COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

摘要

In order to upgrade firmware at network elements in a communications network , a Network Upgrade protocol Agent is installed on each network element. These agents run an upgrade protocol which allows an upgrade to be loaded onto a first network element and then broadcast through the netwrok. The protocol includes Notification messages, which change the state of the network elemen ts to which the upgrade relates, download messages which include the firmware upgrade, apply messages which instruct relevant network elements to apply th e upgrade, and inventory messages which sent an inventory of firmware stored a t a network element to neighbouring elements to enable a determination to be made of whether a network element has received all relevant firmware upgrade s.