ABSTRACT
The advent of embedded microcontrollers and the possibility of equipping microcontrollers with small, fast, and low-cost network interfaces has allowed for the creation of smart distributed systems consisting of a set of networked embedded devices. A distributed network of embedded devices also comes with increased complexity for typical configuration and management tasks such as system setup (no hyphen/space), diagnosis, repair, monitoring, calibration, and change. In order to handle this complexity, computer-automated mechanisms can perform tasks such as registering new devices, auto-configuring data flow, and detecting configuration mismatches. This chapter examines state-of-the art mechanisms for handling for handling these tasks. It investigates requirements for configuration and management tasks, and analyzes the necessary interfaces of an intelligent device and proposes meaningful distinctions between interface types. The chapter discusses profiles and other representation mechanisms of system properties for embedded devices. It also deals with application download, diagnosis, and calibration of devices.
