Patent ID: 6113652
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
In a telecommunications network having a plurality of coupled nodes and a network controller coupled to at least one of those nodes, a node apparatus comprising:a) coupling means for electrically coupling functional cards; andb) a plurality of functional cards coupled to said coupling means, each card having a processor means and software storage means for storing software which is used by said processor means, with one of said functional cards comprising means for storing a current running version of software for each of the other of said plurality of functional cards, and means for receiving and storing in background incoming updated versions of software for said plurality of functional cards, said updated versions of software being provided to said means for receiving in an overhead portion of a telecommunications signal frame, thereby being non-disruptive to said network,wherein upon command of said network controller, said updated versions of software are provided in foreground by said functional card having said means for receiving and storing to respective processor means and software storage means of the others of said plurality of functional cards, thereby causing said others of said plurality of functional cards to run said updated versions of software.