Patent ID: 7979854

Claim:
A method for upgrading an element on a network device in a network, the method comprising: displaying, on a network management system (NMS) workstation, a first icon and a second icon, wherein the first icon represents an upgraded version of a software to reside on at least one network device and the second icon represents a network device having an element with the software to be upgraded; receiving information on the NMS workstation for a user selection of the first icon on a display; receiving information on the NMS workstation that indicates a user dragging the first icon on the display; receiving information on the NMS workstation for the user dropping the first icon onto the second icon to initiate upgrading of the software for the element in the network device represented by the second icon; based on receiving the information for the dropping on the second icon, determining, by the NMS and without intervention by the user of the NMS workstation, a certification status of the upgraded version of the software that indicates the upgraded version of the software is certified; based upon the determination that the upgraded version of the software is certified, prompting the user to confirm to proceed with updating the software of the element in the network device; and based upon receiving a first confirmation from the user, prompting the user to confirm that the user has correctly chosen the network device for the upgrading of the software.