Universal upgrade architecture

A computer readable medium storing a computer program for upgrading from old software to new software at a node in a wireless communication network, said computer program comprising:

• program instructions to receive an upgrade configuration file at the node that includes default configuration values for the new software and a list of software modules comprising the new software;
• program instructions to initiate transfer of software modules needed at the node for the new software based on the list;
• program instructions to save snapshot data representing the existing node configuration for the old software and then activate the new software at the node;
• and
• program instructions to configure the node for operation with the new software by carrying forward actual configuration values saved in the snapshot data where appropriate, and otherwise by using default configuration values from the upgrade configuration file.

A method of upgrading from old software to new software at a node in a wireless communication network comprising:

• saving attribute values for data instances existent in the old software before activating the new software at the node;
• identifying data instances in the new software having corresponding data instances in the old software;
• and
• configuring attribute values of said identified data instances in the new software using the attribute values saved for the corresponding data instances in the old software, and configuring attribute values of any remaining data instances in the new software using default configuration values.

A method of upgrading from old software to new software at a node in a wireless communication network comprising executing an upgrade management program at the node that is configured to:

• read an upgrade configuration file to identify software modules needed at the node for the new software, and to initiate transfer of such software modules to the node;
• save configuration values associated with the old software before activating the new software at the node;
• and
• configure the node for operation with the new software using saved configuration values for data instances common to the old and new software, and using default configuration values for data instances not common to the old and new software.