Patent ID: 7363237

Claim:
A method to correct inoperability between components of a computer system, the method comprising: identifying a first product, comprising hardware manufactured in a first, earlier, non-upgraded, configuration and a second, later, upgraded, configuration by a first supplier; identifying a second product, available from a second supplier, independent from the first supplier, and comprising a software package specifying operability thereof with the second configuration and inoperability with the first configuration of the first product; testing the second product to identify a solution providing operability thereof with the first configuration, the identified solution comprising at least one of a new software product distinct from the second product, an alternative configuration of the second product, a hardware manipulation of the first product, and a hardware exchange of at least one component of the first product; and notifying at least one of the first and second suppliers of the existence of the identified solution providing operability of the second product with the first configuration.