METHOD AND PROGRAM MODULE FOR THE CONFIGURATION OF A DEVICE

Abstract: It is the object of the invention to provide a method and a program module for configuring a device so as to facilitate the configuration of parameters dependent on each other and the changes of a value of a parameter. At the same time the determination of an optimal and admissible configuration is to be supported. A method and a program module determine the status of the parameters, and in case of a desired change of the value of a parameter admissible values are displayed. One of these admissible values is selected, and the remaining values of the parameters are calculated so as to obtain an optimal and functioning configuration. If another change is made, said method is repeated. Additional means support the fixing of the new value. It is an advantageous aspect that the new configuration is optimally supported and that the development can be reconstructed at any time.

Description: Method and program module for the configuration ot a device The invention relates to a method and a program module for configuring a device having a plurality of parameters, whereby the parameters are dependent on each other. If a device is newly configured, new values are allocated to different parameters of the device. This can, for example, be done manually. Frequently the different parameters are linked to each other in a way that they are dependent on each other by equations, provisions, rules etc. This means that a parameter dependent on another parameter cannot be changed arbitrarily because a rule might possibly be infringed thereby. With an increasing number of parameters dependent on each other, also the difficulties in providing a new configuration increase. Accordingly it is the object of the invention to provide a method and a program module for the configuration of a device in a way that the configuration of parameters being dependent on each other and thus the change of a value of a parameter is facilitated by simultaneously providing support for obtaining an optimal and admissible configuration. According to the invention this object is provided by the teaching of patent claim 1 and patent claim 5. It is an advantageous aspect of the invention that the values of the parameters can be changed by a user one after the other in an optionally selected order, whereby it can be seen at any time during the change whether the change is admissible by simultaneously determining an optimal configuration. It is, moreover, an advantageous aspect that by means of displaying the admissible and inadmissible values of a parameter the user immediately obtains information thereon during the configuration, whereby malfunctioning configurations can be avoided. The method can particularly advantageously be used for the configuration of radio base stations and for the configuration of graphics cards. Accordingly such a method is used in connection with parameters linked to each other. Additional advantageous embodiments can be inferred from subclaims 2 to 4 and 6 to 7. According to patent claim 2 it is particularly advantageous that admissible values for parameters are additionally displayed, to which parameters a value has already been permanently allocated. This increases the provision of an optimal configuration or a desired configuration, since such a review subsequently enables an even better determination of the individual parameters determined previously. It is equally advantageous according to patent claim 3 that also inadmissible values can be selected, whereby it is indicated simultaneously with the selection of an inadmissible value which changes have to be made for converting the selection into an admissible one. This increases the flexibility of a new configuration in an advantageous manner. According to patent claim 4 it proves to be advantageous that the sequence of the changes of parameter values is determined, whereby a conclusion can be drawn on the relevance of the individual parameters for thereby proposing changes in a way that the less relevant ones are changed first, whereby it is assumed that the parameters determined first are the most relevant ones. In the following the invention is explained in more detail by means of embodiments and the figures: The following figures show: Fig. 1 : a timing diagram of the inventive method for configuration, Fig. 2: a schematic illustration of an embodiment for the configuration of a radio base station. I ne metnoα according to the invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by means of figure 1. In a method for configuring a device having a plurality of parameters, the different parameters each have a different status. There are parameters which cannot be changed, i.e. they can only be read. Other parameters are either in a status where a value has been permanently allocated to them, or where no value has been permanently allocated to them. The latter are hereinafter called free ones. Said parameters can, therefore, be read and written. For obtaining a new configuration all those parameters are considered that are free or to which a fixed value has been allocated. The remaining parameters which can only be read have to remain unchanged and are adopted for a new configuration without changes. The parameters to which a fixed value has been allocated and the free parameters are considered for the new configuration. By determining a fixed value a fixed parameter can be formed out of a free parameter. Also, a parameter having a fixed value can be converted to a free parameter. This is, for example, user- defined and depends on the input. For example, each fixed value of a parameter can first be converted into a „free" status, or the fixed value remains allocated to a specific number of parameters. Said status is determined in a first step 10. In a second step 20 one of the parameters is selected for being changed. Preferably such a parameter is one that has no fixed value allocated to it. In a further step 30 it is determined and displayed which values are admissible for the selected parameter. This is determined in connection with the parameters and with the already fixed values. This is explained in more detail by means on an embodiment in the description below. In a next step 40 one of the values is selected and permanently allocated to the parameter. Preferably admissible values are selected, however, there still is the possibility to select and permanently allocate an inadmissible value, whereby it is additionally displayed which changes of other parameters having fixed values have to be made for turning the configuration into an admissible and functioning configuration. In another embodiment it can equally be displayed when displaying the admissible values for a parameter as to which changes are admissible for the already fixed parameters. This can, for example, result in an even better configuration. In the further process of the method according to the invention an optimal configuration for the remaining free parameters is calculated in a step 50. In the case where the configuration seems optimal, the process can be stopped. If the configuration is not yet in conformity with the desired one, again those parameters are determined to which a fixed value is being allocated. As an alternative this can also be noted and entered in the selection and allocation of a value according to step 40. The invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by means of an embodiment (without figure) with regard to the configuration of a graphics card. In this case three parameters for providing a configuration are required. One parameter indicates the definition, another parameter the repeat rate and a third parameter indicates the number of colors. Assuming that the following is an admissible and functioning configuration - a definition of 800x600, a repeat rate of 72 Hz and the number of colors 256 - it is desired to maintain the definition and to increase the repeat rate up to 76 Hz. If the parameter of the number of colors does not yet have a fixed value such a configuration works because said parameter is calculated in view of the other parameters already having fixed values in a manner, so as to obtain an optimal and thus admissible configuration. Accordingly the number of colors would be set at 16. If the number of colors, however, is also adjusted to a fixed value, such as 256, the selection of the repeat rate of 72 Hz is marked an inadmissible one. If the repeat frequency of 72 Hz is still selected, it will be displayed that the number of colors has to be changed for producing a functioning configuration. In this case again the alternatives are displayed. With the desired change of such a configuration it is generally assumed that the parameter appearing to be the most essential one is adjusted first. This is, for example, the definition of 800x600. If the repeat frequency is adjusted next, for example, to 76 Hz and it is desired thereupon to adjust the number of colors to 256, the change of the repeat frequency will be suggested first for solving said configuration, since said repeat frequency had been changed last and only after the definition had been adjusted. In this respect it is assumed that the first input is the most important one, which is why a less important parameter is proposed for the change first. Another embodiment according to figure 2 is explained in the following, whereby the configuration of a radio base station is concerned. For configuring a radio base station, for example, a configuration menu KM is used. Such a configuration menu KM comprises a plurality of parameters P1 , ...,Pn. The parameters are either parameters P1 being read only, which is marked by a cross, or parameters P3, P4, P8, to which a fixed value has already been allocated, which is marked by a black circle, or parameters P5, P6, P7, P13, Pn, to which no value has been permanently allocated, i.e. free parameters being marked by a white circle. In addition free sections P10, P11 , P12 are available, which have not been included for the sake of getting a better view. In the present example the unchangeable parameter P1 indicates the name of the radio base station control device BSC-name. As another parameter, to which a fixed values has already been allocated, parameter P8 indicates the selected frequency band FB. This can, for example, be DCS 1800, GSM or any other one. In the present case, DCS 1800 was chosen and fixed as a value. Parameter P3 indicates the number of sectors S. The number was set at 1. Parameter P4 indicates the number of transceiver TRX in the first sector S1. Said number was set at value 3. Parameter P7 indicating a control and display unit CDU is indicated as a parameter without a fixed value. Further parameters P13 and Pn have not been specified in more detail for the sake of getting a better view. In the illustrated example a selection is to be made for parameter P9 which indicates the type of the base transmitting /receiving station BTS-type. The parameter is still free. If a fixed value is now to be allocated to said parameter, a list L containing all possible base transmitting/receiving stations BTS-type is read-out. Those types the values of which entail an inadmissible configuration are marked and indicated by an b X in list L. All other admissible values are indicated without an X and are, thus, freely selectable. If an optional value is now selected, it can permanently be allocated to the parameter, which is indicated by the illustration of a black circle. In the following the program module according to the invention for configuring a device is explained in more detail (without figure). A program module according to the invention comprises first means for determining a status of the parameters. The status of a parameter indicates whether it can only be read, whether it is free or whether it is fixed. As second means the program module comprises means for determining admissible values for a parameter to be changed in dependence on the status of the additional parameters. Accordingly, the parameters to which a value has already been permanently allocated are being used for the determination, i.e. for calculating admissible values. The parameters which can only be read are equally used for the calculation. Further means for calculating an optimal configuration of the parameters in dependence on the status determine the optimal configuration for the free parameters, which can then, for example, be occupied automatically. Moreover, the program module comprises third means for determining admissible values for parameters already having permanently allocated values. This serves the further optimization, whereby also the already fixed parameters can further contribute to the optimization. Additional fourth means for determining admissible values for parameters in the selection of an inadmissible configuration serve the selection also of an inadmissible value, whereby then a proposal for providing an admissible configuration is determined and displayed simultaneously

