Method and system for distributing software in a telecommunications network

• US 6,289,511 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hübinette, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US09/162,744
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 717/11, 455/423, 707/203, 707/201, 709/221, 709/237, 709/239, 709/223, 714/4
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A method and system of a computer network enables efficient and reliable software distribution by disbursing the responsibility for loading software. A computer network is composed of, for example, a central managing station (CMS), multiple major network elements (NEs), and possibly multiple subordinated NEs (S-NEs) connected to major NEs. The CMS and the NEs are preferably connected to a network, such as an X.25 network. The CMS includes a load manager (LM) and at least one software unit to be distributed to multiple NEs and/or S-NEs. Multiple NEs include a load agent (LA), which aids the LM with software distribution. At least one particular LA receives instructions as well as the software unit from the CMS under control of the LM and via the network. The particular LA is then responsible for loading the software unit onto other NEs, either fully or partially. The process of upgrading and/or installing software is therefore delegated and disbursed between and among multiple NEs.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently and reliably distributing software in a network, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first message from a first network element to a second network element, a third network element, or both;

transmitting a second message from said second network element to said third network element if said first message is not sent to said third network element, said second message transmitted in response to said first message, and said second message including software;

loading at least a portion of said software onto said third network element; and

transmitting a third message from said third network element to a fourth network element, said third message transmitted in response to said second message, and said third message including at least a portion of said software.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said network is a telecommunications network; and

said first network element is an operations support system element and at least one of said second network element and said third network element is a mobile services switching center element.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second network element and said third network element are both connected to a single hierarchical level of said network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of loading at least a portion of said software onto said third network element further comprises at least one of the steps of installing a new module with said software and upgrading an existing module with said software.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing at least a portion of said network;

determining software-loading needs of said at least a portion of said network; and

planning a distribution schedule of said software to reduce a total update time for said at least a portion of said network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first message comprises said software and at least one instruction related to software distribution, said software distribution pertaining to at least one of software transmission and software loading.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one instruction related to software distribution includes an address of said third network element.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one instruction related to software distribution includes at least one direction for responding to an extraordinary circumstance.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one instruction related to software distribution includes a time for executing said step of transmitting a second message from said second network element to a third network element.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of loading at least a portion of said software onto said third network element occurs in response to a command transmitted over said network by at least one of said first network element and said second network element.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second message comprises at least one instruction related to software distribution, said software distribution pertaining to at least one of software transmission and software loading.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second, third, and fourth network elements are all connected to one hierarchical level of said network.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second and third network elements are both connected to one hierarchical level of said network while said fourth network element is not directly connected to said one hierarchical level of said network.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

loading at least a portion of software received in said first message onto said second network element in response to said first message.

15. A method for efficiently and reliably distributing software in a communications network, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first message from a first network element to a second network element, a third network element, or both, said second network element connected by a single sub-network of the communications network to said first network element, and said first message including software;

transmitting a second message from said second network element to said third network element if said first message is not sent to said third network element, said third network element connected by a single sub-network of the communications network to said first and second network elements, said second message transmitted in response to said first message, and said second message including at least a portion of said software;

loading said at least a portion of said software onto said third network element based, at least in part, on information included within at least one of said first message and said second message; and

transmitting a third message from said third network element to a fourth network element, said third message transmitted in response to said second message, and said third message including at least a portion of said software.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said first message includes information selected from a group comprised of files for loading said software, instructions for specifying one or more portions of said software, and schedules for timing software distribution or software activation.

17. A system for efficiently and reliably distributing software in a network, comprising:

a first network element, said first network element capable of transmitting a first message from said first network element to a group consisting of a second network element and a third network element;

said first network element, said second network element, and said third network element in communication via a common sub-set of said network;

said second network element adapted to receive said first message from said first network element and transmit a second message to said third network element if said first message is not sent to said third network element, said second message transmitted in response to said first message, and said second message including software;

wherein said third network element loads at least a portion of said software received as part of at least one of said first message and said second message; and

said third network element adapted to transmit a third message from said third network element to a fourth network element, said third message transmitted in response to said second message, and said third message including at least a portion of said software.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein:

said network is a telecommunications network; and

said first network element is an operations support system network element and at least one of said second network element and said third network element is a mobile services switching center network element.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the loading of said at least a portion of said software by said third network element further comprises installing a new module with said software or upgrading an existing module with said software.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein said first network element is further capable of:

analyzing at least a portion of said network;

determining software-loading needs of said at least a portion of said network; and

planning a distribution schedule of said software to reduce a total update time for said at least a portion of said network.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said first message comprises said software and at least one instruction related to software distribution, said software distribution pertaining to at least one of software transmission and software loading.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one instruction related to said software distribution includes an address of said third network element.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one instruction related to said software distribution includes at least one direction for responding to an extraordinary circumstance.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one instruction related to said software distribution includes a time for said second network element to transmit said second message to said third network element.

25. The system according to claim 17, wherein the loading of said at least a portion of said software by said third network element occurs in response to a command transmitted over said common sub-set of said network by at least one of said first network element and said second network element.

26. The system according to claim 17, wherein said second message comprises at least one instruction related to software distribution, said software distribution pertaining to at least one of software transmission and software loading.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said third message is transmitted in response to said at least one instruction related to software distribution;

and

wherein said first, second, third, and fourth network elements are in communication via said common sub-set of said network.

28. The system according to claim 17, wherein said fourth network element loads said at least a portion of said software, said fourth network element not being in direct communication with said first network element via said common sub-set of said network.

29. The system according to claim 17, wherein said second network element loads at least a portion of software received in said first message onto said second network element in response to said first message, said first message being received from said first network element via said common sub-set of said network.

30. The system according to claim 17, wherein:

said first network element comprises a file store and a load manager; and

said second and third network elements each comprise a local storage media and a load agent.