Computer systems and methods employing thin-client internet launching mechanisms

Improvements to computer systems and methods that permit platform identification to provide service and technical support to users. The present invention employs a compact Internet agent that is preferably part of a basic input output system (BIOS) of user computer systems. An operating system of the user computer systems operate to set up a registry. Each user computer system contains a web browser that is used to contact the central server by way of the Internet, for example when it is launched. The Internet agent is used to identify the user computer system during system BIOS boot. The BIOS launches when a user computer system is turned on, which launches the Internet agent. The Internet agent adds a predetermined number (preferably two) MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) headers to a registry. The default browser web page is changed to point to a web page on the central server. The MIME headers are inactive and useless until the web browser is launched and the user computer system connects to the web page. The central server analyzes the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) request upon connection. If the MIME headers are identified, the server identifies the user computer system, optionally asks the user for registration, and pushes service content to the user computer system.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to computer systems and methods, and more particularly, to a compact Internet agent that is part of a basic input output system (BIOS) of a computer system that permits platform identification to provide service and technical support to users.

Personal computers have a basic input output system (BIOS) which is a firmware program that is typically stored in a nonvolatile random access memory (or flash memory). The BIOS brings up the computer system when it is turned on. Many Windows™-based personal computers use a BIOS developed by the assignee of the present invention, know as PhoenixBIOS.

It has been found that it is often desirable to upgrade software or firmware or provide customized services to users. In the past, in order to upgrade or secure customized services, users have had to launch a web browser, select or input the desired web page address (such as the PhoenixNet web page, and interactively choose services or downloads that might be desirable. This tends to be time consuming, and also delays the upgrade or customization based upon the user.

It would be desirable to have the ability to automatically upgrade or customize software or firmware using the Internet. It would be desirable to be able to provide this upgrading and customization from a central server using a small amount of firmware on a user computer in a fast and nonintrusive manner.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide for a compact (thin) Internet agent that is part of a basic input output system (BIOS) of a computer system that permits platform identification in order to provide quality service and technical support to users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To accomplish the above and other objectives, the present invention provides for a variety of improvements to computer systems and methods. The present invention includes a compact Internet agent (referred to as iAgent) and corresponding methods. The Internet agent is part of a basic input output system (BIOS) of user computer systems that permits platform identification to provide service and technical support to users. The operating system of the respective user computer systems operate to set up a registry, such as a registry generated when using a Windows™ operating system.

The Internet agent is preferably built into (part of) the system BIOS (such as the well-known PhoenixBIOS developed by the assignee of the present invention) and is used to “clientify” the platform during system BIOS boot. This allows the assignee of the present invention, for example, through a web page on its PhoenixNet server computer and the Internet, to provide service and technical support to users from a central server. The user computer system also contains a web browser that is used to contact the central server when it is launched.

The BIOS launches when a user computer system is turned on. The BIOS in turn, and at the appropriate time, launches the Internet agent. The Internet agent adds a predetermined number (preferably two) of special MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) headers to the registry. The default web browser web page is changed to point to the web page on the central server.

The MIME headers are special in that they are inactive and useless until a user launches the web browser and connects to the web page. The central server analyzes the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) request upon connection. If the MIME headers are identified, the central server knows it is interacting with a PhoenixNet customer whose computer system operates using the PhoenixBIOS. The central server optionally asks the user for registration, and pushes service content to the user computer system. After the connection is established, any other related web activity can ensue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawing figures,FIG. 1, illustrates an exemplary system10in which the present invention may be used. The system10comprises a central server11which is coupled to the Internet12, along with a plurality of user computer system13which are also coupled to the Internet12. The central server11may be a PhoenixNet central server operated by the assignee of the present invention. It is to be understood that interconnection of the central server11and user computer systems13may be readily achieved in any manner that permits transfer of Internet mail-type messages, and may included intranets, wireless and other communication media.

Each of the user computer systems13comprises a system BIOS (basic input output system)14, such as the well-known PhoenixBIOS developed by the assignee of the present invention. Each user computer system13comprises an Internet agent (iAgent)15implemented in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The Internet agent15is preferably built into (part of) the system BIOS14, such as the well-known PhoenixBIOS developed by the assignee of the present invention.

