Patent ID: 7392518

Claim:
A remote upgrade method comprising: receiving from a remote source, at a device including a flash memory, an indication of available update information from the remote source, the indication including a location and a file name of an updated flash image to replace a current flash image stored in the flash memory and utilized by the device, wherein the location is an internet protocol (IP) address of the remote source; setting, in response to receiving the indication, an upgrade indication variable in the device to indicate an updated flash image is available at the remote source; downloading the updated flash image from the remote source to the flash memory; setting, only if the downloading is completed, the upgrade indication variable in the device to indicate no updated flash image is available at the remote source; and executing, by the device, a reboot process utilizing the updated flash image if the upgrade indication variable is set to indicate no updated flash image is available, otherwise utilizing the current flash image and repeating the downloading.