Method for downloading data preceded by information signals

1. A process for transmitting update data by a communication center to a plurality of terminals, said process comprises the steps:

broadcasting of an update campaign through a broadcast network, the broadcasting consisting of dispatching announcement signals which are transmitted before update data;

formulating of a bi-directional communication, along a bi-directional channel distinct from the broadcast network, between the communication center and at least some of the terminals, each terminal transmitting an indication of a state of the update to each respective terminal to the communication center;

determining at the communication center, the number of terminals actually updated as a function of the number of terminals being updated, being halted, or terminals triggered by a new update campaign;

launching, by a terminal from said at least some of the terminals which is coupled to said bi-directional communication link during which an announcement signal is transmitted from the communication center to said coupled terminal, said announcement signal indicating that update data is available through said bi-directional communication link, and receiving update data through said bi-directional link when said coupled terminal is a non updated terminal after the end of said new update campaign.

2. The transmission process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bi-directional communication occurs on the initiative of a terminal outside of the update campaign, said terminal transmitting an absence of update indication at the request of the communication center.

3. The transmission process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the update data depend on the type of terminal, the determining of the updated terminal at the level of the communication center is performed as a function of each type of terminal.

4. The transmission process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the new update campaign is triggered as a function of the proportion between the number of terminals updated and the number of terminals not updated.

5. The transmission process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the new update campaign is triggered as a function of the proportion between the number of terminals updated and the number of terminals not updated.

6. A process for receiving announcement signals and update data transmitted by a communication center to terminals comprising the steps:

broadcasting by the communication center an update campaign through a broadcast network in the course of which some terminals receive and store the update data such that said update campaign comprises a transmission of an announcement signal before an update data is transmitted;

a step of transmission from a receiver, subsequent to the actual updating of a terminal, to the communication center of a signal of proper running of the operation, and

a step of emitting to the communication center, from a non-updated terminal through a bi-directional communication link distinct from the broadcast network, a request of downloading of the update data and a step of reception of the update data in said non updated terminal through said bi-directional communication link, the announcement signals indicating that said update data is available through said bi-directional communication link.

7. The reception process as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the update data contain an indication of the type of terminal, and in that the update in a terminal is performed if said indication corresponds to the type of this terminal.

8. A communication center for transmitting announcement signals and update data for a plurality of terminals, comprising:

a memory containing update data,

a means of broadcasting the update data through a broadcast network for a specified duration;

a means of bi-directional communication distinct from the broadcast network with at least some of the terminals receiving from each terminal an update performed signal, said means of bi-directional communication receiving a request for update by a terminal not updated and sending the updating data to the terminal that is not updated, the announcement indicating that update data is available through said bi-directional communication link, wherein said update data is transmitted after said announcement signal is transmitted;

a counter for determining the number of signals received;

a comparator triggering the broadcasting means so as to broadcast the update data once again when the value of the counter is less than a specified number, the comparator activating the means of bi-directional communication with at least one terminal not updated so as to transmit the update data to the at least one terminal that was not updated by the broadcasting means.

9. The communication center as claimed in claim 8 , comprising, in memory, data blocks corresponding to types of terminals liable to process them, and counters corresponding to each type of terminal, each counter determining the number of the update performed signals on each terminal corresponding to its type, the comparator triggering the broadcasting of the data block whose type corresponding to that of the counter.

10. The communication center as claimed in claim 8 , for which the comparator takes into account the proportion between the number of terminals updated and the number of terminals not updated.