Bradley Davis Swick

US Patent:

7941347, May 10, 2011

Filed:

Oct 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/867257

Inventors:

E. Maria Boonie - Hopewell Junction NY, US
Lisa L. Godwin - El Dorado Hills CA, US
Michael L. Gregor - Endicott NY, US
Danna M. Lambert - Cedar Park TX, US
Jeffrey L. Seidell - Goldens Bridge NY, US
Bradley D. Swick - Valhalla NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 2625, 705 26, 705 27, 705 261, 705 271, 705 272, 345619, 320110, 380 55

Abstract:

A provider server receives an order from a customer by way of a workstation for a customer selected configuration change of computing resources of an end user machine, the provider server having a predetermined time period and negotiates configuration change price for billing said customer for the purchase of said ordered customer selected configuration change, said negotiated configuration change price for billing said customer for the purchase of said ordered customer selected configuration change. If the customer takes delivery of said customer selected configuration change within said predetermined time period, the provider server billing said customer for said delivered customer selected configuration change, however if the customer does not take delivery of said customer selected configuration change within said predetermined time period, the provider server cancelling said order and cancelling said billing according to said configuration change price based on expiration of said predetermined time period.

US Patent:

8056074, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Nov 15, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/940411

Inventors:

E. Maria Boonie - Hopewell Junction NY, US
Lisa L. Godwin - El Dorado Hills CA, US
Michael L. Gregor - Endicott NY, US
Danna M. Lambert - Cedar Park TX, US
Jeffrey L. Seidell - Goldens Bridge NY, US
Bradley D. Swick - Valhalla NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 9/45
G06F 15/177

US Classification:

717171, 709220, 709223

Abstract:

A system and program product for enabling dormant computer hardware resources in a computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources. The method includes accepting a customer request to enable a set of dormant hardware resources, and providing computer readable instructions to a customer accessible console in communication with the computer system. The instructions are installable by the customer, and are capable of enabling dormant computer hardware resources upon installation. An order process establishes prerequisites, facilitates customer order placement, and provides rapid order fulfillment. Prerequisites include contract terms, information describing the computer system configuration, access to provider systems, and customer system setup. Ordering is facilitated through information management, configuration rules, and an interactive interface, presenting valid configuration options to the customer. Fulfillment is facilitated through parallel processing, providing computer readable upgrade instructions nearly concurrently with provider's internal order approval.

US Patent:

20040215748, Oct 28, 2004

Filed:

Apr 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/426158

Inventors:

E. Boonie - Hopewell Junction NY, US
Lisa Godwin - El Dorado Hills CA, US
Michael Gregor - Endicott NY, US
Richard Janey - Danbury CT, US
Danna Lambert - Cedar Park TX, US
Jeffrey Seidell - Goldens Bridge NY, US
Bradley Swick - Valhalla NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F015/177
G06F009/44

US Classification:

709/220000, 717/171000

Abstract:

A method for enabling dormant computer hardware resources in a computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources. The method includes accepting a customer request to enable a set of dormant hardware resources, and providing computer readable instructions to a customer accessible console in communication with the computer system. The instructions are installable by the customer, and are capable of enabling dormant computer hardware resources upon installation. An order process establishes prerequisites, facilitates customer order placement, and provides rapid order fulfillment. Prerequisites include contract terms, information describing the computing system configuration, access to provider systems, and customer system setup. Ordering is facilitated through information management, configuration rules, and an interactive interface, presenting valid configuration options to the customer. Fulfillment is facilitated through parallel processing, providing computer readable upgrade instructions nearly concurrently with provider's internal order approval. An alternative embodiment provides upgrade instructions before provider's internal order approval.