Abstract:
Disclosed are systems and methods of transferring computer hardware from one set of users to another set of users. An exemplary receives units of circuitry from a plurality of business entities, and determines if access to a unit is blocked by lack of a primary password. If access is blocked, the method determines whether a value of the unit exceeds a threshold. If the value exceeds a threshold, the method attaches a connector to the unit, uses the processor to send a first set of signals into a hardware port of the unit via the connector, and receives a visual signal from the unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to systems and methods of managing computer systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods of transferring computer hardware from one set of users to another set of users. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A substantial percentage of personal computer (PC) hardware, returned to recovery or recycling centers, is not processed for reuse intact, and is instead dispositioned for scrap processing. Scrapping prevents realization of the numerous environmental benefits associated with reutilization of both the PC and hard drive. 
     Furthermore, from a financial perspective, scrapping of functional PCs and hard drives also inhibits secondary channel sales ability (brokering of PCs and hard drives externally) and minimizes potential recoveries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the problem above, there is a method of operating with a processor having access to a plurality of programs, each program configured to communicate with a respective type of circuitry. The method comprises receiving units of circuitry from a plurality of business entities, the receiving step including receiving primary passwords for a subset of the units; determining if access to a unit is blocked by lack of a primary password; attaching a connector to the unit; if the determining step determines that access is blocked, using the processor to send a first set of signals into a hardware port of the unit via the connector; subsequently receiving a signal from the unit; and depending on the signal received from the unit, using the processor to conditionally execute one of the programs, to send a second set of signals into the hardware port of the unit via the connector, thereby unblocking access to the unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       References are made to the following text taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram emphasizing an aspect of the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a process performed in the exemplary system. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of a workstation in the exemplary system. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a display screen of the circuitry that constitutes the workstation of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart emphasizing an aspect of the processing shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of a display screen of a computer system currently being processed by the workstation. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of the display screen of the computer system currently being processed by the workstation, at a subsequent time. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  constitute a flow chart of another process performed in the exemplary system. 
     
    
    
     The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention, and additional advantages thereof. Certain drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features may be shown larger than relative actual size to facilitate a more clear description of those features. Throughout the drawings, corresponding elements are labeled with corresponding reference numbers. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows system  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Computer company  3  controls manufacturing facilities  5 . Manufacturing facilities  5  assemble computer systems  7 . Each system  7  includes a processor board having a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), and a disk drive housing enclosing a magnetic storage disk. The BIOS is code that controls basic hardware operations, such as interactions with disk drives, hard drives, and the keyboard. The BIOS of system  7  includes a program that allows normal BIOS password processing to be substituted with different processing, provided that the BIOS receives certain signals via the USB port, as described in more detail below. 
     Manufacturing facilities  5  transfer computer hardware set  22 , containing multiple systems  7 , to retailer  21 . This transfer of computer hardware set  22  is pursuant to a lease agreement between computer company  3  and retailer  21 . Retailer  21  uses computer hardware set  22  in the course of doing business. 
     Manufacturing facilities  5  transfer a computer hardware set  26 , containing multiple systems  7 , financial services company  25 . This transfer of computer hardware set  26  is pursuant to a sale agreement between computer company  3  and company  25 . Company  25  uses computer hardware set  26  in the course of doing business. 
     At end and of the lease agreement between retailer  21  and computer company  3 , computer company  3  receives hardware set  22 ′ from retailer  21 , and hardware passwords for some of the processors and disks in hardware set  22 ′. Hardware set  22 ′ includes most of the systems  7  that were in hardware set  22 . Typically, hardware set  22 ′ will include all (100%) of the systems  7  that were in hardware set  22 . Hardware set  22 ′ includes more than 50 systems  7 . 
     More than a year after the transfer of hardware set  26  to financial services company  25 , computer company  3  receives hardware set  26 ′ from financial services company  25 , and hardware passwords for some of the processors and disks in hardware set  26 ′. Hardware set  26 ′ includes most of the systems  7  that were in hardware set  26 . Typically, hardware set  26 ′ will include all (100%) of the systems  7  that were in hardware set  26 . Hardware set  26 ′ includes more than 50 systems  7 . 
     Computer company  203  controls manufacturing facilities  205 . Manufacturing facilities  205  assemble computer systems  207 . Each system  207  includes a processor board having a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), and a disk drive housing enclosing a magnetic storage disk. The BIOS of system  207  includes a program that allows normal BIOS password processing to be substituted with different processing, provided that the BIOS receives certain signals via the USB port, as described in more detail below. 
