Integrated services hub self configuration

• US 6,865,192 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Barrow, Matthew K.
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/747,907
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 370351- 4, 370/389, 370400- 2, 370/431, 370/466, 370/464, 370/475, 370/252, 709/228, 709/229, 709/237, 710/104
• US Class Current: 370/475
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method of automatically downloading configuration files and binary code for a customer premises telecommunications hub. Upon initial power up, the hub sends a DHCP request to the central office DHCP server. The DHCP server sends to the hub an IP address for the hub, the name of an appropriate configuration file, the domain name of a configuration file server and an IP address of a domain name server. The hub requests the IP address of the configuration file server from the domain name server. It then requests the configuration file from the configuration file server, downloads the file and parses it. The hub then requests the binary file named in the configuration file from the configuration file server. The binary code is downloaded and written into flash memory. The hub then resets so that the new binary code is transferred into the operating RAM.

Claims

1. A method for initializing a customer premises telecommunications hub having a link to a central office comprising:

a) upon power up of the hub, sending a DHCP request to a central office DHCP server,

b) sending a configuration file name, a domain name of a configuration file server and an IP address of a domain name server from the central office DHCP server to the hub,

c) sending a request for an IP address or a configuration file server from the hub to the domain name server,

d) sending the IP address of a configuration file server from the domain name server to the hub,

e) sending a request for the configuration file from the hub to the configuration file server,

f) sending the configuration file including a control software file name from the configuration file server to the hub,

g) parsing the configuration file in the hub;

h) sending a request for the control software from the hub to the configuration file server,

i) sending the control software from the configuration file serve to the hub, and

j) storing the control software in memory in the hub.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including:

restarting the CPU in the hub.

3. The method according to claim 2 further including

sending a request for the configuration file from the hub to the configuration file server,

sending the configuration file, including a control software file name, from the configuration file server to the hub, and

parsing the configuration file in the hub.

4. The method of claim 1 further including:

in step b), sending a domain name which refers to a plurality of configuration file servers and IP addresses of a plurality of domain name servers.

5. The method of claim 4 further including:

in step c), if the request of a first domain name server fails, resending the request to the first domain name server for a preselected number of retry attempts, and, if all such retry attempts fail, sending the request to a second of said plurality of domain name servers.

6. The method of claim 4, further including:

in step c), sending a request for the IP addresses of the plurality of configuration file servers.

7. The method of claim 6, further including:

in step e), if the request to a first configuration file server fails, resending the request to the first configuration file server for a preselected number of retry attempts, and, if all such retry attempts fail, sending the request to a second of said plurality of configuration file servers.

8. A method for providing configuration files and control software to a customer premises telecommunications hub having a link to a central office comprising:

a) upon power up of the hub, sending a DHCP request to a central office DHCP server;

b) sending a configuration file name, a domain name of a configuration file server and an IP address of a domain name server from the central office DHCP server to the hub;

c) sending a request for an IP address of a configuration file server from the hub to the domain name server,

d) sending the IP address of a configuration file server from the domain name server to the hub,

e) sending a request for the configuration file from the hub to the configuration file server,

f) sending the configuration file, including a control software file name, from the configuration file server to the hub,

g) parsing the configuration file in the hub;

h) sending a request for the control software from the hub to the configuration file server,

i) sending the control software from the configuration file server to the hub, and

j) storing the control software in memory in the hub.

9. A method according to claim 8, further including:

restating the CPU in the hub,

sending a request for the configuration file from the hub to the configuration file server,

sending the configuration file, including a control software file name, from the configuration file server to the hub, and

parsing the configuration file in the hub.

10. The method of claim 8 further including;

in step b), sending a domain name referring to a plurality of configuration file servers and IP addresses of a plurality of domain name servers.

11. The method of claim 10 further including;

in step c), if the request to a first domain name server fails, resending the request to the first domain name server for a preselected number of retry attempts, and, if all such retry attempts fail, sending the request to a second of said plurality of domain name servers.

12. The method of claim 10, further including:

in step c), sending a request for the IP addresses of the plurality of configuration file servers.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

in step e), if the request to a first configuration file server fails, resending the request to the first configuration file server for a preselected number of retry attempts, and, if all such retry attempts fail, sending the request to a second of said plurality of configuration file servers.

14. A system for initializing a customer premises telecommunications hub having a link to a central office comprising:

a DHCP server in the central office,

a configuration and control software server accessible over the Internet,

means in the hub for detecting system power up and sending to the DHCP server in the central office a DHCP request for a configuration file name, a domain name of the configuration and control software server and an Internet address for a domain name server,

means in the hub for requesting the configuration file from the configuration and control software server,

means for reading a control software file name from the configuration file, comparing it to the name of a control software file in the processor memory, and, if the names are different, for requesting a control software file from the configuration and control software file server.

15. A customer premises telecommunications hub comprising:

means for detecting system power up and sending to a server in a central office a DHCP request for a configuration file name, a domain name for a configuration and control software server and an Internet address for a domain name server, and

means for requesting the configuration file from the configuration and control software server,

means for reading a control software file name from the configuration file, comparing it to the name of a control software file in the hub and, if the names are different, for requesting a control software file from the configuration and control software file server.

16. The hub of claim 15 further including;

means for storing a control software file in the hub and for resetting the hub.