The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 12, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 05, 2001
Joseph D. Kidder, Arlington, MA (US);
Michael B. Mahler, Boylston, MA (US);
Edward L. Perreault, Dunstable, MA (US);
Margaret Stearns, Hollis, NH (US);
Jim Hurley, Acton, MA (US);
Joseph D. Kidder, Arlington, MA (US);
Michael B. Mahler, Boylston, MA (US);
Edward L. Perreault, Dunstable, MA (US);
Margaret Stearns, Hollis, NH (US);
Jim Hurley, Acton, MA (US);
CIENA Corporation, Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for facilitating hot upgrades of software components within a telecommunications network device through the use of 'signatures' generated by a signature generating program. After installation of a new software release within the network device, only those software components whose signatures do not match the signatures of corresponding and currently executing software components are upgraded. Signatures promote hot upgrades by identifying only those software components that need to be upgraded. Since signatures are automatically generated for each software component as part of putting together a new release a quick comparison of two signatures provides an accurate assurance that either the software component has changed or has not. Thus, signatures provide a quick, easy way to accurately determine the upgrade status of each software component.