Wireless Flash, how does it work?

Amidst my recent experiences with the K10D and my AF360FGZ and the many "complaints" from users who think Pentax could have built a wireless capability into the K10D, I got to wondering how the wireless system works. Does the camera body (the istD) or the master flashgun actually send out a radio signal (hence the need to select a channel) or does it simply rely on a specific burst/s of light from the controling flash (hence the reason other flashes wont control the slave)

Another thought would be, is it something that could be remedied with a firmware update?

Hope that made sense.

It's like morse code with a lantern. Quick bursts of light that contain a message.

G

George, your replys can be as cryptic or tongue in cheek as mine, are you serious, is that the way it works or are you having me on?

I used to think it was radio-controlled too, thanks to the word "wireless", but it's not.

Consult the box on page 182 of the manual.

G

OK George, got it now, at first I wondered how the camera knew the 360 had gathered the relevant pre-exposure info and relayed it back, but that is obviously done with the camera metering at what your pointing at...(it saw the flash burst DOH!)

I came to this conclusion after reading your reply and wondering how it did it, thinking the 360 cant possibly relay info back to the camera because the camera flash has no photocell to recieve such info (I also tried blocking off the IR remote release in case it was that), I also confirmed the wireless is actually activated by LIGHT by simply covering the pop-up (the slave didn't fire)

Which brings us to the conclusion, if its simply a matter of a coded series of flashes then surely the K10D body can be upgraded to wireless with firmware?
Or maybe Pentax think it would be cheaper for us all to buy an extra 360 than for them to update the firmware