Patent ID: 8839220

Claim:
A method comprising: a customer premise equipment (CPE) downloading a CPE configuration file over a machine communication network; the CPE checking the configuration file for a software load name; if the software load name is found in the configuration file, the CPE downloading an operating software image specified in the software load name, and the CPE resetting and entering an initialized state ready for service; if the software load name is not found in the configuration file, the CPE determining if the configuration file includes a vendor table having records specific to a vendor of the CPE, the vendor table comprising Type Length Value data fields; if the vendor table is not found in the configuration file, the CPE entering the initialized state ready for service; if the vendor table is found in the configuration file, the CPE locating a record in the vendor table corresponding to a criteria unique to a subset of CPEs of the vendor of the CPE; if the record in the vendor table corresponding to a criteria unique to a subset of CPEs of the vendor of the CPE is found, the CPE downloading an operating software image specified in the record; and if the record in the vendor table corresponding to a criteria unique to a subset of CPEs of the vendor of the CPE is not found, the CPE entering the initialized state ready for service.