System for changing software during computer operation

• US 5,410,703 A
• Filed: 07/01/1992
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nilsson, Rickard, Klofver, Leif, Markstrom, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US07/907,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 305/700, 371/19
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13057 Object-oriented software
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54516 Initialization, software or data downloading G06F9/445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54583 Software development, e.g. procedural, object oriented, software generation, software testing

Abstract

In telecommunications switching system, software is frequently modified, enhanced or replaced altogether by new versions. The implementation or integration of the new or revised software into the operational system must be accomplished in accordance with strict requirements for not disturbing the ongoing activities of the system. Therefore, it is desirable that the system not be halted while the change to the new software is made. Rather, the preferred approach is to be able to replace software modules with new versions on the fly, during system operation. The smooth modification made possible in the disclosed system allows such changes with minimal disturbance to ongoing activities. The disclosed system provides the ability to change software during operation by treating the dynamic operations of a telecommunications system as a set of parallel, independent transactions, with each transaction consisting of a series of connected activities. Such a transaction is generally a functional element associated with a particular user of the system, e.g., a subscriber or an operator, such as a call to be processed or a command to be executed by the system.

Claims

1. For use in conjunction with computer apparatus, while it is processing existing data with existing software and receiving new data to be processed, a method of automatically passing data processing control of the computer apparatus to new software without materially disrupting the processing of the existing data by the existing software while allowing both software versions to generate output data simultaneously, said method comprising the steps of:

installing the new software in the computer apparatus;

using the new software to process test data at the same time as both the existing and new actual data are being processed by the existing software;

automatically transferring processing control of all new data to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said test data while continuing to use the existing software to process existing data and generating output data from both the new and old software simultaneously; and

automatically transferring complete data processing control to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said new data.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein both existing data and new data are processed in a plurality of parallel, independent simultaneous transactions which transactions are dynamically directed to either the existing or new software version by the steps of:

associating with each transaction a flag indicating the mode of the transaction; and

dynamically directing the entirety of each transaction to either the new or the existing software version in accordance with the mode identified by the associated flag.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein a flag indicative of a test mode is associated with all transactions based upon test data input to the system and all transactions having a test flag associated therewith are directed to the new software for the entirety of the processing thereof.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein a flag indicative of an existing data mode is associated with all transactions based upon all actual data input to the system prior to the input of new data to the new software and all transactions having an existing data flag associated therewith are directed to the existing software for the entirety of the processing thereof.

5. For use in conjunction with computer apparatus, while it is processing existing data with existing software and receiving new data to be processed, a method of automatically passing data processing control of the computer apparatus to new software without materially disrupting the processing of the existing data by the existing software, said method comprising the steps of:

installing the new software in the computer apparatus;

using the new software to process test data simulating the actual data being processed by the existing software;

permitting the new software, in response to its successfully processing the test data, to process a sample portion of the actual data which would otherwise be processed by the old software; and

transferring complete data processing control to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said predetermined sample portion of the actual data.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 further comprising the step, performed between said permitting and automatically transferring steps, of:

processing all new data with the new software while the existing software processes the existing data.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said automatically transferring step is performed in response to the expiration of a preselected time period following the beginning of said step of processing all new data within the new software while the existing software processes the existing data.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using old software are forced to terminate.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using old software are transferred to the new software for completion of processing.

10. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions capable of surviving the resultant disturbance are attempted to be transferred to the new software for processing and all others are terminated.

11. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said automatically transferring step is performed subsequent to the completion of processing of the existing data by the existing software.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

said automatically transferring step is performed in response to the successful processing of all new data by the new software and the completion of processing of the existing data by the existing software.

