Patent Publication Number: US-2011055822-A1

Title: Method for upgrading software of gateways

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to gateways, and especially to a method for upgrading software of gateways. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An operational flow for upgrading software in a gateway can include checking status of the gateway, setting an upgrade configuration, triggering the gateway to download corresponding to a device information file (INF), and confirming the upgrade. Each step in the upgrade process must, in many cases, be manually executed by an operator. 
     However, when multiple gateways are updated together, coordination of the process for all can present considerable difficulty, owing to varying schedules among the gateways. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of an application environment of a gateway upgrade system utilizing a method for upgrading software of gateways as disclosed; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for upgrading software of gateways as disclosed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of one embodiment of an application environment of a gateway upgrade system  10  is disclosed. The gateway upgrade system  10  comprises a management device  100 , a device information file (INF) server  300 , an image server  400 , and a plurality of gateways  200 , connected by a communication network  500 . 
     The gateway  200  generates a status log. In one embodiment, the gateway  200  may include a plurality of cards  201  including line cards, and management cards for managing the line cards. The status log comprises a status of each card  201 , a current alarm count table, and other setting values. The gateway  200  is considered normal only if all the cards  201  are in the active or standby modes correctly, the alarm count is 0, and the other setting values are normal. In one embodiment, the alarm count is used to count errors of the gateway  200 . 
     The management device  100 , implementing management of the plurality of gateways  200 , comprises a capture module  101 , an analysis module  102 , a trigger module  103 , and a confirmation module  104 . The capture module  101  communicates with the plurality of gateways  200 , and acquires status logs thereof. The analysis module  102  is operable to analyze the status logs, to ascertain the status of the plurality of gateways  200 . The trigger module  103  is operable to trigger the one or more gateways  200  to be in normal status to download an INF from the INF server  300 . The confirmation module  104  is operable to discern whether all of the plurality of gateways  200  in normal status have completed the software upgrade. Each of the modules  101 - 104  may comprise one or more computerized codes that are stored in a storage system  105  of the management device  100  and operable to be executed by at least one processor  106 . 
     The INF server  300  is connected to the one or more gateways  200  to be in normal status based on the analysis of the analysis module  102  of the management device  100 , and generates an INF for each of the one or more gateways  200  to be in normal status. The INF comprises a media access control (MAC) address, and mapping addresses in the image server  400 , of the one or more gateways  200  to be in normal status to locate the path to download software update in the imager server  400  easily, and further comprises an update time for the normal gateways  200  to update. 
     The image server  400  is operable to disseminate the software update for the plurality of gateways  200 , where the plurality of gateways  200  are configured to download the software update automatically. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for upgrading software of gateways  200  as disclosed, the method being applied in a gateway upgrade system  10  such as, for example, that shown in  FIG. 1 . In block S 201 , the capture module  101  of the management device  100  communicates with a plurality of gateways  200 , and acquires status logs thereof. In one embodiment, each log comprises a status for the card  201  it represents, a current alarm count table, and other setting values. 
     In block S 202 , the analysis module  102  of the management device  100  analyzes the acquired status logs for the plurality of gateways  200  to determine which, if any, for the plurality of gateways  200  are in a normal status. In one embodiment, the gateway  200  is considered normal only if all the cards  201  in the gateway  200  are active and standby modes of the gateway  200  are normal, the alarm count is 0, and the other setting values are normal. 
     If the analysis module  102  determines that one or more gateways  200  are in abnormal status, the management device  100  stores information from the status logs and stops the software upgrade of the gateways  200  that are in abnormal status. If the analysis module  102  determines that any of the plurality of gateways  200  is in normal status, block S 203  is implemented. 
     In block S 203 , the INF server  300  connects to the one or more gateways  200  deemed in normal status, and generates an INF for each. In one embodiment, the INF comprises both fixed and variable information. The fixed information comprises information that remains unchanged, such as gateway mapping address on the image server  400 . The variable information refresh in real-time, and comprise, for example, update time, MAC address of the gateway  200 , and others. 
     In block S 204 , the trigger module  103  of the management device  100  triggers the one or more gateways  200  in the normal status to download the INF from the INF server  300 . 
     In block S 205 , the one or more gateways  200  in the normal status connect to the image server  400  at a respectively update time listed in the INF, and download a software update, so as to automatically update the software of the plurality of gateways. In one embodiment, the one or more gateways  200  in normal status connect to the image server  400  and download the upgrade software according to the MAC address and mapping address in the image server  400 . 
     In block S 206 , the confirmation module  104  of the management device  100  confirms whether all of the plurality of gateways  200  in normal status finished have completed the software upgrade. 
     The process is complete for each gateway  200  in normal status that completes the software upgrade. 
     If any of the plurality of gateway  200  in normal status does not complete the software upgrade, block S 201  is repeated. 
     The method for upgrading software of gateways  200  allows gateways  200  to upgrade automatically through the management device  100 , reducing manpower and time requirements. 
     Although the features and elements of the present disclosure are described as embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone or in other various combinations within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.