Method for updating the program structure of a modular communication system

A method for updating a program structure of a modular communication system having computer-controlled assemblies connected via a common bus, one of the computer-controlled assemblies having defined as a main assembly and every computer-controlled assembly respectively having programmable program memories available thereto, comprising the steps of:

• allocating a respective communication manager to every assembly of the computer-controlled assemblies for control of message exchange and for transmission and reception of programs;
• generating a system image of the communication system on each assembly of the computer-controlled assemblies by an exchange of program-oriented and circuit-oriented messages between the assemblies of the computer-controlled assemblies under control of the main assembly and storing the system image in a system list;
• identifying and defining a respective assembly of the computer-controlled assemblies, that contains the respectively most current program, as the main assembly using the system list for identical programs respectively indicated in the system list;
• communicating via the common bus the most current program to at least one assembly of the computer-controlled assemblies by the respective assembly that is identified as the main assembly, the communication of the respectively most current program being controlled by the communication managers of different assemblies of the computer-controlled assemblies that are successively defined as a main assembly when respectively most current programs are not stored on a single assembly;
• and
• incorporating the communicated, most current program into function execution of the at least one assembly.

A method for updating a program structure of a modular communication system having computer-controlled assemblies connected via a common bus, one of the computer-controlled assemblies having defined as a main assembly and every computer-controlled assembly respectively having programmable program memories available thereto, comprising the steps of:

• generating a system image of the communication system on each assembly of the computer-controlled assemblies by an exchange of program-oriented and circuit-oriented messages between the assemblies of the computer-controlled assemblies under control of the main assembly and storing the system image in a system list;
• identifying and defining a respective assembly of the computer-controlled assemblies, that contains the respectively most current program, as the main assembly using the system list for identical programs respectively indicated in the system list;
• communicating the most current program to at least one assembly of the computer-controlled assemblies by the respective assembly that is identified as the main assembly;
• and
• storing, for updating programs during operation of the respective assembly, the communicated, most current program in an intermediate memory of the respective assembly an at least partial switch being made for incorporating the communicated, most current program into function execution of the respective assembly.