Method and system for configuration and download in a restricted architecture network
First Claim
1. A method for checking a configuration of a plurality of configurable LRUs within a restricted architecture network having at least one configuration server in communication with the LRUs, the method comprising the following steps for each LRU to be updated:
- generating an LRU configuration file at the LRU, the LRU configuration file containing a list that identifies software components currently residing on the LRU;
sending the LRU configuration file from the LRU to the configuration server;
detecting the arrival of the LRU configuration file; and
updating a system configuration data file (SCDF) that contains data representing current and previous LRU configurations by setting the current SCDF data to reflect the LRU configuration file generated by the generating step and by setting the previous SCDF data to reflect an LRU configuration file generated by the LRU during a previous running of the configuration checking method.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are provided for updating software configurations of line-replaceable unit (LRU) computers in a restricted architecture network such as an in-flight entertainment system (IFES). Operating in an efficient and parallel manner, each of the LRUs independently creates an individual configuration file that identifies current software components. Each of the LRUs transmits its respective configuration file to a configuration server either automatically upon startup or manually upon request. The configuration server updates a system configuration data file with the current configuration files received from the individual LRUs. In a downloading method, a download server sends a list of desired software components to the LRUs. Each of the LRUs independently and simultaneously transfer (download) the needed software from the download server. The LRU independently requests the download server to download the needed software components. To improve scalability and reliability, the file transfers utilize standard protocols, such as FTP.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for checking a configuration of a plurality of configurable LRUs within a restricted architecture network having at least one configuration server in communication with the LRUs, the method comprising the following steps for each LRU to be updated:
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generating an LRU configuration file at the LRU, the LRU configuration file containing a list that identifies software components currently residing on the LRU;
sending the LRU configuration file from the LRU to the configuration server;
detecting the arrival of the LRU configuration file; and
updating a system configuration data file (SCDF) that contains data representing current and previous LRU configurations by setting the current SCDF data to reflect the LRU configuration file generated by the generating step and by setting the previous SCDF data to reflect an LRU configuration file generated by the LRU during a previous running of the configuration checking method. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for downloading software from a download server by at least one configurable LRU computer in a restricted architecture network, the downloading method comprising the following steps:
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selecting a list of desired software components representing software desired to be loaded onto one or more target LRUs;
loading a new software component from a storage medium connected to the download server;
sending the list of desired software components from the download server to each of the target LRUs;
comparing the list of desired software components at each LRU against a list of current software components at each of the LRUs;
determining needed software components by comparing the list of desired software components and the list of current software components;
downloading the needed software components from the download server by the LRUs; and
deleting software components contained in the LRUs which are not in the list of desired software components. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A configurable system for use in a restricted architecture network, comprising:
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at least one server including a memory that maintains a working directory, a storage device that maintains a database, a data parser, and a network communication device;
a plurality of configurable LRUs, each of the LRUs including a configuration file generator operable to generate a configuration file representing current software components at the respective LRU; and
a network communication device operable to send the configuration file to the server; and
a network backbone for handling parallel communications between the LRUs and the server;
wherein the server receives the configuration files from the respective LRUs in the working directory, and wherein the data parser is operable to update a system configuration data file stored in the database by writing the configuration files to a field of the system configuration data file that represents a current configuration, moving data from previously stored in the current field to a field representing the previous configuration. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification