Patent ID: 7886102

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an interconnect including a slot and parameters associated therewith; and a compatibility manager to obtain from a module a table including the module's parameters and rules associated therewith, the table obtained when the module is coupled to the slot, wherein the compatibility manager applies the rules to the slot's parameters to determine the module's compatibility with the slot, the rules being obtained by the manager from the module, each of the rules, as obtained by the manager from the module, being associated with one or more of the parameters, and if, as a result of applying the rules to the slot's parameters, the compatibility manager makes a determination that multiple compatible configurations exist with respect to the module's compatibility with the slot, the compatibility manager is to forward the determination to one or more applications for resolution, and also if, based upon the applying of the rules to the slot's parameters, the compatibility manager determines that a certain applied rule indicates incompatibility between the module and the slot but another applied rule indicates compatibility between the module and slot, the compatibility manager is to resolve conflict between the certain applied rule and the another applied rule based upon a preference for compatibility.