Inventors:
Matthew Damian Cook - Houston TX
Roberta Walton Hensley - Houston TX
Barry Donald Adkins - Houston TX
Erik Stefan Peterson - Tomball TX
Richard Frederick Roesler - Houston TX
James Michael Parks - Richmond TX
Assignee:
Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX
International Classification:
G06F 1750
Abstract:
An automated system for facilitating creation of a compatible rack-mountable component personal computer. The system comprises: (1) data storage circuitry for containing a database of component data, the component data including a list of alternative computer components and a group of computer component characteristics associated with each of the alternative computer components, (2) data display circuitry for displaying graphical representations, on an associated display device, of multiple portions of the component data to a user, (3) data input circuitry for accepting user selection data from the user, the user selection data including chosen ones of the list of alternative computer components, the user providing the user selection data by manipulating the graphical representations on the display device and (4) data processing circuitry for evaluating a compatibility of the chosen ones of the list of alternative computer components, the evaluating means employing the associated group of computer component characteristics to determine the compatibility, the chosen ones of the list of alternative computer components forming a portion of computer configuration data, the data display circuitry capable of displaying the computer configuration data to the user.