Software configuration of module dependent on history
First Claim
1. A modular system forming a network element in a telecommunications system, the modular system comprising:
- one or more hardware modules which are customer replaceable each comprising a processor and associated memory for running software, each of the one or more hardware modules carry out functions for a telecommunications network;
a backplane, wherein the one or more hardware modules are configured to plug into the backplane; and
a processor running a program controller for the modular system;
wherein the processor in the one or more hardware modules is configured to execute a program when each is plugged into the backplane and the program is separately executed from the program controller, and wherein the associated memory in the one or more hardware modules contains a history of use of the associated hardware module including a list of backplanes that have used the associated hardware module and license information indicative of authorization to use the associated hardware module; and
wherein the program controller is configured to automatically manage each of the associated hardware modules in conjunction with the program executed on the processor and the associated memory in the associated hardware modules to determine whether the license information indicates authorization for the associated hardware module to be used with a particular backplane and control use of the software associated with the associated hardware module and use of the associated hardware module with the modular system, according to the license information.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A program controller is arranged to automatically authorize or configure or upgrade a program for a customer replaceable card of a system, the controller being arranged to manage the program automatically, according to a licence agreement, and according to a stored history of use of the hardware module. A supplier can track customer changes and enforce more easily different conditions for authorizing the program on, different modules from different sources, having different levels of capability. There can be less interaction with the supplier to get specific authorizations. The history can be stored on the module. It can be used to ease inventory tracking and generate billing information.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A modular system forming a network element in a telecommunications system, the modular system comprising:
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one or more hardware modules which are customer replaceable each comprising a processor and associated memory for running software, each of the one or more hardware modules carry out functions for a telecommunications network; a backplane, wherein the one or more hardware modules are configured to plug into the backplane; and a processor running a program controller for the modular system; wherein the processor in the one or more hardware modules is configured to execute a program when each is plugged into the backplane and the program is separately executed from the program controller, and wherein the associated memory in the one or more hardware modules contains a history of use of the associated hardware module including a list of backplanes that have used the associated hardware module and license information indicative of authorization to use the associated hardware module; and wherein the program controller is configured to automatically manage each of the associated hardware modules in conjunction with the program executed on the processor and the associated memory in the associated hardware modules to determine whether the license information indicates authorization for the associated hardware module to be used with a particular backplane and control use of the software associated with the associated hardware module and use of the associated hardware module with the modular system, according to the license information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A modular network element system in a telecommunications system, comprising:
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one or more hardware modules; a backplane wherein the one or more hardware modules are configured to plug into a backplane of the modular network element system, each of the one or more hardware modules carry out functions for a telecommunications network, each hardware module having a processor and memory storing a history of use of the hardware module, the stored history including a list of backplanes that have used the hardware module; and license information indicative of authorization to use the hardware modules; and a processor running a program controller for the network element system, wherein the program controller is either part of the modular network element system or in communication therewith, wherein the program controller is configured to manage a program stored on and executed on the processor of at least one of the one or more hardware modules of the modular network element system automatically when plugged into the backplane and the program is executed separately from the program controller, the hardware module being a customer-replaceable part, the program controller being arranged to manage the hardware module in conjunction with the program to automatically determine whether the license information indicates authorization for the hardware module to be used with a particular backplane and to control use of software associated with the hardware module and use of the hardware module with the modular network element system according to the license information. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method implemented in a modular system comprising one or more hardware modules which are customer replaceable each comprising a processor and associated memory for running software;
- a backplane, wherein the one or more hardware modules are configured to plug into the backplane; and
a processor running a program controller for the modular system, each of the one or more hardware modules carry out functions for a telecommunications network, the method comprising;executing a program by the processor in the one or more hardware modules when each is plugged into the backplane and the program is separately executed from the program controller, wherein the associated memory in the one or more hardware modules contains a history of use of the associated hardware module including a list of backplanes that have used the associated hardware module and license information indicative of authorization to use the associated hardware module; and automatically managing, by the program controller, each of the associated hardware modules in conjunction with the program executed on the processor and the associated memory in the associated hardware modules to determine whether the license information indicates authorization for the associated hardware module to be used with a particular backplane and controlling use of the software associated with the associated hardware module and use of the associated hardware module with the modular system, according to the license information.
- a backplane, wherein the one or more hardware modules are configured to plug into the backplane; and
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23. A method for a modular system forming a network element in a telecommunications system, the method comprising:
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providing one or more hardware modules which are customer replaceable each comprising a processor and associated memory for running software, each of the one or more hardware modules carry out functions for a telecommunications network; providing a backplane, wherein the one or more hardware modules are configured to plug into the backplane; and providing a processor running a program controller for the modular system; wherein the processor in the one or more hardware modules is configured to execute a program when each is plugged into the backplane and the program is separately executed from the program controller, and wherein the associated memory in the one or more hardware modules contains a history of use of the associated hardware module including a list of backplanes that have used the associated hardware module and license information indicative of authorization to use the associated hardware module; and wherein the program controller is configured to automatically manage each of the associated hardware modules in conjunction with the program executed on the processor and the associated memory in the associated hardware modules to determine whether the license information indicates authorization for the associated hardware module to be used with a particular backplane and control use of the software associated with the associated hardware module and use of the associated hardware module with the modular system, according to the license information.
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24. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of network elements each comprising; one or more hardware modules which are customer replaceable each comprising a processor and associated memory for running software, each of the one or more hardware modules carry out functions for a telecommunications network; a backplane, wherein the one or more hardware modules are configured to plug into the backplane; and a processor running a program controller for the associated network element; wherein the processor in the one or more hardware modules is configured to execute a program when each is plugged into the backplane and the program is separately executed from the program controller, and wherein the associated memory in the one or more hardware modules contains a history of use of the associated hardware module including a list of backplanes that have used the associated hardware module and license information indicative of authorization to use the associated hardware module; and wherein the program controller is configured to automatically manage each of the associated hardware modules in conjunction with the program executed on the processor and the associated memory in the associated hardware modules to determine whether the license information indicates authorization for the associated hardware module to be used with a particular backplane and control use of the software associated with the associated hardware module and use of the associated hardware module with the associated network element, according to the license information; and a central system communicatively coupled to the plurality of network elements for a supplier to maintain an inventory of programs and modules associated with each of the plurality of network elements.
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Specification