13. For use in conjunction with computer apparatus, while it is processing existing data with existing software and receiving new data to be processed wherein both existing data and new data are processed in a series of transactions and both include dynamic data which is created and used during the processing of each transaction and deleted when the processing is complete and semipermanent data which is used by and survives the processing of a plurality of transactions, a method of automatically passing data processing control of the computer apparatus to new software without materially disrupting the processing of the existing data by the existing software, said method comprising the steps of:

installing the new software in the computer apparatus;

transferring data from the existing software to the new software;

using the new software to process test data simulating the actual data being processed by the existing software; and

automatically transferring complete data processing control to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said test data simulating the actual data.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the data representation in the new software is different from the data representation in the existing software and wherein said step of transferring data from the existing software to the new software includes the step of:

converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said step of converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation is performed on an as needed basis for said new software.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said step of converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation includes converting all said data to said new representation at one time along with the additional step of;

reconverting said data from said new representation to said existing representation on an as needed basis for said old software.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14 which includes, following said step of converting said data from the existing representation to the new representation, the additional step of:

updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the existing software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

only semipermanent data is transferred from the existing software to the new software.

19. The method as set forth in claim 13 which includes, following said step of transferring data from the existing software to the new software, the additional step of:

updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the existing software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

20. A method of smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, without a material risk of system disruption and while simultaneously producing output data from both old and new call processing software, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

running a plurality of test calls through the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby while simultaneously processing actual calls with the old software;

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls while simultaneously processing all of the existing calls with the old software and simultaneously producing output data from both the old and the new software; and

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the old software in response to the new software failing to successfully process said test calls.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein both old data and new call transactions are processed in a plurality of parallel, independent simultaneous transactions which transactions are dynamically directed to either the old or new call processing software by the steps of:

associating with each call transaction a flag indicating the mode of the transaction; and

dynamically directing the entirety of each transaction to either the new or the old call processing software in accordance with the mode identified by the associated flag.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein a flag indicative of a test call mode is associated with all transactions based upon test calls input to the system and all transactions having a test flag associated therewith are directed to the new software for the entirety of the processing thereof.

23. The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein a flag indicative of an existing call mode is associated with all transactions based upon all actual calls input to the system prior to the routing of new calls to the new software and all call transactions having an existing call flag associated therewith are directed to the old software for the entirety of the processing thereof.

25. The method as set forth in either claims 20 or 24 which also includes the step of:

removing the old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and a termination of all calls being processed by the old software.

24. A method of smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, without a material risk of system disruption, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

running a plurality of test calls through the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby;

routing a selected number of actual calls to the new software for processing thereby, in response to said test calls being successfully processed by the new software, while continuing to process the remainder of the actual calls with the old software;

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing both said test calls and said selected number of actual calls; and

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the old software in response to the new software failing to successfully process either said test calls or said selected number of actual calls.

26. The method as set forth in claim 24 comprising the step, performed after said step of routing all new calls received by the system to the new software, of:

processing all new calls with the new software while the old software processes the existing calls.

27. The method as set forth in claim 26 which includes the additional step of:

transferring complete call processing control to the new software in response to the expiration of a preselected time period following the beginning of said step of processing all new calls within the new software while the old software processes the existing calls.

28. The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected period of time, all calls still being processed using old software are forced to terminate.

29. The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein, after expiration of said preselected period of time, all calls still being processed are transferred to the new software for completion of processing.

30. The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected period of time, all calls capable of surviving the resultant disturbance are attempted to be transferred to the new software and all others are terminated.

31. A method of smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, without a material risk of system disruption, and wherein both existing calls and new calls are processed in a series of transactions and both have associated therewith dynamic data which is created and used during the processing of each transaction and deleted when the processing is complete and semipermanent data which is used by and survives the processing of a plurality of transactions, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

transferring data from the old software to the new software;

running a plurality of test calls through the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby;

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls; and

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the old software in response to the new software failing to successfully process said test calls.

32. The method as set forth in claim 31 wherein the data representation in the new software is different from the data representation in the old software and wherein said step of transferring data from the old software to the new software includes the step of:

converting said data from said old representation to said new representation.

33. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein said step of converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation is performed on an as needed basis for said new software.

34. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein said step of converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation includes converting all said data to said new representation at one time along with the additional step of:

reconverting said data from said new representation to said existing representation on an as needed basis for said old software.

35. The method as set forth in claim 32 which includes, following said step of converting said data from the old representation to the new representation, the additional step of:

updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the old software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

36. The method as set forth in claim 31 wherein:

only semipermanent data is transferred from the old software to the new software.

37. The method as set forth in claim 31 which includes, following said step of transferring data from the old software to the new software, the additional step of:

updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the old software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

38. A method of smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof and while allowing both old and new call processing software to generate output data simultaneously, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

running a plurality of test calls to the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby, without halting all actual telecommunications traffic to the old software;

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls and simultaneously producing output data from both the old and the new software; and

removing all old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and the first to occur of the termination of all calls being processed by the old software or the expiration of a preselected period of time following the routing of all the new calls received by the system to the new software.

39. The method as set forth in claim 38 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using old software are forced to terminate.

40. The method as set forth in claim 38 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using old software are transferred to the new software for completion of processing.

41. The method as set forth in claim 38 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions capable of surviving the resultant disturbance are attempted to be transferred to the new software for processing and all others are terminated.

42. A method of smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

running a plurality of test calls to the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby, without halting all actual telecommunications traffic to the software by the steps of;

routing only simulated calls to the new software for processing thereby; and

routing a number of sample new calls, in addition to said simulated calls, to the new software for processing thereby, in response to said simulated calls being successfully processed by the new software;

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls; and

removing all old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and the first to occur of the termination of all calls being processed by the old software or the expiration of a preselected period of time following the routing of all the new calls received by the system to the new software.

43. A method of smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, wherein both existing calls and new calls are processed in a series of transactions and both have associated therewith dynamic data which is created and used during the processing of each transaction and deleted when the processing is complete and semipermanent data which is used by and survives the processing of a plurality of transactions, said method comprising:

operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

transferring data from the old software to the new software;

running a plurality of test calls to the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby, without halting all actual telecommunications traffic to the old software;

routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls; and

removing all old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and the first to occur of the termination of all calls being processed by the old software or the expiration of a preselected period of time following the routing of all the new calls received by the system to the new software.

44. The method as set forth in claim 43 wherein the data representation in the new software is different from the data representation in the old software and wherein said step of transferring data from the old software to the new software includes the step of:

converting said data from said old representation to said new representation.

45. The method as set forth in claim 44 wherein, said step of converting said data from said old representation to said new representation is performed on an as needed basis for said new software.

46. The method as set forth in claim 44 wherein, said step of converting said data from said old representation to said new representation includes converting all said data to said new representation at one time along with the additional step of:

reconverting said data from said new representation to said existing representation on an as needed basis for said old software.

47. The method as set forth in claim 44 which includes, following said step of converting said data from the old representation to the new representation, the additional step of:

updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the old software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

48. The method as set forth in claim 43 wherein:

only semipermanent data is transferred from the old software to the new software.

49. The method as set forth in claim 43 which includes, following said step of transferring data from the old software to the new software, the additional step of:

updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the old software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

50. A method for automatically shifting data processing operations from previously loaded first software to newly loaded second software in a computer system in which the first software is processing existing data while new data is being received by the computer system and both the first and second software are producing output data simultaneously, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting test data to said second software for processing thereby, said test data simulating actual data to be processed;

transmitting all of said new data to said second software during continued processing of said existing data by said first software in response to a successful processing of said test data by said second software and while both said first and second software generate output data simultaneously; and

routing all other data to said second software for processing thereby in response to the completion of processing of said existing data by said first software,

to automatically effect the changeover from said first software to said second software during computer system runtime without materially disrupting the continuance of data processing operations.

52. The method as set forth in claim 50 or 51 wherein:

said computer system is a telecommunications switching system; and

said existing and new data are calls received by said telecommunications switching system.