     Manufacturing facilities  205  transfer computer hardware set  24 , containing multiple systems  207 , to retailer  23 . This transfer of computer hardware set  24  is pursuant to a sale agreement between computer company  203  and retailer  23 . Retailer  23  uses computer hardware set  24  in the course of doing business. 
     Computer company  3 , computer company  203 , retailer  21 , financial services company  25 , and retailer  23  are non-affiliated, meaning that they are not affiliates with respect to each other. Is this patent application, concerns are affiliates of each other when one concern controls or has the power to control the other, or a third party or parties controls or has the power to control both. Power to control is described in Section 121 of the U.S. regulations of the Small Business Administration. 
     More than a year after the transfer of hardware set  24  from computer company  203  to retailer  23 , computer company  3  receives hardware set  24 ′ from retailer  23 , and hardware passwords for some of the processors and disks in hardware set  24 ′. Hardware set  24 ′ includes most of the systems  207  that were in hardware set  24 . Typically, hardware set  24 ′ will include all (100%) of the systems  207  that were in hardware set  24 . Hardware set  24 ′ includes more than 50 systems  207 . 
     Hardware sets  21 ′,  22 ′, and  23 ′ arrive together at reclamation facility  10  on truck  29 . Computer company  3  controls reclamation facility  10 . 
       FIG. 2  also shows a back view of a system  7  received in hardware set  22 ′ from retailer  21 . System  7  includes a processor board  41 , a disk housing  47 , and a cable  49  connected to disk housing  47 . USB port  43  is connected to processor board  41 . 
     A paper slip  51  is attached to the system  7  shown in  FIG. 2 . Paper slip  51  was taped to systems  7  by personnel in retailer  21 . Paper slip  51  bears the hardware (mother or system board) password and/or hard drive passwords that were selected and set by personnel in retailer  21 . Some systems  7  and  207  received at facility  10  will not be associated with a slip  51 , or other means of conveying a password. 
       FIG. 3  shows a flow diagram of a process performed in reclamation facility  10 . A workstation in facility  10  receives a system, such as a system  7  or a system  207 , from truck  29  (step  5 ). A human operator at the workstation determines whether the BIOS password of processor board  41  is known (step  10 ). The password could be known via a variety of means, for example hard copy media such as paper slip  51 . 
     If the password is known, facility  10  then can proceed with further reutilization processing. (step  15 ). 
     If the password is unknown, a decision is made based on an estimated value of the system (step  20 ). 
     If the system value is not greater than a threshold, the system is moved to a different part of facility  10  or other disassembly and scrap facilities where systems are dismantled to harvest reusable parts or dispose of remaining scrap material. (step  25 ). 
     If the system value is greater than a threshold, workstation  300  ( FIG. 4 ) applies signals to the system, to recover the password. (step  35 ). 
       FIG. 4  shows workstation  300 . Central processing unit (CPU)  305  executes programs  330 ,  315 ,  320 , and  325  in memory  310 . 
     Program  315  causes a set of signals to be sent through cable  306  and USB connector  307 . Certain models of systems  7 , from computer company  3 , are responsive to the set of signals from program  315 . In response to receiving the set of signals from program  315 , these certain models of systems  7  will allow the setting of a supervisory BIOS password. These certain models of systems  7  constitute a first type of circuitry. 
     Program  320  causes a set of signals to be sent through cable  306  and USB connector  307 . Other models of systems  7 , from computer company  3 , are responsive to the set of signals from program  320 . In response to receiving the set of signals from program  320 , these other models of systems  7  will allow the setting of a supervisory BIOS password. These other models of systems  7  constitute a second type of circuitry. 
     Program  325  causes a set of signals to be sent through cable  306  and USB connector  307 . Systems  207 , from computer company  203 , are responsive to the set of signals from program  325 . In response to receiving the set of signals from program  325 , systems  207  will allow the setting of a supervisory BIOS password. These systems  207  constitute a third type of circuitry. 
     Dispatch program  330  controls which of programs  315 ,  320 , and  325  to execute. Dispatch program  330  is responsive to selection of an icon by mouse  340  manipulated by operator  301 , an ENTER key on keyboard  342 , or activation of foot pedal  343 . 
       FIG. 5  shows display screen  335  of workstation in more detail. After operator  301  connects USB connector  307  to the system currently being processed, operator  301  may use mouse  342  to select icon  338 . Operator  301  then views light signal  9  emitted by screen  8  to see whether the current system remains locked. In other words, operator  301  is responsive to a light signal  9  received from screen  8  and if light signal  9  indicates the current system is still blocked, operator  301  operates selects icon  337  to execute a different unlock program. 