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Method for configuring a device having a plurality of parameters, wherein one parameter is selected for the change, admissible values for changing the parameters in dependence on parameters having permanently allocated values are determined and displayed, a value is selected for the parameter and permanently allocated thereto, additional parameters, to which no value is permanently allocated, are calculated so as to obtain an optimal configuration. 2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein it is additionally displayed which further admissible values for parameters having permanently allocated values are available. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein admissible and inadmissible values can be selected for the parameter by displaying in the selection of an inadmissible value which change is required for obtaining an admissible configuration. 4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the order of change of the parameters is determined and wherein, when selecting the inadmissible value, the required changes are displayed in the order so as to change the last changes first. 5. Program module for configuring a device having a plurality of parameters, comprising first means for determining a status of the parameters, second means for determining admissible values for a parameter to be changed in dependence on the status of additional parameters, additional means for calculating an optimal configuration of the parameters in dependence on the status. 6. Program module according to claim 5, comprising third means for determining admissible values for parameters already having permanently allocated values. 7. Program module according to claim 5 or 6, comprising fourth means for determining admissible values for parameters when selecting an inadmissible configuration. 8. Use of the method according to claim 1 for configuring a radio base station. 9. Use of the method according to claim 1 for configuring a graphics card.

Inventors: RENSCHLER MARTIN, RENSCHLER, MARTIN
Applicants: ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M, TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G06F9
IPC codes: G06F9, G06N5, G06Q10