51. A method for automatically shifting data processing operations from previously loaded first software to newly loaded second software in a computer system in which the first software is processing existing data while new data is being received by the computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting test data to said second software for processing thereby, said test data simulating actual data to be processed by said first software;

transmitting to said second software a predetermined, limited sample amount of actual data which would otherwise be processed by said first software, in response to a successful processing of said test data by said second software;

transmitting all of said new data to said second software during continued processing of said existing data by said first software in response to a successful processing of said test data by said second software in response to a successful processing of both said test data and said limited sample of actual data by said second software; and

routing all other data to said second software for processing thereby in response to the completion of processing of said existing data by said first software,

to automatically effect the changeover from said first software to said second software during computer system runtime without materially disrupting the continuance of data processing operations.

53. For use in conjunction with a telecommunications switching system in which existing calls are being processed by previously installed first software while new calls are being received by the system, a method for gradually redirecting calls to subsequently installed second software, for processing thereby, during switching system runtime and without a material disruption of continued call processing, said method comprising:

transmitting to said second software test calls simulative of actual calls processed by said first software while at the same time both existing and new actual calls are being processed by said first software;

transmitting to said second software all of the new calls received by the telecommunications switching system during continued processing of said existing calls by said first software with output data being simultaneously produced by both said first and second software;

sequentially performing said first and second steps and sequentially subjecting said second software to;

(1) a first call processing test using test calls transmitted to said second software in said first step, and

(2) a second call processing test, contingent on the successful completion of said first call processing test by said second software, using the new calls transmitted to said second software in said second step; and

transferring all call processing control from said first software to said second software subsequent to the successful completion of said second call processing test by said second software.

55. The method as set forth in claim 53 or 54 wherein:

said step of transferring all call processing control from said first software to said second software is performed following;

(1) the successful completion of said second call processing test by said second software, and

(2) the completion of existing call processing by said first software.

56. The method as set forth in claim 53 or 54 wherein:

said step of transferring all call processing control from said first software to said second software is performed following;

(1) the successful completion of said second call processing test by said second software, and

(2) the expiration of a preselected period of time following the transmission of said second software all of the new calls received by the telecommunications switching system.

57. The method as set forth in claim 56 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using said first software are forced to terminate.

58. The method as set forth in claim 56 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using said first software are transferred to the second software for completion of processing.

59. The method as set forth in claim 56 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions capable of surviving the resultant disturbance are attempted to be transferred to said second software and all others are terminated.

54. For use in conjunction with a telecommunications switching system in which existing calls are being processed by previously installed first software while new calls are being received by the system, a method for gradually redirecting calls to subsequently installed second software, for processing thereby, during switching system runtime and without a material disruption of continued call processing, said method comprising:

transmitting to said second software test calls simulative of actual calls processed by said first software;

transmitting to said second software a sample amount of actual calls which would otherwise be processed by said first software;

transmitting to said second software all of the new calls received by the telecommunications switching system;

sequentially performing said first, second and third steps and sequentially subjecting said second software to;

(1) a first call processing test using test calls transmitted to said second software in said first step,

(2) a second call processing test, contingent on the successful completion of said first call processing test by said second software, using the sample amount of actual calls transmitted to said second software in said second step; and

(3) a third call processing test, contingent on the successful completion of said first and second call processing tests by said second software, using the new calls transmitted to said second software in said third step; and

transferring all call processing control from said first software to said second software subsequent to the successful completion of said third call processing test by said second software.

60. A method of dynamically binding first and second modules respectively disposed in first and second software applications by providing a set of direction points for dynamically directing chains of events within the operational software system to either one or the other of said first or second applications, said method comprising the steps of:

analyzing messages addressed by function name;

directing those messages to processes in each of said first or second modules; and

directing the execution of a process by dynamic runtime binding to selectively continue the execution of said process in either one of said first or said second software modules.

