Communication Processing Device Firmware Update Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication devices, particularly OLTs in optical access networks, face challenges in updating firmware without causing communication interruptions, as direct memory rewriting during operation can lead to unexpected abnormalities and require device restarts, making it difficult to perform updates without service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

A communication processing device with a memory storing both pre-update and post-update firmware, along with a rewriting unit that rewrites reference destination addresses to allow seamless switching between the two without interrupting service, enabling indirect referencing and updating while the device is operational.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If firmware is updated by rewriting memory during operation, then update speed is improved, but communication abnormalities occur and service continuity is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware update speedVSAvoidcommunication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The memory is segmented into multiple storage areas, with at least one area dedicated to storing the firmware being updated and another area storing the currently executing firmware. This segmentation allows the updated firmware to be written to a separate area without interfering with the running system, eliminating communication abnormalities while maintaining update speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A storage area acts as an intermediary buffer between the firmware source and the execution memory. The updated firmware is first written to this intermediate storage area, and only after verification is it copied to the execution area. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct rewriting conflicts and maintains communication stability during the update process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If device restart is performed to complete firmware update, then firmware update completeness is improved, but service interruption time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware update completenessVSAvoidservice interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The updated firmware is prepared and written to the storage area before the actual firmware switching operation. This preliminary action allows the system to have the updated firmware ready in advance, so when the switch is needed, it can be done immediately without requiring a full device restart, thereby reducing service interruption time while ensuring update completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different firmware versions stored in separate memory areas based on operational needs. Instead of a static restart process, the firmware switching is made dynamic and can be performed at any time without interrupting communication services, eliminating the trade-off between update completeness and interruption time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If redundant system is introduced to avoid service interruption, then service continuity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidsystem redundancy structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage area serves multiple functions: it stores the currently executing firmware, stores the updated firmware during the update process, and acts as the source for firmware switching. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate redundant systems while maintaining service continuity, thereby improving service continuity without increasing device complexity or cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of maintaining a complete redundant physical system, the invention uses memory copying to create a virtual redundancy. The updated firmware is copied to a storage area, and when needed, the copy is switched to the execution area. This copying approach provides service continuity while avoiding the complexity and cost of physical redundancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11360758B2Communication processing device, information processing device, and communication processing device control method

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A communication processing device including: a memory that stores data relating to a pre-update firmware, and second data relating to a post-update firmware, and that stores first reference destination address indicating the storage area of reference destination included in the first data in association with the reference destination; a rewriting unit configured to rewrite at least some of the first reference destination address stored in the memory with second reference destination address indicating the storage area of the reference destination in the second data; and a control unit configured to, when referring to the reference destination in the first data, refer to the second data on the basis of the second reference destination address stored in the memory.