Each user computer system13comprises an operating system16that is launched by the system BIOS14. The operating system16of the user computer system13operates to set up a registry17, such as a Windows-type registry, for example, when launched. Each user computer system13comprises a web browser18that is used in the context of the present invention to contact the central server11and when it is launched.

The Internet agent15is used to “clientify” the user computer system13during system BIOS boot in the manner described in detail below. The Internet agent15adds a predetermined number (preferably two) of special MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) headers19to the registry17. Examples of the MIME headers19that may preferably be employed with the Internet agent15are Content-Type:text/PTL and User-Agent: PTL/1.0.

The Internet agent15changes the default browser web page to point to the (PhoenixNet) web page on the central server11. Once the Internet agent15“clientifies” the user computer system13during booting of the system BIOS14, the central server11and the Internet12are used to provide service and technical support to users.

In operation, the BIOS14launches when the user computer system13is turned on. The BIOS14in turn, and at the appropriate time, launches the Internet agent15. The Internet agent15adds the MIME headers19to the registry17. The default web page of the web browser18is changed to point to the web page on the central server11.

The MIME headers19added in the registry17may be, but are not limited to, “User-Agent”, or “Content-Type”. The MIME headers19are special in that they are inactive and useless until a user launches his or her web browser18and connects to the PhoenixNet web page on the server computer11.

The PhoenixNet central server11analyzes the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) request. If the MIME headers19are identified, the central server11knows it is interacting with a PhoenixNet customer whose computer system13operates using PhoenixBIOS. The central server11optionally asks the user for registration, and pushes service content to the user computer system13. After the connection is established, any other PhoenixNet related web activity can ensue.

The Internet agent15is preferably treated as a regular feature of the system BIOS14, and is enabled or disabled by user in the BIOS power on self test (POST) setup menu of the system BIOS14. The Internet agent15does not require a user's identification and thus there is no personal privacy violation, and is fast and easy to implement. Since the Internet agent15does not detect or sniff a user's network connection, there is no slow-down during system boot. When the user invokes the web browser18, it fetches the MIME headers19from the registry17, which makes the connection to the PhoenixNet web page on the central server11automatic and seamless.

Because of the simplified functionality, the Internet agent15is very thin (compact) and flexible. This is particularly desirable, which allow for a minimum amount of precious read only memory (ROM) space to be used for the BIOS14. Also because of this, the code used to implement the Internet agent15may be made universal. There is no customization required for deployment of the Internet agent15. There is no ROM upgrade required even if the services and features delivered by the PhoenixNet web page are changed. The Internet agent15does not require knowledge about user's web browser18.

Advantages of the present invention are that Internet agent15is compact and efficient and requires limited ROM space. Connection and clientification using the Internet agent15is fast and nonintrusive. The Internet agent15is easy to implement and fast to deploy. The Internet agent15makes customized services centralized in the a central server11, such as, internationalization, multiple language support, time zone, and country code. It is easy to add or change features and services.

FIG. 2is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary method30in accordance with the principles of the present invention that permits identification of user computer systems13to provide service and technical support. The method30comprises the following steps.

One or more user computer system13are interconnected31to a central server (e.g. server computer)11, such as by way of the Internet12or by way of an intermediate intranet and server. Each user computer system13is loaded32with a system BIOS14that preferably contains an Internet agent15, an operating system16that is launched by the system BIOS14and that sets up a registry17, and a web browser18. The server computer11is loaded33with web page software that permits communication with the web browsers13of the user computer systems13.

A user computer system13is turned on34. The BIOS14is launched35, which in turn, launches36the Internet agent15. The Internet agent15operates to add37a predetermined number of MIME headers19to the registry17that identify the user computer system13. The Internet agent15also operates to change38a default web page of the web browser18to point to a predetermined web page on the server computer11.

A user launches41the web browser18to connect to the web page on the server computer11. The MIME headers19are transferred42in a HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) request to the server computer11. The central server11analyzes43the HTTP request to determine if the MIME headers19were transferred. If the MIME headers19are identified, the central server11optionally prompts44or asks45the user for registration, and pushes45service content to the user computer system13.

Thus, a compact Internet agent that is part of a basic input output system (BIOS) and method that permits platform identification to provide service and technical support to users have been disclosed. It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.