Method and system for configuration and download in a restricted architecture network

• US 6,973,479 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Norton, Lyle K., Brady, Kenneth A. Jr., Tsaur, Jyh-Fong, Yi, Jason Kyong-min, Weimholt, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Marc D.
• Application Number:
  US10/136,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/208, 709/209, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224, 717/169, 717/170, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178, 717/174, 717/175, 717/168
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system are provided for updating software configurations of line-replaceable unit (LRU) computers in a restricted architecture network such as an in-flight entertainment system (IFES). Operating in an efficient and parallel manner, each of the LRUs independently creates an individual configuration file that identifies current software components. Each of the LRUs transmits its respective configuration file to a configuration server either automatically upon startup or manually upon request. The configuration server updates a system configuration data file with the current configuration files received from the individual LRUs. In a downloading method, a download server sends a list of desired software components to the LRUs. Each of the LRUs independently and simultaneously transfer (download) the needed software from the download server. The LRU independently requests the download server to download the needed software components. To improve scalability and reliability, the file transfers utilize standard protocols, such as FTP.

Claims

1. A method for checking a configuration of a plurality of configurable LRUs within a restricted architecture network having at least one configuration server in communication with the LRUs, the method comprising the following steps:

operating each said respective LRU to generate a respective LRU configuration file in response to an initiation request received at each said respective LRU from a device other than the LRUs, the LRU configuration file containing a list that identifies software components currently residing on its respective LRU;

operating each said LRU to transfer its respective LRU configuration file to the configuration server;

operating the configuration server to detect the arrival of each said respective LRU configuration file;

operating the configuration server to update a system configuration data file (SCDF) that contains data representing current and previous LRU configurations by setting the current SCDF data at the server to reflect the LRU configuration files generated by the generating step and by setting the previous SCDF data at the server to reflect LRU configuration files generated by the LRUs during a previous running of the configuration checking method;

operating the configuration server, after performing the updating step, to determine whether any of the LRUs are to receive at least one updated software component from the configuration server and if so, identifying each of those LRUs as a target LRU; and

operating each said target LRU to request information pertaining to said at least one updated software component from the configuration server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending the LRU configuration files from the LRUs to the configuration server further includes holding the LRU configuration files in a working directory at the server.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising deleting the LRU configuration files from the working directory.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing at least part of the SCDF on at least one LRU within the restricted architecture network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step comprises the step of executing an FTP “

put”

command at each said LRU to send the respective LRU configuration files.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the LRU configuration file is manually initiated, the method further comprising the step of sending the initiation request from the configuration server to each LRU.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the initiation request is sent to at least one LRU via an Ethernet multicast.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the initiation request is sent to multiple LRUs via an Ethernet broadcast.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step is performed via FTP.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of comparing the respective LRU configuration file data to data from a previous respective configuration file data from the LRUs, determining inconsistencies therebetween, and writing the inconsistencies to an event log.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending an initial instruction as the initiation request from the configuration server to an LRU to perform the generating step;

waiting a first predetermined period;

checking a working directory at the server after the first predetermined period to determine whether the LRU configuration file from that LRU has been received by the configuration server; and

if the LRU configuration file has not been received, sending a second instruction from the configuration server to that LRU to perform the generating step;

waiting a second predetermined period and then again checking the working directory to determine whether the LRU configuration file from that LRU has been received.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising indicating that LRU has to failed report if the LRU configuration file has not been received after the second predetermined period.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are performed independently and in parallel for multiple LRUs.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the respective configuration tiles at their respective associated LRU after the step of generating the configuration file.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending the initiation request from a management terminal of the restricted architecture network.

16. A method for downloading software from a download server to at least one configurable LRU computer in a restricted architecture network, the downloading method comprising the following steps:

selecting a list of desired software components representing software desired to be loaded onto one or more target LRUs, the selecting being performed at a device of the restricted architecture network other than any of the LRUs;

loading a new software component from a storage medium connected to the download server;

sending, as authorized by the device, the list of desired software components from the download server to each of the target LRUs;

operating each LRU to compare its said list of desired software components against a list of current software components at each of the LRUs;

operating each LRU to determine its respective needed software components by comparing the list of desired software components and the list of current software components;

operating each LRU to request the respective needed software components from the download server; and

operating each LRU to delete its software components which are not in the list of desired software components.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying the list of current software components at each of the LRUs.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of storing the new software component on the download server.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of rebooting the LRU after the step of downloading.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of integrity checking and unpacking of the needed software components after the step of downloading.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of sending the list of desired software components from the download server to each of the LRUs is performed using FTP.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of sending an instruction from each of the LRUs to download needed software components includes executing an FTP “

get”

command identifying the needed components.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the device is the download server.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the device is a management terminal of the restricted architecture network.

25. A configurable system for use in a restricted architecture network, comprising:

at least one server including a memory that maintains a working directory, a storage device that maintains a database, a data parser, and a network communication device;

a plurality of configurable LRUs, each of the LRUs including a configuration file generator operable to generate a configuration file representing current software components at the respective LRU in response to an initiation request received from a device other than any of the LRUs; and

a network communication device operable to send the configuration file to the server; and

a network backbone for handling parallel communications between the LRUs and the server;

wherein the respective LRUs each operate to transfer their respective configuration files to the server which receives the configuration files from the respective LRUs in the working directory, and wherein the data parser is operable to update a system configuration data file stored in the database by writing the configuration files to a field of the system configuration data file that represents a current configuration, moving data from previously stored in the current field to a field representing the previous configuration.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the server is a digital server unit.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the LRUs send the configuration data files to the server via FTP.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the LRU further includes a comparator to compare the configuration file to a list of desired software components received from the server to determine needed software components, and wherein the network communication device of the LRU is further operable to send the configuration file to request a download of the needed software components from the server.

29. The system of claim 25, further comprising a management terminal operable to send the initiation request to cause the LRUs to generate the configuration files.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the server sends the initiation request.

31. A method for checking a configuration of a plurality of configurable LRUs within a restricted architecture network having at least one configuration server in communication with the LRUs, the method comprising the following steps for each LRU to be updated:

operating each LRU to generate an LRU configuration file, the LRU configuration file containing a list that identifies software components currently residing on the LRU;

operating each LRU to transfer its respective LRU configuration file to the configuration server;

operating the configuration server to detect the arrival of the LRU configuration file; and

operating the configuration server to update a system configuration data file (SCDF) that contains data representing current and previous LRU configurations by setting the current SCDF data to reflect the LRU configuration file generated by the generating step and by setting the previous SCDF data to reflect an LRU configuration file generated by the LRU during a previous running of the configuration checking method; and

wherein the method further comprises;

sending an initial instruction from the configuration server to the LRU to perform the generating step;

operating the configuration server to enter a first waiting state for a first predetermined period;

checking a working directory at the configuration server after the first predetermined period to determine whether the LRU configuration file has been received by the configuration server; and

if the LRU configuration file has not been received, sending a second instruction from the configuration file to the LRU to perform the generating step;

operating the configuration server to enter a second waiting state for a second predetermined period and then again checking the working directory to determine whether the LRU configuration file has been received.