Over the air programming via a broadband access gateway

A method comprising:

• at a gateway,
• establishing data communication with a broadband network;
• establishing a local communication network in an area;
• via the local communication network, receiving identification information from an access device, the identification information identifying the access device;
• using the received identification information, determining whether an update of software or firmware for the access device is available;
• if an update of software or firmware for the access device is available, receiving at the gateway, over the broadband network, updating code for the access device;
• and
• communicating the updating code to the access device over the local communication network.

A system comprising:

• a gateway operable to communicate data with a broadband network and a local wireless network,
• the gateway including a wireless interface which receives information about an access device when the access device is in data communication with the local wireless network;
• and
• the gateway operable to determine if an update of software or firmware for the access device, or an electronic component associated with the access device, is available, the gateway further operable to receive over the broadband network updating code for the access device, or for the electronic component associated with the access device, and to communicate the updating code to the access device over the local wireless network.