Configuration sets new technique for use in configuration management

The advent of large-scale, complex electronics systems utilizing integrated, semiautomatic test equipment and integrated, semiautomatic maintenance support equipment, can cause the determination and definition of the exact configuration of the system to be extremely difficult, if even possible. By extending the concept of compatibility to include not only the interrelationship of equipment to equipment, but also to test equipment, support equipment, and the associated programming devices (tapes, cards, etc.), a sound basis for the definition of configurations can be formed. This paper discusses these concepts in terms of a system composed of modular line replaceable units (LRU's), a test programming tape, a maintenance programming tape, and the maintenance equipment. By assigning an ordered set of numbers to each LRU, and deriving other ordered sets from these LRU numbers, LRU compatibility and interchange-ability can be positively and quickly determined by inspection at all levels of the system. An example is discussed in detail. A mathematical foundation for the techniques is presented in the Appendix.