Patent ID: 8140662

Claim:
A communications network element comprising: first circuitry configured for providing network communications for a network in which the element is to be incorporated; second circuitry configured to monitor operation of the network in which the element is to be incorporated, said second circuitry being partitioned into a plurality of functional blocks, at least one functional block configured to operate continuously, wherein the network element is configured to reprogram at least one other functional block without halting operation of any other functional block; and a connection to the network for receiving a measurement module, containing instructions for reprogramming the at least one other functional block, wrapped within packets traveling through the network; a memory configured to store the measurement module containing instructions for reprogramming the at least one other functional blocks, each at least one other functional block comprising: a transit memory configured for temporary storage of the measurement module and further configured for a security and authentication verification of the measurement module stored within the transit memory; and a processing element configured for receiving and running the measurement module upon successful security and authentication verification of the measurement module.