UEFI HII Attribute Modifiers for Configuration Dependency Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The configuration and management of information handling systems are complicated by proprietary and ad-hoc subsystem architectures and protocols, making standardization and interoperability difficult, especially in managing device dependencies and configuration settings across diverse systems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of attribute modifiers within the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) configuration language strings stored in a Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) database allows for platform-independent identification and management of configuration options, enabling remote and local administration of information handling systems by exposing interdependencies between configuration settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary and ad-hoc subsystem architectures and protocols are used for information handling systems, then system-specific functionality and flexibility are achieved, but configuration and administration become difficult and lack standardization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a standardized configuration language that can universally describe and manage configuration options across different information handling systems regardless of their proprietary subsystem architectures. The configuration language serves multiple functions by being able to represent various system configurations, dependencies, and administration operations through a common syntax and semantics, enabling a single tool to manage diverse systems without requiring system-specific knowledge
2Ease of operation
If standardized protocols like UEFI are introduced to manage configuration, then interoperability and ease of administration improve, but the ability to handle proprietary subsystem specifics may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing the standardized configuration language to capture system-specific details through localized attributes and modifiers within the standard framework. The configuration language can represent proprietary subsystem characteristics through specific configuration options, dependencies, and attributes that are localized to each system type while still using the same overall language structure, enabling both standardization and preservation of subsystem specifics
3Ease of operation
If configuration options are exposed through standardized interfaces, then remote and local administration become easier, but the complexity of managing interdependencies between configuration settings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a configuration language parser and interpreter as a mediator between the standardized configuration interface and the actual system configuration. This intermediary component handles the complexity of parsing configuration expressions, resolving dependencies between configuration options, and translating high-level configuration commands into system-specific operations, thereby shielding administrators from the underlying complexity while enabling standardized remote and local administration
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method includes identifying a first question that is associated with an object at an information handling system. The first question represents an opportunity to select a first configuration setting having a first value. A second question associated with the object is identified, the second question representing an opportunity to select a second configuration setting having a second value. The method further includes determining that relevance of the second question depends on the first value. A first dependency modifier is associated with the second question based on determining the relevance. The first dependency modifier identifies the first question, the first value, and an action keyword. The action keyword identifies a first action to be associated with a presentation of the second question.