US5555418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for changing software during computer operation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-01-30
•
Granted: 1996-09-10
•
Expires: 2015-01-30
Abstract
Abstract In telecommunications switching system, software is frequently modified, enhanced or replaced altogether by new versions. The implementation or integration of the new or revised software into the operational system must be accomplished in accordance with strict requirements for not disturbing the ongoing activities of the system. Therefore, it is desirable that the system not be halted while the change to the new software is made. Rather, the preferred approach is to be able to replace software modules with new versions on the fly, during system operation. The smooth modification made possible in the disclosed system allows such changes with minimal disturbance to ongoing activities. The disclosed system provides the ability to change software during operation by treating the dynamic operations of a telecommunications system as a set of parallel, independent transactions, with each transaction consisting of a series of connected activities. Such a transaction is generally a functional element associated with a particular user of the system, e.g., a subscriber or an operator, such as a call to be processed or a command to be executed by the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Rickard Nilsson
- 👤 Ulf Markstrom
- 👤 Leif Klofver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545; H04Q3/54575; H04Q3/54583; G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1433; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; G06F8/656; H04Q3/54508; H04Q3/54516; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/865; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1305; H04Q2213/13057; H04Q2213/13109; H04Q2213/13376
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 82
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of dynamically binding, within a computing system, a first software unit with a second software unit, said method comprising the steps of: creating a trader portion in said computing system; loading said first software unit into said computing system, said first software unit having a client interface; loading said second software unit into said computing system, said second software unit having a server interface compatible with said client interface; executing a linked procedure call in said first software unit, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface; accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said server interface; and substituting said identified server interface in place of said client interface during execution of said first software unit, thereby dynamically binding said first and second software units.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of dynamically binding, within a computing system, a first software unit with a second software unit, said method comprising the steps of: creating a trader portion in said computing system; loading said first software unit into said computing system, said first software unit having a client interface; loading said second software unit into said computing system, said second software unit having a server interface compatible with said client interface; executing a linked procedure call in said first software unit, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface; accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said server interface; and substituting said identified server interface in place of said client interface during execution of said first software unit, thereby dynamically binding said first and second software units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: generating said client interface and said server interface from a common interface specification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said common interface specification is object oriented, and said method further comprises the step of: creating said common interface specification to be computer program language-independent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of: loading a third software unit into said computing system, said third software unit having a second server interface that is compatible with said client interface; and publishing the physical location of said second server interface in said trader portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of loading said first software unit includes the step of: publishing the physical location of said client interface in said trader portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 wherein in said step of loading a second software unit includes the step of: publishing the physical location of said server interface in said trader portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of accessing said trader portion includes the step of: accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said second server interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of substituting includes the step of: substituting said identified second server interface in place of said client interface, during execution of said first software unit, thereby dynamically binding said first and third software units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said client interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language, and said server interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of substituting includes the step of: creating a second server interface object from said second server interface using the physical location of said second server interface; and representing, during execution of said first software unit, said second server interface object as an object created from said client interface by using type casting, thereby dynamically binding said first software unit and said third software unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said computing system is a telecommunication switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said computing system is a personal computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said computing system is a computer network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of: receiving a process in said first software unit, said process having an identification specifying said second server interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of executing said linked procedure call includes the step of: executing said linked procedure call in said first software unit in response to said received process, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface and said second server interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said step of accessing includes the step of: accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said second server interface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of substituting includes the step of: substituting said second server interface in place of said client interface, during execution of said first interface, thereby dynamically binding said client interface to said second server interface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of: receiving a process in said first software unit, said process having an identification specifying said server interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step of executing said linked procedure call includes the step of: executing said linked procedure call in said first software unit in response to said received process, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface and said server interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said computing system is a telecommunications switch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said computing system is a personal computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said computing system is a computer network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said client interface and said server interface are associated with a unique identification number.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said step of accessing said trader portion includes the step of: accessing said trader portion using said unique identification number associated with said client interface to identify said server interface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of loading said first software unit includes the step of: publishing the physical location of said client interface in said trader portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 25 wherein in said step of loading a second software unit includes the step of: publishing the physical location of said server interface in said trader portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said client interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language, and said server interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said step of substituting includes the steps of: creating a server interface object, from said server interface, using the physical location of said server interface; and representing, during execution of said first software unit, said server interface object as an object created from said client interface by using type casting, thereby dynamically binding said first software unit and said second software unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said computing system is a telecommunication switch.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said computing system is a personal computer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said computing system is a computer network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of generating includes the step of: generating, with an off-line stub generation tool, said client interface and said server interface from a common interface specification, said off-line stub generation tool providing coordination between said client interface and said server interface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said step of generating includes the steps of: generating a client file containing at least one client interface; and generating a server file containing at least one server interface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said step of generating a client file includes the step of: generating a client file containing one client interface which is compatible with an associated server interface in said generated server file.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: creating said common interface specification using an object-oriented interface description language.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said step of creating said common interface specification includes the step of: creating said common interface specification from a base interface having specified methods, said common interface specification inheriting said specified methods of said base interface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