61. Apparatus for automatically shifting data processing operations from previously loaded first software to newly loaded second software in a computer system in which the first software is processing existing data while new data is being received by the computer system, said apparatus comprising:

first means for transmitting test data to said second software for processing thereby, said test data simulating actual data to be processed by said first software, while at the same time both existing and new actual data are being processed by said first software;

second means, responsive to a successful processing of said test data by said second software, for transmitting all of said new data to said second software during continued processing of said existing data by said first software and the simultaneous production of output data from both said first and second software; and

third means, responsive to the first to occur of the completion of processing of said existing data by said first software or the expiration of a preselected period of time following the beginning of transmission of all of said new data to said second software, for discontinuing further use of said first software for processing data, whereby the changeover from said first software to said second software may be automatically effected during computer system runtime without materially disrupting the continuance of data processing operations thereof.

63. The apparatus as set forth in claim 61 or 62 wherein:

said computer system is a telecommunications switching system; and

said existing and new data are calls received by said telecommunications switching system.

62. Apparatus for automatically shifting data processing operations from previously loaded first software to newly loaded second software in a computer system in which the first software is processing existing data while new data is being received by the computer system, said apparatus comprising:

first means for transmitting test data to said second software for processing thereby, said test data simulating actual data to be processed by said first software;

second means, responsive to a successful processing of said test data by said second software, for transmitting all of said new data to said second software during continued processing of said existing data by said first software; and

third means, responsive to the firs to occur of the completing of processing of said existing data by said first software or the expiration of a preselected period of time following the beginning of transmission of all of said new data to said second software;

fourth means, responsive to a successful processing of said test data by said second software, for transmitting to said second software a predetermined limited sample of actual data which would otherwise be processed by said first software; and

in which

said second means for transmitting all of said new data to said second software is responsive to a successful processing of both said test data and said sample amount of actual data by said second software, for discontinuing further use of said first software for processing data, whereby the changeover from said first software to said second software may be automatically effected during computer system runtime without materially disrupting the continuance of data processing operations thereof.

64. For use in conjunction with a telecommunications switching system in which existing calls are being processed by previously installed first software while new calls are being received by the system, automatically operable apparatus for gradually redirecting calls to subsequently installed second software, for processing thereby, during switching system runtime and without a material disruption of continued call processing, said automatically operable apparatus comprising:

first means operable to transmit to said second software test calls simulative of actual calls processed by said first software while at the same time both existing and new actual calls are being processed by said first software;

second means operable to transmit to said second software all of the new calls received by the telecommunications switching system during continued processing of existing calls by said first software with output data being simultaneously produced by both said first and second software;

third means for sequentially operating said first and second means and sequentially subjecting said second software to;

(1) a first call processing test using test calls transmitted to said second software from said first means, and

(2) a second call processing test, contingent on the successful completion of said first call processing test by said second software, using the new calls transmitted to said second software by said second means; and

fourth means for transferring all call processing control from said first software to said second software subsequent to the successful completion of said second call processing test by said second software.

66. The automatically operable apparatus as set forth in claim 64 or claim 65 wherein:

said fourth means are operative in response to;

(1) the successful completion of said second call processing test by said second software, and

(2) the completion of existing call processing by said first software.

65. For use in conjunction with a telecommunications switching system in which existing calls are being processed by previously installed first software while new calls are being received by the system, automatically operable apparatus for gradually redirecting calls to subsequently installed second software, for processing thereby, during switching system runtime and without a material disruption of continued call processing, said automatically operable apparatus comprising:

first means operable to transmit to said second software test calls simulative of actual calls processed by said first software;

second means operable to transmit to said second software all of the new calls received by the telecommunications switching system;

third means for sequentially operating said first and second means and sequentially subjecting said second software to;

(1) a first call processing test using test calls transmitted to said second software from said first means, and

(2) a second call processing test, contingent on the successful completion of said first call processing test by said second software, using the new calls transmitted to said second software by said second means; and

fourth means for transferring all call processing control from said first software to said second software subsequent to the successful completion of said second call processing test by said second software;

fifth means operable to transmit to said second software a sample amount of actual calls which would otherwise be processed by said first software; and

in which,

said third means sequentially operates said first, second and fifth means to sequentially subject said second software to an additional call processing test, contingent upon the successful completion of said first call processing test by said second software, using said sample amount of actual calls transmitted to said second software by said fifth means, and in which

said second call processing test is contingent upon the successful completion of both said first and additional call processing tests by said second software.

