BROADCAST DOWNLOAD TECHNIQUE

摘要

In a wireless microcell distribution system, a multicast system is provided for broadcasting software updates, enable and disable capabilities, channel reassignments or other downloadable data simultaneously to a plurality of cable microcell integrators, thereby precluding the lengthy unicast process of updating cable microcell integrators manually or suffering prior unreliable message delivery in which each of the cable microcell integrators in individually addressed and the response tallied. In one embodiment, the request is transmitted simultaneously in a broadcast mode to multiple cable microcell integrators with no response required. Thereafter, each cable microcell integrator is queried on a unicast basis as to receipt of broadcast information and as to whether or not any portion must be re-broadcast. If so optionally the entire information set can be rebroadcast, with only affected cable microcell integrators downloading the broadcast information. The multicast broadcast technique thus provides rapid simultaneous updating of each of the cable microcell integrators from a central location.