plurality of computing devices, an install operating system status message from each of the plurality of computing devices, the install operating system status message characterizing a third status based on the installation of the operating system; and
for each of the plurality of computing devices, providing for display at least one of the first status, the second status, and the third status.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test are of a first type, and one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test are of a second type, the method comprising causing the one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test of the first type to perform a first operation during a timeframe, and causing the one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test of the second type to perform a second operation during the timeframe.

6. An apparatus comprising:
a non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing instructions; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, the at least one processor being configured to execute the instructions to:
transmit a delete user data message to each of a plurality of computing devices positioned in a corresponding one of a plurality of cabinets of a testing frame, wherein the delete user data message causes each of the plurality of computing devices to delete user data;
transmit a delete operating system message to each of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the delete operating system message causes each of the plurality of computing devices to delete a first operating system;
transmit an install operating system message to each of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the install operating system message causes each of the plurality of computing devices to install a second operating system;
transmit, to each of the plurality of computing devices, a device data request message; and
receive, from each of the plurality of computing devices in response to the device data request message, a device data response message comprising device data, the device data comprising a device type, a model number, a serial number, a name of an operating system, and a year of manufacture.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to identify each of the plurality of computing devices based on data stored in a memory device that maps each of the plurality of computing devices to a corresponding port of at least one hub.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to identify each of the plurality of computing devices based on data stored in a memory device that maps each of the plurality of computing devices to a network address of a corresponding cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive, in response to transmitting the delete user data message to each of the plurality of computing devices, a delete user data status message from each of the plurality of computing devices, the delete user data status message characterizing a first status based on the deletion of the user data;
receive, in response to transmitting the delete operating system message to each of the plurality of computing devices, a delete operating system data status message from each of the plurality of computing devices, the delete operating system message characterizing a second status based on the deletion of the operating system;
receive, in response to transmitting the install operating system data message to each of the plurality of computing devices, an install operating system status message from each of the plurality of computing devices, the install operating system status message characterizing a third status based on the installation of the operating system; and
for each of the plurality of computing devices, provide for display at least one of the first status, the second status, and the third status.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test are of a first type, and one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test are of a second type, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to cause the one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test of the first type to perform a first operation during a timeframe, and cause the one or more of the plurality of computing devices under test of the second type to perform a second operation during the timeframe.

Assignees

• Communications Test Design Inc

Inventors

• Gunter Austin
• Dameron Patrick

Classifications

• G06F8/61 Primary

  Installation · CPC title

• G06F11/273 Primary

  Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits {(G06F11/263 takes precedence)} · CPC title