     This process is shown in more detail in connection with  FIG. 6 , a flow diagram of a process performed in workstation  300 . After a system arrives at workstation  300 , operator  301  plugs Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector  307  into USB port  43  of the system (step  5 ), and operator  301  then manipulates mouse  340  to select icon  338 , thereby activating dispatch program  330 . Dispatch program  330  selects unlock program  315  (step  10 ) and passes control to unlock program  315 . Program  315  sends signals to processor board  41  via USB cable  306 , USB connector  307 , and USB port  43 . (step  15 ). 
     Operator  301  then determines whether the current system remains blocked, by viewing screen  8  being driven by the BIOS of the current system (step  20 ).  FIG. 7  shows display screen  8  of system  7  when system  7  remains blocked.  FIG. 8  shows display screen  8  of system  7  when system  7  has been unblocked. 
     If the system is no longer blocked, operator  301  sends the system out of workstation  300  for reuse (step  25 ). If the system remains blocked, operator  301  activates selects icon  337 , presses the ENTER key on keyboard  342 , or presses foot pedal  343 , causing dispatch program  330  to determine whether there are unlock utilities remaining (step  30 ). If there are unlock utilities remaining, dispatch program  330  selects the next unlock program, unlock program  320  for example, (step  35 ) and causes the unlock program to be executed (step  15 ). Throughout steps  15 ,  20 ,  30 ,  35 ,  15 ,  20 ,  30 ,  35 , etc, operator  301  does not unplug connector  307  and cable  306  from port  43 . 
     In summary, an exemplary method receives sets  22 ′,  26 ′, and  24 ′ of computer systems from retailer  21 , company  25 , and retailer  23 , along with hardware passwords for some, but not all, of the computer systems. For each system, the method determines if access to a computer system is blocked by the lack of a password. If access is blocked and the system meets certain criteria, a CPU executes a program to send a first set of signals into a USB port of the system via a workstation connector. 
     If access to the system remains blocked, the CPU executes another program, to send a second set of signals into the USB port via the workstation connector. 
     The criteria, affecting the decision whether to unblock the system, may include technology level, product age, and/or recoverable value in an asset recovery environment where the magnitude of returns and variety of branded products is great. 
     As an alternative to the processing described above, a dispatch program may send test signals to the system, and receive a response to the test signals, to detect the system brand and model and thereby select the appropriate password reset program to execute. 
     The system may identify the last valid password and/or allows a new password to be initiated. 
     As another alternative, the PCs and workstation may be configured such that processor board  41  reads the BIOS password out of an EEPROM on processor board  41 , and sends the BIOS password out of USB port  43 . The workstation would then receive the password via USB cable  306 , allowing the operator to view the accessed password on a screen at the workstation, and the operator would then unlock the PC and/or reset the password. 
     Second Exemplary Process 
     If the hard drive password is unknown, in some cases it can be accessed from the system BIOS. If it cannot be accessed this way, then the hard drive is removed and placed the test bed for password recovery, then the hard drive would be reinstalled into the system. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a flow diagram of another process performed in reclamation facility  10 . According to the process of  FIGS. 9A and 9B , workstation circuitry is directly attached to a single loose hard drive connector or to a specially designed test bed where multiple loose hard drives can be accessed concurrently. The workstation would then execute program(s), to access the password information stored in the hard drive EPROM. Once accessed, the password would be displayed on a workstation screen and the operator would unlock or reset the hard drive password. The hard drive could then be brokered for eventual resale/reutilization. 
     In this Patent Application, the word circuitry encompasses dedicated hardware, and/or programmable hardware, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or reconfigurable logic array, in combination with programming data, such as sequentially fetched CPU instructions or programming data for a reconfigurable array. Thus, circuitry encompasses, for example, a hard disk drive unit, or a motherboard having a BIOS. 
     In this Patent Application, the term “primary password” means a password for access to BIOS or to a disk. Thus, “primary password” means “bios password”, “hardware password”, “power-on password”, “power-up password”, “CMOS password”, “disk password”, “hard drive password”, or “HDD password”. 
     In summary, unlock program  315  is configured to communicate with a BIOS of a first model of system from computer company  3 . Unlock program  320  is configured to communicate with a BIOS of a second model of system from computer company  3 . Unlock program  325  is configured to communicate with a BIOS of a system from computer company  203 . 
     If access to a BIOS or disk is blocked by lack of a primary password, the method uses a processor to send unlock signals or brand detecting signals into a hardware port of the unit via the connector. Depending on a signal then received from the unit, the method then uses the processor to conditionally execute one of the unlock programs, to send a second set of signals into the hardware port of the unit via the connector, thereby unblocking access to the unit. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or the scope of Applicants&#39; general inventive concept. The invention is defined in the following claims. In general, the words “first,” “second,” etc., employed in the claims do not necessarily denote an order.