Patent ID: 8825990

Claim:
An apparatus for configuring and customizing a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image the apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the processor to: automatically locate a remote repository server containing an XML configuration file that is self-describing, user definable, and validatable; automatically obtain the XML configuration file from the remote repository server each time the specific-purpose local client boots up; automatically determine, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up, whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image based on the XML configuration file; automatically apply a default configuration to the windows-based embedded image if it is determined that the previous state is to be reset; and automatically apply a configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the XML configuration file after the default configuration is applied, if it is determined that the previous state is to be reset; wherein the configuration change persists across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client; and wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose.