System using designer editor and knowledge base for configuring preconfigured software in an open system in a distributed environment

A process for configuring preconfigured software implemented by a system for configuring preconfigured software in an open system network in a distributed environment, said system including, in a work station, a designer, an editor, and a knowledge base containing data describing various elements of the network that can be configured and links connecting the various elements, and, in a station to be configured, an interpreter, said system further including means for read and write access to the knowledge base by the designer, said designer including means for defining various configuration capabilities of the editor on which a desired configuration is displayed, said editor including means for using data in the knowledge base related to topology of the network and configuration parameters of the various elements which comprise the network to construct a configurable homogeneous entity which can be loaded, loading means for loading the configurable entity into the station to be configured, the interpreter including means for executing configuration operations and transforming initial configuration parameters into parameters specific to the desired configuration which can also be used by the editor, and means for implementing a process for configuring the preconfigured software, wherein

• said process comprises, dividing said process into a plurality of subprocesses, including initiating a first subprocess for editing the knowledge base to enable the user of a work station to access the knowledge base and create, edit, modify and store said knowledge base, initiating a second subprocess for determining a configuration which enables the user of a work station to construct a desired configuration, initiating a third subprocess for updating the desired configuration in the station to be configured, initiating a fourth subprocess for analyzing and controlling the desired configuration in the configured station, and initiating a fifth subprocess for scanning the desired configuration of a configured station from the work station.