Abstract: Corrupted firmware in a modem is automatically replaced. Replacement firmware is stored on a host computer. An update server executing on the host responds with firmware image in response to request from modem. Any interface port may be used to receive updated firmware, including a network interface.

Abstract: A communication system for communicating over a Universal Serial Bus comprising a data pump and a controller is described. The data pump is physically separated from the controller element and is responsible for conventional signal processing operations such as might be performed by a digital signal processor (DSP) The data pump communicates with the controller via a predetermined communications protocol. The controller is, typically, co-located with a host computer and is responsible for commanding/communicating with the data pump. Physically separating the modem controller function from the modem data pump function allows the manufacturing of lower cost modems. Functional separation also allows either a modem's control or data pump operations to be repaired or upgraded independently of one another. The data pump is minimally equipped to perform only those communications control and data transfer functions that require time critical performance.