Abstract: A computer system is disclosed in which individual executing process can be replaced with updated or corrected versions of themselves without interrupting or otherwise interfering with the operation of the computer system. In particular, embedded in the process itself is a command or function or subroutine call which operates to overlay the process code in memory with an updated version of itself, without losing or altering the relationships of the process to the other processes in the computer.As an example, in a UNIX system, the execute command can be used to perform the replication function. The replication process can be triggered by an inter-process signal, by the occurrance of an external condition, or by a triggering signal embedded in the normal data input to the process.

Abstract: In order to insure continuous access to diagnostic and maintenance information from a computer, the console port of the computer is connected either to the console locally or to a terminal remotely. In response to an activating command from the remote terminal, a switch is operated to disconnect the local console from the computer and another switch is operated to connect the remote terminal to the computer.