Broadcast remote firmware update

A method of managing firmware update communications between devices in a communication system, comprising the steps of:

• retrieving, at an upstream source, a copy of a firmware file from a file storage source, wherein the upstream source is selected from one of a server and a network management tool;
• sending the copy of the firmware file from the upstream source to at least one transmitting device selected from a hub, a collector, and a repeater;
• receiving input of a predetermined number of times that the copy of the firmware file is to be repeatedly broadcasted by the at least one transmitting device to comprise one broadcast remote firmware update (BRFU);
• receiving input of a predefined limit of BRFUs to be executed within a session;
• sending a BRFU setup message from the upstream source to the at least one transmitting device, the BRFU setup message specifying a wake time at which downstream devices targeted by the BRFU setup message should wake from a sleeping state to receive the copy of the firmware file, such devices comprising targeted downstream devices, and specifying a channel to which each targeted downstream device should tune after waking;
• following completion of a BRFU, quantifying a number of unsuccessful downstream devices, the unsuccessful downstream devices comprising targeted downstream devices that did not successfully store an entire copy of the firmware file;
• determining whether the number of unsuccessful downstream devices falls below a predetermined threshold;
• responsive to a determination that the number of unsuccessful downstream devices falls below the predetermined threshold, conducting a directed firmware update addressed to each unsuccessful downstream device, comprising the steps of
• sending a direct setup message directly from the upstream source over a hailing channel to each unsuccessful downstream device, the direct setup message specifying a next wake time at which each unsuccessful downstream device should wake to again receive the copy of the firmware file and specifying a data channel to which each unsuccessful downstream device should tune after waking at the next wake time, and
• causing the at least one transmitting device to perform one of broadcasting the copy of the firmware file to each unsuccessful downstream device and sending the copy of the firmware file over the data channel to each unsuccessful downstream device;
• responsive to a determination that the number of unsuccessful downstream devices does not fall below the predetermined threshold, determining whether the predefined limit of BRFUs has been reached;
• responsive to a determination that the predefined limit of BRFUs has not been reached, initiating another BRFU by sending another BRFU setup message to the at least one transmitting device;
• and
• responsive to a determination that the predefined limit of BRFUs has been reached,
• sending a broadcast burn command to the at least one transmitting device, and
• receiving firmware information from the transmitting device, the firmware information identifying all targeted downstream devices that burned the firmware file into respective memories located in the targeted downstream devices, such downstream devices comprising successful downstream devices, and specifying a version of firmware running on the successful downstream devices.