Method of synchronization allowing state transfer

• US 6,101,327 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Fuchs, Robert, Holte-Rost, Anna, Markstrom, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US08/849,334
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 370/469, 707/101, 709/305, 709/221, 714/25
• US Class Current: 717/170
• 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

Replacement of software in an operating computer system, and in particular, synchronization of state transfer between processes within the old software to processes within the new software. The synchronization of state transfer between processes executing in the old and the new software includes the following steps: preparing the old static process within the old software for a forthcoming shutdown, activating it for the state transfer, preparing the new static process within the new software to take over, transferring all resource objects in the old static process to the new static process; ordering the old static process to remove all services, terminating the old static process; and committing the new static process to take over, indicating that the new static process is the sole owner of all the resource objects previously claimed from the old static process.

Claims

1. Method of synchronizing state transfer of resource objects from an old static process declared in an old software version to a new static process declared in a new software version during the replacement of the old with the new version of software and without disturbing the ongoing activities, comprising the steps of

preparing the old static process within the old software for a forthcoming shutdown, activating it for the state transfer,

preparing the new static process within the new software to take over, transferring all resource objects in the old static process to the new static process,

ordering the old static process to remove all services, terminating the old static process, and

committing the new static process to take over, indicating that the new static process is the sole owner of all the resource objects previously claimed from the old static process.

2. Method of synchronization according to claim 1, wherein the step of preparing the old static process for shutdown comprises activating an interface for state transfer.

3. Method of synchronization according to claim 2, wherein the step of preparing the new static process to take over comprises allocation and deallocation, through the interface for state transfer, of certain resource objects in the old static process needed by the new static process during a period when the new static process receives test data.

4. Method of synchronization according to claim 3, wherein in response to a successful processing of test data by the new software all resource objects are transferred from the old to the new static process.

5. Method of synchronization according to claim 3, wherein in response to an unsuccessful processing of test data the new software is removed and the resource objects remain in control of the old software.

6. Method of synchronizing replacement of an old version of software with a new version of software in a telecommunications system, without disturbing ongoing activities, comprising the steps of

preparing an old static process within the old software for a forthcoming shutdown, activating it for a state transfer,

loading the new software into said telecommunications system, while the old software processes normal traffic,

testing the new software with test traffic in parallel with processing normal traffic on the old software,

processing new normal traffic with the new software in parallel with processing old normal traffic with the old software,

preparing a new static process within the new software to take over, transferring all resource objects in the old static process to the new static process,

ordering the old static process to remove all services, terminating the old static process, and

committing the new static process to take over, indicating that the new static process is the sole owner of all resource objects previously claimed from the old static process.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of preparing the old static process for shutdown comprises activating an interface for state transfer.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of testing the new software comprises allocation and deallocation, through the interface for state transfer, of certain resource objects in the old static process needed by the new static process during the period of test traffic.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein in response to a successful processing of test traffic by the new software all resource objects are transferred from the old to the new static process.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein in response to an unsuccessful processing of test data the new software is removed and the resource objects remain in control of the old software.