Patent ID: 7107329

Claim:
In a network data multiple routing system comprised of at least a pair of separate paths for routing data packets, each path containing one or more router nodes successively connected between input and output router nodes and with the input and output router nodes being common to each path, each router node being controlled by software processing and management information for routing the data packets along at least more than one of the paths between the input router node and the output terminal router nodes, a method of revising and upgrading the original software information in a preselected one of said router nodes along said paths that comprises, continuing the data packet routing along said paths between said router nodes with said original software information controlling said preselected router node; during such continued routing, preparing new software information within said preselected router node from said original software information and including revisions and upgrades while said preselected router node continues routing data packets between the nodes; and, after such preparing of the new software information within said preselected router node, swapping the new software information for the original software information in said preselected router node during its continuing of the data packet routing along said path without interruption and with the swapping effected imperceptibly to all router nodes between the input router node and the output terminal router node of the routing system.