Patent ID: 6543047
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A build-to-order manufacturing method for producing a custom configured computer system comprising:assembling hardware in accordance with a customer order; testing the assembled hardware; downloading software to the assembled hardware in accordance with the customer order, the software including an operating system; and performing a fully integrated system test, the fully integrated system test including a) executing an operating system setup configured to fully integrate and test the hardware and software of the custom configured computer system from a perspective of the operating system prior to shipment to a customer and b) automatically executing, subsequent to the operating system setup, a software-based test module configured in accordance with the custom configured computer system being manufactured, being data driven, and having an input and an output, wherein the software-based test module input includes a system ID, a system configuration, a line of business, hardware components, software components, and expected deviations, the software-based test module responsive to data at its input for performing a testing of the integration of hardware and software of the custom configured computer system and further being adapted to uncover a configuration or functionality issue unable to be detected by the operating system and which results in the occurrence of a system integration problem, the configuration or functionality issue including a presence of at least one of an erroneous hardware component, an erroneous software component, and an interoperability between two components, the software-based test module further providing a corresponding test results data at its output.