Patent ID: 6970698

Claim:
An automated method of substantially simultaneously updating software in multiple remote wireless devices from a central host, the method comprising: recognizing a predetermined time to facilitate software updates in multiple remote wireless devices; at least twenty-four hours before reaching the predetermined time at a host, transmitting a first short message from the host to each of the multiple remote wireless devices, wherein the first short message includes the predetermined time, such that the multiple remote wireless devices utilize the predetermined time to set calendar reminders in the multiple remote wireless devices for entering an active state; receiving message acknowledgements at the host from one or more of the multiple remote wireless devices; in response to the message acknowledgements, automatically determining which of the multiple remote wireless devices did not receive the first short message; transmitting at least one additional short message that includes the predetermined time to each of the multiple remote wireless devices that did not receive the first short message; within a short time after reaching the predetermined time at the host, substantially simultaneously pushing new software from the host to the multiple remote wireless devices by broadcasting the new software from the host, such that the multiple remote wireless devices receive the new software from the host substantially simultaneously and store the new software; receiving distribution acknowledgements at the host from one or more of the multiple remote wireless devices; and in response to the distribution acknowledgements, automatically updating distribution records to indicate which of the multiple remote wireless devices received and stored the new software.