Patent ID: 7614048

Claim:
In a fiber optic network including at least one host digital terminal (HDT) that includes at least one optical multiplexing unit (OMU) and at least one optical interface unit (OIU), and including at least one optical network unit (ONU) that includes at least one further OIU, one or more computer readable storage media having computer executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method for automated distribution of software loaded into the OMU, the OIU, and the further OIU, the method comprising: (a) identifying a version of first software installed on the OMU, the first software being for multiplexing signals from the at least one OIU of the HDT and for communicating with a switch; (b) determining whether the version of the first software is a first prescribed software version; (c) only if the version of the first software is not the prescribed software version, downloading the first prescribed software version to the OMU and updating the first software to be the first prescribed software version; (d) identifying a version of second software installed on the OIU, the second software being for terminating signals from the at least one ONU and for communicating with the OMU; (e) determining whether the version of the second is a software second prescribed software version; and (f) only if the version of the second software is not the second prescribed software version, downloading the second prescribed software version to the OIU and updating the second software to be the second prescribed software version; (g) identifying a version of third software installed on the further OIU, the third software being for multiplexing a plurality of subscriber connections and for communicating with an OIU of the HDT; (h) determining whether the version of the third software is a third prescribed software version; and (i) only if the version of the third software is not the third prescribed software version, downloading the third prescribed software version to the further OIU and updating the third software to be the third prescribed software version.