Module firmware recovery
First Claim
1. A method for use in a communications system utilized by users of telephone or modem calls, the communications system having more than one processor with a plurality of processors forming a module, each processor for performing various functions by executing code stored in a memory device, the method for upgrading the stored code for any one of the processors or for recovering one or more processors, comprising:
- determining one or more of the processors of a particular module to be ‘
bad’
;
scheduling recovery of the ‘
bad’
processor;
“
busying out”
the particular module so that no calls are processed through the particular module; and
attempting recovery of the ‘
bad’
processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network access server (NAS) for use in a communications system utilized by users of telephone, fax, or modem calls, the NAS having more than one processor with a plurality of processors forming a module, each processor for performing various functions by executing code stored in memory device accessible by the processor wherein either upgrading of the stored code or recovery of one or more of the processors is required. Upon determining that one or more processors are ‘bad’, the NAS and schedules recovery of the ‘bad’ processor during a window of time defined by a predetermined duration of time in the day during which the communications system is least utilized by the users, disables the particular module so that no calls are processed through the particular module and attempts recovery of the ‘bad’ processor during the window of time.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for use in a communications system utilized by users of telephone or modem calls, the communications system having more than one processor with a plurality of processors forming a module, each processor for performing various functions by executing code stored in a memory device, the method for upgrading the stored code for any one of the processors or for recovering one or more processors, comprising:
-
determining one or more of the processors of a particular module to be ‘
bad’
;
scheduling recovery of the ‘
bad’
processor;
“
busying out”
the particular module so that no calls are processed through the particular module; and
attempting recovery of the ‘
bad’
processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A network access server (NAS) for use in a communications system having a first communications device coupled to communicate through a public switching telephone network (PSTN), and a second communications device, coupled to communicate through a packet switching network, the NAS including processors for transferring communications information between the first and the second communications devices wherein the processors require upgrading or recovery comprising:
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a modem card coupled to receive telephone calls and operative to generate processed telephone calls including, one or more modules, each module having a module controller, a memory block and a plurality of digital signal processors for executing code, stored in the memory block, to perform various tasks, the module controller coupled to the plurality of digital signal processors for attempting recovery, during upgrading or recovery, of one or more of the digital signal processors of a particular module having been designated as ‘
bad’
,wherein the impact of recovery or upgrade of the digital signal processors to the users is minimized while the overall system capacity is maximized. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A network access server (NAS) for use in a communications system having a first communications device coupled to communicate through a public switching telephone network (PSTN), and a second communications device, coupled to communicate through a packet switching network, the NAS including processors for transferring communications information between the first and the second communications devices wherein the processors require upgrading or recovery comprising:
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means for receiving telephone calls and generating processed telephone calls including, module means including one or more modules, each module having a module controller, a memory block and a plurality at digital signal processors for executing code, stored in the memory block, to perform various tasks, the module controller coupled to the plurality of digital signal processors for attempting recovery during upgrading or recovery of one or more of the digital signal processors of a particular module having been designated as ‘
bad’
,wherein the impact of recovery or upgrade of the digital signal processors to the users is minimized while the overall system capacity is maximized. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification