The present invention generally relates to configurable systems, such as wireless communication network nodes that use multiple circuit card configurations, and particularly relates to providing assistance for system configuration activities.
A seemingly obvious relationship exists between the number of configuration options available for a given system and the number of configuration mistakes that are routinely made by those responsible for configuring the system. For example, operators routinely make configuration mistakes when configuring the potentially complicated systems and devices that make up wireless communication networks, although such networks represent just one example of commonly encountered configuration complexities.
A “simple” radio base station nicely illustrates the oftentimes-daunting configuration tasks faced by the personnel responsible for setting up and maintaining communication networks. Maintainability, expandability, and serviceability represent paramount considerations for many types of communication equipment, and radio base stations are no exception. Thus, a common architectural approach involves the adoption of a rack/sub-rack model, wherein the capacity, capability, and specific operating configuration of the radio base station depends on the particular combination(s) of circuit cards installed in its racks and/or sub-racks.
The specific combination of card types and card locations within the rack/sub-rack structure of the radio base station determines its configuration, and a given radio base station may have dozens or even hundreds of allowed configurations. In this context, it is relatively easy to configure the radio base station incorrectly by installing the wrong card types, installing too many cards, installing the wrong combinations of cards, installing cards in the wrong locations, etc. Worse still, the conventional radio base station does nothing more helpful than provide an indication that its current configuration is invalid, leaving the operator to make guesses about why the configuration is invalid, and what needs to be done to correct the condition.
Of course, the above radio base station hypothetically represents just one example of a much broader range of circumstances in which configuration mistakes are commonplace and difficult to avoid. Many other types of nodes in wireless and other types of communication networks have similar configuration complexities. Further, many types of software and computer systems have potentially bewildering arrays of configuration options, requiring operators to make configuration decisions involving complex combinations hardware components, software components, etc.