Method for updating at least one program of firmware of a protection or automation system in the field of electrical energy transmission and distribution

A method for updating firmware, the method comprising:

• providing the firmware of a protection or automation system in the field of electrical energy transmission or distribution, the firmware having at least one program to be updated;
• in addition to the at least one program that is in operation and that is to be updated, starting an updated version or configuration of the program as a new instance;
• communicating by the new instance, with a first status message to an update program that the new instance is ready to transfer operation from the program to be updated to itself;
• transferring, by the program to be updated, operating data and parameters to the new instance;
• communicating by the new instance, with a second status message, and communicating by the program to be updated, with a third status message, that the new instance and the program to be updated are ready to switch over operation to the new instance;
• and
• switching over operation from the program to be updated to the new instance.