137 words
A computing system for dynamically binding a first software unit with a second software unit, said system comprising: means for creating a trader portion in said computing system; means for loading said first software unit into said computing system, said first software unit having a client interface; means for loading said second software unit into said computing system, said second software unit having a server interface compatible with said client interface; means for executing a linked procedure call in said first software unit, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface; means for accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said server interface; and means for substituting said identified server interface in place of said client interface, during execution of said first software unit, thereby dynamically binding said first and second software units.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
137 words
A computing system for dynamically binding a first software unit with a second software unit, said system comprising: means for creating a trader portion in said computing system; means for loading said first software unit into said computing system, said first software unit having a client interface; means for loading said second software unit into said computing system, said second software unit having a server interface compatible with said client interface; means for executing a linked procedure call in said first software unit, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface; means for accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said server interface; and means for substituting said identified server interface in place of said client interface, during execution of said first software unit, thereby dynamically binding said first and second software units.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computing system of claim 37 further comprising: means for generating said client interface and said server interface from a common interface specification.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computing system of claim 38 further comprising: means for creating said common interface specification in a computer program language-independent fashion using an object oriented paradigm.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computing system of claim 39 further comprising: means for loading a third software unit into said computing system, said third software unit having a second server interface that is compatible with said client interface; and means for publishing the physical location of said second server interface in said trader portion.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computing system of claim 40 wherein said means for loading said first software unit includes: means for publishing the physical location of said client interface in said trader portion.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computing system of claim 41 wherein in said means for loading said second software unit includes: means for publishing the physical location of said server interface in said trader portion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computing system of claim 42 wherein said means for accessing said trader portion includes: means for accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said second server interface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computing system of claim 43 wherein said client interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language, and said server interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
74 words
The computing system of claim 44 wherein said means for substituting includes: means for creating a second server interface object from said second server interface using the physical location of said second server interface; and means for representing, during execution of said first software unit, said second server interface object as an object created from said client interface by using type casting, thereby dynamically binding said first software unit and said third software unit.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 45 wherein said computing system is a telecommunication switch.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 45 wherein said computing system is a personal computer.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 45 wherein said computing system is a computer network.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computing system of claim 43 wherein said means for substituting includes: means for substituting said identified second server interface in place of said client interface, during execution of said first software unit, thereby dynamically binding said first and third software units.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computing system of claim 42 further comprising: means for receiving a process in said first software unit, said process having an identification specifying said second server interface.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computing system of claim 50 wherein said means for executing said linked procedure call includes: means for executing said linked procedure call in said first software unit in response to said received process, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface and said second server interface.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computing system of claim 51 wherein said means for accessing includes: means for accessing said trader portion with said specified client interface to identify said second server interface.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computing system of claim 52 wherein said means for substituting includes: means for substituting said second server interface in place of said client interface, during execution of said first interface, thereby dynamically binding said client interface to said second server interface.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computing system of claim 42 further comprising: means for receiving a process in said first software unit, said process having an identification specifying said server interface.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computing system of claim 54 wherein said means for executing said linked procedure call includes: means for executing said linked procedure call in said first software unit in response to said received process, said linked procedure call specifying said client interface and said server interface.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 55 wherein said computing system is a telecommunications switch.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 55 wherein said computing system is a personal computer.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 55 wherein said computing system is a computer network.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computing system of claim 39 wherein said client interface and said server interface are associated with a unique identification number.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computing system of claim 59 wherein said means for accessing said trader portion includes: means for accessing said trader portion using said unique identification number associated with said client interface to identify said server interface.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computing system of claim 38 wherein said means for loading said first software unit includes: means for publishing the physical location of said client interface in said trader portion.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computing system of claim 61 wherein in said means for loading said second software unit includes: means for publishing the physical location of said server interface in said trader portion.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
69 words
The computing system of claim 62 wherein said means for substituting includes: means for creating a server interface object, from said server interface, using the physical location of said server interface; means for representing, during execution of said first software unit, said server interface object as an object created from said client interface by using type casting, thereby dynamically binding said first software unit and said second software unit.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 63 wherein said computing system is a telecommunication switch.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 63 wherein said computing system is a personal computer.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computing system of claim 63 wherein said computing system is a computer network.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computing system of claim 62 wherein said client interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language, and said server interface is a class in the C++ computer programming language.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computing system of claim 38 wherein said means for generating includes: means for generating, with an off-line stub generation tool, said client interface and said server interface from a common interface specification, said off-line stub generation tool providing coordination between said client interface and said server interface.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computing system of claim 68 wherein said means for generating includes: means for generating a client file containing at least one client interface; and means for generating a server file containing at least one server interface.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computing system of claim 69 wherein said means for generating a client file includes: means for generating a client file containing one client interface which is compatible with an associated server interface in said generated server file.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computing system of claim 38 wherein said common interface specification is object oriented, and said computing system further comprises: means for creating said common interface specification using an object-oriented interface description language.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computing system of claim 71 wherein said means for creating said common interface specification includes: means for creating said common interface specification from a base interface, said common interface specification inheriting specified methods of said base interface.
