Abstract: Electronic device configuration management systems and methods are disclosed. Configuration information for configuring at least one component of an electronic device is stored in a memory. A determination is made as to whether further configuration information capable of configuring the at least one component is available at the electronic device. Based on the determination, one of the configuration information and the further configuration information is loaded to configure the at least one component. The determination may be made, for example, by accessing compatibility information which is associated with the configuration information. Data structures supporting configuration management functions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method of electronically tracking a history of engineering change orders (ECOs) associated with a manufactured device. The device has at least one electronic component thereon. The method comprises, generally, storing in an electronic storage device associated with the device, the history of ECOs and updating the history of ECOs when a new ECO is associated with the device to indicate whether the new ECO was implemented on the device. The system utilizes the method and has an electronic storage device associated with the device and a data element stored therein. The contents thereof indicate the history of ECOs for the device and allow modification thereto to indicate whether a new ECO was implemented thereon. An ECO history enables a determination to be made of compatibilities between hardware and software elements and between hardware and firmware elements.