Software Upgrade in a Home Network Using Lower Layer Messaging

Abstract

Principles, apparatuses, systems, circuits, methods, and computer program products for performing a software upgrade in a MoCA network includes receiving an image of a software upgrade at a server and sending the image in the MoCA network using an L2ME message channel to a client that is enabled to receive the image and store the image in a client memory. The image may be broken up into packets, and a sequence number may be assigned to each packet to assist the client in assembling them. CRC information may also be appended to the packets to enable the client to verify their contents.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A home-based network node for use in communication network of a home, where the communication network of the home comprises an open network that is user modifiable and a closed network that is not user modifiable, the home-based network node comprising:
 a first transceiver;   a second transceiver; and   processing circuitry configured to:
 utilize the first transceiver to receive a software update image from an external server that is external to the home utilizing a protocol stack higher than an Ethernet Convergence Layer (ECL); and 
 utilize the second transceiver to communicate the received software update image to the client device over the closed network of the communication network of the home and utilizing no protocol stack layer higher than an Ethernet Convergence Layer (ECL). 
   
     
     
         42 . The home-based network node of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the first transceiver is configured to communicate with the external server over a communication network external to the home and not over the communication network of the home; and   the second transceiver is configured to communicate with a client device over the communication network of the home and not over the communication network external to the home.   
     
     
         43 . The home-based network node of  claim 41 , wherein the communication network of the home is a hard-wired network. 
     
     
         44 . The home-based network node of  claim 41 , wherein there is no Ethernet service between the client device and the external server. 
     
     
         45 . The home-based network node of  claim 41 , wherein the client device is not part of an Ethernet service and is not part of a TCP/IP service to a service provider. 
     
     
         46 . The home-based network node of  claim 41 , wherein the ECL is a boundary between a MAC layer of the communication network of the home and a TCP/IP layer of the communication network of the home. 
     
     
         47 . The home-based network node of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the software update image comprises configuration management information; and   at least one message sent from the second transceiver to the client device over a message channel of the communication network of the home comprises header information that specifies that the message relates to a software update.   
     
     
         48 . A home-based network node for use in a communication network of a home, where the communication network of the home comprises an open network that is user modifiable and a closed network that is not user modifiable, the home-based network node comprising:
 a first transceiver;   a second transceiver; and   processing circuitry configured to:
 utilize the first transceiver to receive a software update image from an external server, the software update image comprising configuration management information; and 
 utilize the second transceiver to communicate the received software update image to the client device over the closed network of the communication network of the home, wherein at least one message sent from the second transceiver to the client device over a message channel of the communication network of the home comprises header information that specifies that the message relates to a software update. 
   
     
     
         49 . The home-based network node of  claim 48 , wherein:
 the first transceiver is configured to communicate with the external server over a communication network external to the home and not over the communication network of the home; and   the second transceiver is configured to communicate with a client device over the communication network of the home and not over the communication network external to the home.   
     
     
         50 . The home-based network node of  claim 48 , wherein the communication network of the home is a hard-wired network. 
     
     
         51 . The home-based network node of  claim 48 , wherein there is no Ethernet service between the client device and the external server. 
     
     
         52 . The home-based network node of  claim 48 , wherein the client device is not part of an Ethernet service and is not part of a TCP/IP service to a service provider. 
     
     
         53 . The home-based network node of  claim 48 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 utilize the first transceiver to receive the software update image from the external server utilizing a protocol stack higher than an Ethernet Convergence Layer (ECL); and   utilize the second transceiver to communicate the received software update image to the client device over the closed network of the communication network of the home utilizing no protocol stack layer higher than an Ethernet Convergence Layer (ECL),   wherein the communication network of the home comprises an ECL as a boundary between a MAC layer and a TCP/IP layer.   
     
     
         54 . A home-based network node for use in a communication network of a home, the home-based network node comprising:
 a first transceiver;   a second transceiver; and   processing circuitry configured to:
 utilize the first transceiver to receive a software update image from an external server utilizing a protocol stack layer higher than an Ethernet Convergence Layer (ECL); and 
 utilize the second transceiver to communicate the received software update image to the client device over the communication network of the home utilizing no protocol stack layer higher than an Ethernet Convergence Layer (ECL) of the communication network of the home. 
   
     
     
         55 . The home-based network node of  claim 54 , wherein the ECL of the communication network of the home is a boundary between a MAC layer of the communication network of the home and a network layer of the communication network of the home. 
     
     
         56 . The home-based network node of  claim 54 , wherein:
 the first transceiver is configured to communicate with the external server over a communication network external to the home and not over the communication network of the home; and   the second transceiver is configured to communicate with a client device over the communication network of the home and not over the communication network external to the home.   
     
     
         57 . The home-based network node of  claim 54 , wherein the communication network of the home is a hard-wired network. 
     
     
         58 . The home-based network node of  claim 54 , wherein there is no Ethernet service between the client device and the external server. 
     
     
         59 . The home-based network node of  claim 54 , wherein the client device is not part of an Ethernet service and is not part of a TCP/IP service to a service provider. 
     
     
         60 . The home-based network node of  claim 54 , wherein:
 the software update image comprises configuration management information; and   at least one message sent from the second transceiver to the client device over a message channel of the communication network of the home comprises header information that specifies that the message relates to a software update.