Claim 75
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of dynamically binding original and replacement software modules, wherein said original and replacement software modules are identified by the same function name and include a plurality of processes for operation of a real time computer system, said method comprising the steps of: creating a table containing said function name for said original and replacement software modules within said computer system; receiving a chain of events within said computer system, wherein each event includes a destination function name and an event direction parameter; filtering each event in said chain of events by its destination function name to send said event to said table if the destination function name for the event is the same as said table function name; and directing said filtered event using its event direction parameter to either said original software module or said replacement software module to effectuate dynamic runtime binding of the original and replacement software modules within said real time computer system.
Claim 76
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of dynamically binding original and replacement software modules, wherein said original and replacement software modules are identified by the same function name and include a plurality of processes for operation of a real time computer system, said method comprising the steps of: creating a table containing said function name for said original and replacement software modules within said computer system; receiving a chain of events within said computer system, wherein each event includes a destination function name and an event direction parameter; filtering each event in said chain of events by its destination function name to send said event to said table if the destination function name for the event is the same as said table function name; and directing said filtered event using its event direction parameter to either said original software module or said replacement software module to effectuate dynamic runtime binding of the original and replacement software modules within said real time computer system.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 73 wherein said table further contains a table direction parameter and wherein said step of directing comprises the steps of: directing said filtered event to said replacement software module if said event direction parameter meets a condition of said table direction parameter; and otherwise, directing said filtered event to said original software module.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 74 wherein said table direction parameter comprises a time-stamp threshold and said event direction parameter comprises a time-stamp value, wherein the step of directing said filtered event to said replacement software comprises the step of directing said filtered event to said replacement software module if said time stamp value is equal to or greater than said time-stamp threshold and wherein the step of directing said filtered event to said original software comprises the step of directing said filtered event to said original software module if said time stamp value is less than said time-stamp threshold.
Claim 79
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for dynamically binding original and replacement software modules, wherein said original and replacement software modules are identified by the same function name and include a plurality of processes for operation of a real time computer system, said system comprising: means for creating a table containing said function name for said original and replacement software modules within said computer system; means for receiving a chain of events within said computer system, wherein each event includes a destination function name and an event direction parameter; means for filtering each event in said chain of events by its destination function name to send said event to said table if the destination function name for the event is the same as said table function name; and means for directing said filtered event using its event direction parameter to either said original software module or said replacement software module to effectuate dynamic runtime binding of the original and replacement software modules within said real time computer system.
Claim 80
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for dynamically binding original and replacement software modules, wherein said original and replacement software modules are identified by the same function name and include a plurality of processes for operation of a real time computer system, said system comprising: means for creating a table containing said function name for said original and replacement software modules within said computer system; means for receiving a chain of events within said computer system, wherein each event includes a destination function name and an event direction parameter; means for filtering each event in said chain of events by its destination function name to send said event to said table if the destination function name for the event is the same as said table function name; and means for directing said filtered event using its event direction parameter to either said original software module or said replacement software module to effectuate dynamic runtime binding of the original and replacement software modules within said real time computer system.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 76 wherein said table further contains a table direction parameter and wherein said means for directing comprising: means for directing said filtered event to said replacement software module if said event direction parameter meets a condition of said table direction parameter; and otherwise, means for directing said filtered event to said original software module.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system of claim 77 wherein said table direction parameter comprises a time-stamp threshold and said event direction parameter comprises a time-stamp value, wherein the means for directing said filtered event to said replacement software comprising the means for directing said filtered event to said replacement software module if said time stamp value is equal to or greater than said time-stamp threshold and wherein the means for directing said filtered event to said original software comprising the means for directing said filtered event to said original software module if said time stamp value is less than said time stamp threshold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-10 | 2000-03-11 | 2000-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-10 | 2004-03-11 | 2004-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-10 | 2008-03-11 | 2008-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |