A reliable communication switching platform for quick service provisioning

The paper describes key technologies for establishing a highly reliable communication switching platform, particularly from the viewpoint of service provisioning. For this purpose, a mechanism called the NOSES (nonstop service enhanceable software) plug-in is proposed to ensure partial and dynamic modification of switching system software written in a high-level language without interrupting services. Considering the requirements of reliability, excellent software maintainability and easy operation, a precise mechanism for the modification or addition of software is defined. The relationships between the plug-in mechanisms and the dynamic properties modified software are analyzed and measures to extending applicability of the plug-in to executing switching systems are proposed. The NOSES plug-in is sufficiently applicable for many kinds of software modification and is expected to be used widely for such systems.