67. For use in conjunction with computer apparatus, while it is processing existing data with existing software and receiving new data to be processed, a system for automatically passing the computer apparatus data processing control to new software without materially disrupting the processing of the existing data by the existing software while allowing both software versions to generate output data simultaneously, said system comprising:

means for installing the new software in the computer apparatus;

means for using the new software to process test data at the same time as the both new and existing actual data are being processed by the existing software;

means for automatically transferring processing control of all new data to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said test data while continuing to use the existing software to process existing data and generating output data from both the new and old software simultaneously; and

means for automatically transferring complete data processing control to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said new data.

68. The system set forth in claim 67 wherein:

said means for automatically transferring is responsive to the first to occur of the expiration of a preselected time period following the beginning of said processing all new data with the new software while the existing software processes the existing data or the completion of processing of the existing data by the existing software.

69. The system set forth in claim 68 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using old software are forced to terminate.

70. The system set forth in claim 68 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions still being processed using old software are transferred to the new software for completion of processing.

71. The system set forth in claim 68 wherein, after the expiration of said preselected time period, all transactions capable of surviving the resultant disturbance are attempted to be transferred to the new software for processing and all others are terminated.

72. The system as set forth in claim 67 wherein both existing data and new data are processed in a plurality of parallel, independent simultaneous transactions which transactions are dynamically directed to either the existing or new software version and which also includes:

means for associating with each transaction a flag indicating the mode of the transaction; and

means for dynamically directing the entirety of each transaction to either the new or the existing software version in accordance with the mode identified by the associated flag.

73. The system as set forth in claim 72 wherein a flag indicative of a test mode is associated with all transactions based upon test data input to the system and all transactions having a test flag associated therewith are directed to the new software for the entirety of the processing thereof.

74. The system as set forth in claim 72 wherein a flag indicative of an existing data mode is associated with all transactions based upon all actual data input to the system prior to the input of new data to the new software and all transactions having an existing data flag associated therewith are directed to the existing software for the entirety of the processing thereof.

75. For use in conjunction with computer apparatus, while it is processing existing data with existing software and receiving new data to be processed, a system for automatically passing the computer apparatus data processing control to new software without materially disrupting the processing of the existing data by the existing software, said system comprising:

means for installing the new software in the computer apparatus;

means for using the new software to process test data simulating the actual data being processed by the existing software;

means for automatically transferring complete data processing control to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said test data;

means for permitting the new software, in response to its successful processing of the test data, to process a sample portion of the actual data which would otherwise be processed by the old software, and in which,

said means for automatically transferring complete data processing control to the new software is operative subsequent to the successful processing of both said test data and said predetermined sample portion of the actual data.

76. The system as set forth in claim 75 wherein:

said means for automatically transferring is initiated subsequent to the completion of processing of the existing data by the existing software.

77. The system as set forth in claim 76 wherein:

said means for automatically transferring is responsive to the successful processing of all new data by the new software and the completion of processing of the existing data by the existing software.

78. For use in conjunction with computer apparatus, while it is processing existing data with existing software and receiving new data to be processed, a system for automatically passing the computer apparatus data processing control to new software without materially disrupting the processing of the existing data by the existing software comprising:

means for installing the new software in the computer apparatus;

means for transferring data from the existing software to the new software;

means for using the new software to process test data simulating the actual data being processed by the existing software; and

means for automatically transferring complete data processing control to the new software subsequent to its successful processing of said test data.

79. The system set forth in claim 78 wherein the data representation in the new software is different from the data representation in the existing software and wherein said means for transferring data from the existing software to the new software includes:

means for converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation.

