A method of avoiding response signal collisions includes broadcasting a message from a broadcasting device to a plurality of downstream devices, the message containing timing instructions specifying a time at which each downstream device should send its response to the message after successfully receiving the message, and determining whether every downstream device targeted in the message successfully received the message. A method of processing a message includes analyzing, by a downstream device in a communication network, filtering information in a received message to determine whether the filtering information targets the downstream device, and responsive to determining that the filtering information targets the downstream device, determining, by the downstream device, whether the message requires a response, and responsive to a determination that the message requires a response, analyzing timing information in the received message to determine response timing, and scheduling a response as defined in the timing information.