System and method for providing customizable device capabilities to network equipment in a non-service affecting manner

A method for providing service capabilities to plurality of network devices, the plurality of network devices operating in a network to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a notification to the plurality of network devices that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
• transmitting the at least one service bundle at the plurality of network devices without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices;
• and
• instructing the plurality of network devices to activate the service capability on the plurality of network devices so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.

A network device capable of receiving and activating service capabilities, the network device operating in a network with other network devices to form a plurality of network devices to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the network device comprising:

• means for receiving a notification that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the network device;
• means for receiving the at least one service bundle without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices;
• and
• means for activating the service capability on the network device so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.

A service management system capable of providing service capabilities to a plurality of network devices, the service management system coupled to the plurality of network devices by a network, the plurality of network devices operating in the network to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the service management system comprising:

• means for transmitting a notification to the plurality of network devices that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
• means for transmitting the at least one service bundle to the plurality of network devices;
• and
• means for instructing the plurality of network devices to activate the service capability on the plurality of network devices so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.

A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for enabling the receipt and activation of a service capability by a network device, the network device operating in a network with other network devices to form a plurality of network devices to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, by performing the steps of:

• receiving a notification at the network device that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including the service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
• receiving the at least one service bundle at the network device without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices;
• and
• activating the service capability on the network device so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.

A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for providing service capabilities to a plurality of network devices, the plurality of network devices operating in a network to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, by performing the steps of:

• transmitting a notification to the plurality of network devices that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
• transmitting the at least one service bundle at the plurality of network devices without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices;
• and
• instructing the plurality of network devices to activate the service capability on the plurality of network devices so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.