# US 10,764,136 B2 · Mitigating network impact of disruptive device changes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,764,136 B2 - Document ID: US10764136B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/433,402 - Filed: 2019-06-06 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2020-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-27 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Jay K. Johnston; David C. White, Jr.; Magnus Mortensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10764136B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/082: the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality - G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) - H04L 41/0836: {to enhance reliability, e.g. reduce downtime} - H04L 41/145: {involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network} - H04L 43/065: related to network devices - H04L 43/0817: by checking functioning - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A computer-implemented method is provided for a network controller to implement an update on network elements with minimal disruption. The network controller receives a request to install the update on a number of network elements in one or more networks. Installing the update in each respective network element removes it from operation for an outage duration of time. The network controller identifies at least one set of critical network elements based on business factors associated with removing the critical network elements from operation. The network controller generates an update plan including timing for installing the update on each respective network element. The timing is based on minimizing the outage duration for the set of critical network elements. The network controller installs the update in each network element according to the timing of the update plan. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: at a network controller, obtaining a request to install an update on a plurality of network elements in one or more networks, wherein installing the update in each respective network element of the plurality of network elements removes the respective network element from operation for an outage duration of time; identifying at least one set of one or more critical network elements based on business factors associated with removing the one or more critical network elements from the one or more networks; identifying one or more non-critical network elements that are similar to the one or more critical network elements based on a previous outage duration of time for installing a previous upgrade; obtaining timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements; generating an update plan including timing for installing the update on the one or more critical network elements, wherein the timing is based on the timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements; and directing the one or more critical network elements to install the update according to the timing of the update plan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the business factors include one or more of a determination that the set of one or more critical network elements be updated first, a time period during which the one or more critical network elements are prohibited from being updated, or a downtime allowed by a service level agreement for services that rely on the set of one or more critical network elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one set of one or more critical network elements defines a critical network path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more non-critical network elements are edge network elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an update report comprising performance indicators of devices and services connected to the one or more networks. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the performance indicators include an uptime percentage of the devices or services connected to the one or more networks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements comprises obtaining the timing information from a central source of upgrade timing information, the central source collecting the upgrade timing information from a plurality of separate network devices in a plurality of networks operated by a community of separate entities. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising: a network interface unit configured to communicate with a plurality of network elements in one or more networks; and a processor configured to: obtain, via the network interface unit, a request to install an update on the plurality of network elements, wherein installing the update in each respective network element of the plurality of network elements removes the respective network element from operation for an outage duration of time; identify at least one set of one or more critical network elements based on business factors associated with removing the one or more critical network elements from the one or more networks; identify one or more non-critical network elements that are similar to the one or more critical network elements based on a previous outage duration of time for installing a previous upgrade; obtain timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements; generate an update plan including timing for installing the update on the one or more critical network elements, wherein the timing is based on the timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements; and direct the one or more critical network elements via the network interface to install the update according to the timing of the update plan. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the business factors include one or more of a determination that the set of one or more critical network elements be updated first, a time period during which the one or more critical network elements are prohibited from being updated, or a downtime allowed by a service level agreement for services that rely on the set of one or more critical network elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to define the at least one set of one or more critical network elements as a critical network path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more non-critical network elements are edge network elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an update report comprising performance indicators of devices and services connected to the one or more networks. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the performance indicators include an uptime percentage of the devices or services connected to the one or more networks. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the process is configured to obtain the timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements by obtaining the timing information from a central source of upgrade timing information, the central source collecting the upgrade timing information from a plurality of separate network devices in a plurality of networks operated by a community of separate entities. ### Claim 15 One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with computer executable instructions operable to cause a processor in a network controller to: obtain a request to install an update on a plurality of network elements in one or more networks, wherein installing the update in each respective network element of the plurality of network elements removes the respective network element from operation for an outage duration of time; identify at least one set of one or more critical network elements based on business factors associated with removing the one or more critical network elements from the one or more networks; identify one or more non-critical network elements that are similar to the one or more critical network elements based on a previous outage duration of time for installing a previous upgrade; obtain timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements; generate an update plan including timing for installing the update on the one or more critical network elements, wherein the timing is based on the timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements; and direct the one or more critical network elements to install the update according to the timing of the update plan. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the business factors include one or more of a determination that the set of one or more critical network elements be updated first, a time period during which the one or more critical network elements are prohibited from being updated, or a downtime allowed by a service level agreement for services that rely on the set of one or more critical network elements. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15, further comprising instructions operable to cause the processor to define the at least one set of one or more critical network elements as a critical network path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the one or more non-critical network elements are edge network elements. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15, further comprising instructions operable to cause the processor to generate an update report comprising performance indicators of devices and services connected to the one or more networks. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15, further comprising instructions operable to cause the processor to obtain the timing information related to installing the update on the one or more non-critical network elements by obtaining the timing information from a central source of upgrade timing information, the central source collecting the upgrade timing information from a plurality of separate network devices in a plurality of networks operated by a community of separate entities.