Patent ID: 6986008

Claim:
A distributed system of modules comprising: a network; and a plurality of modules of various kinds, each comprising at least one associated processor node, said associated processor node comprising; a processing unit for operating said associated module; a processor interface for providing communication of said processor node in said network; and nonvolatile memory for storing code for said processing unit for operating said associated module, and for storing backup code for at least any other processing unit of at least one of any of other processor nodes in said network, said backup code for operating an associated module of said another processor node, said backup code forming a portion of a system aggregate; wherein said processing unit of said associated processor node additionally maintains identification of type and level of said code for operating said associated module, said type identification representing the kind of module that said operating code is intended to operate; and comprises logic responsive to receipt of an identification of type and level of backup code at said processor interface, said type identification representing the kind of module that said backup code is intended to operate, for comparing said received identification to said maintained identification; and, in response to said comparison indicating said identification is valid for replacement of said code for operating said associated module, receiving said backup code and replacing at least a portion of said code for operating said associated module with said backup code.