Patent ID: 8607222

Claim:
A communication method for upgrading software at a first device of a wireless video area network (WVAN), the communication method comprising: transmitting an association request message to a coordinator to request an association of the first device with the WVAN, the association request message including information indicating versions of one or more pieces of software used by the first device, wherein the first device receives a beacon broadcast from the coordinator after associating with the WVAN, wherein the beacon includes scheduled timing information, WVAN management and control information, and wherein the association request message is a Media Access Control (MAC) command, the association request MAC command includes a MAC header and a sub-packet, and the MAC header includes the control information of the association request MAC command; receiving channel resource allocation information from the coordinator when the coordinator determines that the software needs to be upgraded based on the information included in the association request message, the channel resource allocation information for allocating channel resources for the first device to download the software from the coordinator or a second device of the WVAN; and downloading the software from the coordinator or the second device using the allocated channel resources.