Methods for managing a plurality of devices using protectable communication protocol, including determination of marketing feedback to assess a response to an advertisement

Abstract

Methods for managing localized devices providing voice/data services in a plurality of geographically diverse locations. A console system is provided to coordinate management activities for software on the plurality of localized devices. The console system communicates with an individual device of the plurality of localized devices via a protectable communications protocol to provide software configuration information to the individual device. The software configuration information provides the individual device with information sufficient to establish a direct link with a software distribution server in order to receive software data without requiring user initiation at the individual device. The protectable communications protocol includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be conditionally executed. Marketing feedback statistics may be collected from the plurality of localized devices sufficient to assess the response to an advertisement.