Patent ID: 6023562
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A network updating arrangement, for a network which comprises a plurality of permanent communication links with associated switches, each switch having an update status selected from at least two alternative statuses, the service capabilities of each link being functionally affected by the update status of at least one switch, and the links being grouped according to allocated identifiers, each group sharing a common identifier,the arrangement comprising a database system for logging an update status indicator for each switch, the database system comprising data stored in at least two different data structures, these comprising a link data structure and a switch data structure, the link data structure logging for each link of the network its allocated identifier, or identifiers and all switches whose update status functionally affects the service capabilities of that link, and the switch data structure providing for each switch an index to the link data structure, logging thereby all permanent links whose service capabilities are functionally affected by the update status of that switch, and storing for each switch the update status indicator,the arrangement further comprising data input means to the link data structure, for selecting, in respect of one or more identifiers, a minimum number of the permanent links in the group of links for which it is the common identifier, and indicating means responsive to said selection to indicate one or more of the switches whose update status can be changed to enable predetermined service capabilities to be provided on said minimum number of links without changing the association between links and services,wherein each identifier corresponds to specific terminal equipment, said terminal equipment having access to the group of permanent links sharing that identifier for communications by means of the network.