Updating of software stored in a computer of a data communication system

• US 20060195555A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Karnatz, Hans-Jurgen, Leimkotter, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for updating software that is stored in a computer of a data communication system, a computer to be used in a data communication system, and a data communication system comprising several computers and an administrative computer. Data indicating which transmission medium should be used for exchanging data that is used for updating or controlling the updating process is exchanged between one of the said computers and the administrative computer before software that is stored in said computer or in a storage device assigned thereto is updated.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A data communication system for updating a software stored in a storage device of a first computer, comprising

an administrative computer for updating the software;

an indicator indicating a transmission medium for updating software that is exchanged between the first computer and the administrative computer prior to the update; and

a data connection operatively connecting the first computer and the administrative computer via the transmission medium adapted to transmit data between the computer and the administrative computer.

25. The data communication system according to claim 24, wherein the indicator is exchanged over a predetermined transmission medium.

26. The data communication system according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined transmission medium is different from the transmission medium.

27. The data communication system according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined transmission medium is a telephone connection.

28. The data communication system according to claim 24, wherein the transmission medium is an internet connection or a telephone connection.

29. The data communication system according to claim 28, wherein the internet connection is fixed and an IP address assigned to the first computer is a fixed IP, or the internet connection is temporary and an IP address assigned to the first computer is a temporary IP address.

30. The data communication system according to claim 24, wherein the first computer ascertains a second transmission medium for exchanging a control software, the control software controlling the software update.

31. The data communication system according to claim 25, wherein a control software for controlling the software update is exchanged between the first computer and the administrative computer over the predetermined or transmission medium.

32. The data communication system according to claim 31, wherein the control software indicates a time to perform the software update.

33. The data communication system according to claim 31, wherein the control software indicates a call identification that is assigned to the additional first computer, the call identification selected from the group consisting of telephone number, internet protocol address, and uniform resource locator address.

34. The data communication system according to claim 31, wherein a second transmission medium for exchanging data between the first computer and the additional first computer is conveyed via the control software.

35. The data communication system according to claim 34, wherein the second transmission medium is the same as the transmission medium or the predefined transmission medium.

36. The data communication system according to claim 34, wherein the second transmission is different than the transmission medium and the predefined transmission medium.

37. The data communication system according to claim 34, wherein a file for updating software is stored on the additional server and wherein the file first computer is transmitted to the first computer over the second transmission medium.

38. The data communication system according to claim 37, wherein the additional first computer is a trivial file transfer protocol server first computer or a web server first computer.

39. The data communication system according to claim 24, wherein the first computer is a telecommunication system.

40. The data communication system according to claim 24, wherein the software to be updated is a communication-control software.

41. The data communication system according to claim 24, wherein the first computer is part of a first data network and functions as a central first computer for the first data network.

42. The data communication system according to claim 24, wherein the first data network is connected to a second data network forming an aggregate network and wherein the first computer initiates updating the software stored on a second computer in the second network.

43. A first computer in a data communication system, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device operatively connected to the processor;

a first data connection operatively connected to a server computer over a transmission medium for exchanging data for updating a first software, the transmission medium ascertained by the computer occurring prior to establishing the first connection;

a second software controlling the first software update, the second software exchanged between an administrative computer and the first computer;

a call identification of the first computer selected from the group consisting of telephone number, internet protocol address, and uniform resource locator address; and

a time indicator indicating a time to update the first software by the second software.

44. A method for updating software stored on a first computer of a data communication system having an administrative computer and a server first computer, comprising:

indicating a transmission medium for exchanging data between the first computer and the administrative computer, the indication occurring prior to the updating the software stored on the first computer; and

establishing a data connection between the first computer and the additional server first computer over the transmission medium.