Patent ID: 7284234
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for upgrading a node of a communications network with updated software, comprising: a computer terminal coupled to said node, said computer terminal including a display screen, a file storage system, and a software system, said software system comprising a plurality of linked modules to provide an upgrade framework for targeted software elements of the node, said linked modules comprising a hardware evaluation module, a performance evaluation module, a software upgrade module, and a network monitoring module, each said module including a set of configurable software tools stored as files in said file storage system and providing executable routines for performing functions associated with their respective modules; a graphic-based scripting module on a said computer terminal configured to present an operator with a screen image to permit the operator to build a script from a selection of tools selected from said sets of software tools and to initiate activation of tools within said selection of tools from selectable triggering events; said graphic-based scripting module presenting a respective graphical representation of each of said selection of tools on a screen image, and having input elements for receiving instructions from the operator for sequencing ones of said selection of tools for said script; and said graphic-based scripting module being configured to permit the operator (i) to select a tool from the hardware evaluation module to determine that the node has the necessary hardware elements to operate the updated software, (ii) to select a tool from the software upgrade module to download software into an inactive memory portion of a component of the node while the software element is still operating; (iii) to select a tool from the performance evaluation module to perform download integrity tests; (iv) to select a tool from the upgrade module to switch the status of the inactive memory portion to active if the download integrity tests are passed; and (v) to select a tool from the performance evaluation module to gather statistics of events occurring in step (iv), and said graphic-based scripting module being operable to execute the tools selected in steps (i) to (v) in sequence to perform said upgrading of said node with said new software when said tool from the hardware evaluation module determines that the node has the necessary hardware elements to operate the updated software.