Abstract: A technique is disclosed for automatically determining system configuration information, including the type and version of hardware installed on remote equipment. A modified central control station communicates with each remote cell station to perform an iterative system configuration process that progressively refines the system configuration information, until the actual installed system configuration is obtained, or until manual intervention is required. The system configuration process initially assumes a system configuration having the cell station fully installed with a default hardware component. The default “guess” is sent to the cell station which, in turn, communicates with each of the hardware components using a message protocol appropriate for the assumed configuration. In one embodiment, the cell station queries each of the hardware components for their associated type and version.

Abstract: A message interface generator is disclosed that generates code routines that convert data elements between proprietary binary formats of one or more computer systems and a portable machine and software generation system independent message format, referred to herein as the “independent message format.” Thus, two systems can communicate data using the uniform independent message format, notwithstanding the proprietary binary formats of either system. The message interface generator automatically generates conversion code from existing data definitions to permit two systems to communicate using the uniform independent message format. The conversion code converts data elements of a given data type to and from the proprietary binary format of each system and the independent message format used on the common communication channel. The independent message format includes a predefined (but arbitrary) standard for each data type to be communicated between the two systems.