Patent ID: 8289180

Claim:
Device for managing configuration and maintenance of a number N of items of apparatus EQ i integrated into a system, i denoting an identification index for the apparatus EQ i and lying between 2 and N, the system comprising, furthermore, a main computer RC, the apparatus EQ i exchanging data with the main computer RC through a communication network, the apparatus EQ i being able to be integrated into the system or to be removed from the system, said device comprising: at least one data concentrator C ( 100 ); a number N of radio tags ET i , each radio tag ET i being fixed securely to the apparatus EQ i ; a number M of communication nodes N j , where j denotes an identification index for the communication node N j , j lies between 2 and M, M is less than or equal to N, and in that a communication node N j has a fixed position related to the system and that the node N j is devised so as to exchange data with radio tags ET i through a contactless link, all the nodes N j are linked to a data concentrator C by a wired link; in which: the constructor of the system communicating a first applicable configuration cue for the system and a second identification cue for the system to the data concentrator C during delivery of the system, the data concentrator C comprises: means for storing the first cue and the second cue; means for transmitting, via the wired links, the communication nodes N j and the contactless links, the first cue and the second cue to all the radio tags ET i , on each interruption of power supply to the system; wherein: at least one radio tag ET i occupying a position preventing an exchange of data through the contactless link with one of the communication nodes, the radio tag ET i has the capacity to exchange data with at least one communication node N j .