80. The system as set forth in claim 79 wherein, said means for converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation includes means for converting said data on an as needed basis for said new software.

81. The system as set forth in claim 79 wherein,

said means for converting said data from said existing representation to said new representation includes means for converting all said data to said new representation at one time along with,

means for reconverting said data from said new representation to said existing representation on an as needed basis for said existing software.

82. The system set forth in claim 79 which also includes:

means for updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the existing software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

83. The system set forth in claim 78 wherein:

only semipermanent data is transferred from the existing software to the new software.

84. The system set forth in claim 78 which also includes:

means for updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the existing software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

85. A system for smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, without a material risk of system disruption and while simultaneously producing output data from both old and new processing software, said system comprising:

means for operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

means for running a plurality of test calls through the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby while simultaneously processing actual calls with the old software;

means for routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls while simultaneously processing all of the existing calls with the old software and simultaneously producing output data from both the old and new software; and

means for removing the old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and a termination of all calls being processed by the old software.

86. A system for smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, without a material risk of system disruption, said system comprising;

means for operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

means for running a plurality of test calls through the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby;

means for routing a selected number of actual calls to the new software for processing thereby, in response to said test calls being successfully processed by the new software, while continuing to process the remainder of the actual calls with the old software;

means for routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing both said test calls and said selected number of actual calls; and

means for removing the old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and a termination of all calls being processed by the old software.

87. A system for smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system, during continuing operation thereof, without a material risk of system disruption, and wherein both existing calls and new calls are processed in a series of transactions and both have associated therein dynamic data which is created and used during the processing of each transaction and deleted when the processing is complete and semipermanent data which is used by and survives the processing of a plurality of transactions, said system comprising:

means for operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

means for transferring data from the old software to the new software;

means for running a plurality of test calls through the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby;

means for routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls; and

means for removing the old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and a termination of all calls being processed by the old software.

88. The system set forth in claim 87 wherein the data representation in the new software is different from the data representation in the old software and said means for transferring data from the old software to the new software includes:

means for converting said data from said old representation to said new representation.

89. The system as set forth in claim 88 in which said means for converting said data from said old representation to said new representation includes:

means for converting said data from said old representation to said new representation on an as needed basis for said new software.

90. The system as set forth in claim 88 in which said means for converting said data from said old representation to said new representation includes means for converting all said data to said new representation at one time and also includes,

means for reconverting said data from said new representation to said old representation on an as needed basis for said old software.

91. The system set forth in claim 88 which also includes:

means for updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the old software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

92. The system set forth in claim 87 wherein:

only semipermanent data is transferred from the old software to the new software.

93. The system set forth in claim 87 which also includes:

means for updating, in response to each original update of semipermanent data within either the old software or the new software, the semipermanent data within the other software.

94. A system for smoothly and automatically changing from old call processing software to new call processing software in a telecommunications switching system during continuing operation thereof, said system comprising:

means for operatively installing the new software in the system while the old software continues to process calls;

means for running a plurality of test calls through the system and routing all said test calls to the new software for processing thereby, without halting all actual telecommunications traffic to the old software including,

means for routing only simulated calls to the new software for processing thereby, while all actual calls continue to be processed by the old software; and

means for routing both simulated calls and a select number of new calls to the new software for processing thereby, in response to said simulated calls being successfully processed by the new software, while all remaining new calls continue to be processed by the old software;

means for routing all of the new calls received by the system to the new software in response to the new software successfully processing said test calls; and

means for removing the old software from the system in response to successful processing of all of the new calls by the new software, and a termination or transfer of all calls being processed by the old software.

95. A system for dynamically binding first and second modules respectively disposed in first and second software applications by providing a set of direction points for dynamically directing chains of events within the operational software system to either one or the other of said first and second applications, said system comprising:

means for analyzing messages addressed by function name;

means for directing those messages to processes in each of said first and second modules; and

means for directing the execution of a process by dynamic runtime binding to continue the execution of said process in either of said first or second software modules.