Network management apparatus and method of selecting base station for software update

• US 8,081,961 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Okita, Koichi, Kurata, Ryosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US12/081,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20080233943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/423, 455/424, 455/466, 455/560, 709/220, 709/224, 717168-178
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A network management apparatus inputs a plurality of work dates and time periods to update software in a base station. The apparatus obtains an n-week average of the numbers of connection calls during each of the input time periods for each day of the week, based on statistical information about connection with a wireless terminal in each base station. The apparatus obtains an m-month average of the numbers of connection calls during each of the input time periods for each date, based on the statistical information. The apparatus calculates, for each of the time periods for a work date, an average or a weighted average of the n-week average and the m-month average to obtain a degree of impact upon a communication service. A processing section selects a work date and a time period having the minimum degree of impact and updates the software.

Claims

1. A network management apparatus in a wireless communication network, which comprises a wireless base station for performing communication between a wireless terminal and a wired communication network, and the network management apparatus for managing a network, the network management apparatus comprising:

a storage section stored in advance with information indicating a number of calls of connection with the wireless terminal in the wireless base station in association with a date, a day of the week, and a time period; and

a processing section for selecting a date and a time period when software is updated in the wireless base station based on said information stored in said storage section,

wherein the processing section;

inputs a plurality of work dates and time periods when the software can possibly be updated in the wireless base station,

obtains an n-week averages of the numbers of connection calls occurring during each input time period for each day of the week, based on the number of connection calls stored in the storage section, where n is a predetermined integer,

obtains, for each number of dates in a month, an m-month averages of the numbers of connection calls occurring during each input time period for each stored date on the same date over the period from one to m months, based on the number of connection calls stored in the storage section, where m is a predetermined integer,

calculates an average or a weighted average of the n-week average corresponding to each time period and the day of the week of each input work date and the m-month average corresponding to each time period and each input work date to obtain a degree of impact representing an impact caused by software update upon a communication service,

selects a work date and a time period with the minimum degree of impact or with a degree of impact equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold, and

updates the software installed in the wireless base station during the selected time period on the selected work date.

2. A network management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing section transmits software and an update request used for update according to the selected work date and time period to the wireless base station and updates the software installed in the wireless base station to the transmitted software.

3. A method of selecting a wireless base station to update software installed in the wireless base station at a selected time period on a selected date, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a plurality of work dates and time periods when the software of the wireless base station can possibly be updated;

obtaining an n-week averages of the numbers of connection calls occurring during each of the input time periods for each day of the week, based on the number of calls of connection with a wireless terminal in the wireless base station, corresponding to each date, day of the week, and time period, where n is a predetermined integer;

obtaining, for each number of dates in a month, an m-month averages of the numbers of connection calls occurring during each of the input time periods for each date on the same date over the period from one to m months, based on the number of connection calls, where m is a predetermined integer;

calculating an average or a weighted average of the n-week average corresponding to each time period and the day of the week of each input work date and the m-month average corresponding to each time period and each input work date to obtain a degree of impact representing an impact caused by software update upon a communication service; and

selecting a work date and a time period having the minimum degree of impact.