Data transfer networks

• US 20020178288A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: McLeod, Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/117,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178288A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A data transfer network is provided comprising a TFTP server connected in a manner to allow the transfer of data to and from a number of network devices connected to the network. The network devices have a unique address including one or more digits for identifying each of the devices within the network. The data is transferred between the server and each of the devices at a pre-determined time and the method for calculating this time is calculated by inputting one or more digits from the unique address of the device into a random number generator.

Claims

1. A data transfer network comprising a TFTP server connected in a manner to allow the transfer of data to and from a number of network devices connected to the network, said network devices having a unique address including one or more digits for identifying each of said devices within the network, said data being transferred between said server and each of said devices at a predetermined time and characterised in that the method for calculating the pre-determined time for transferring data from a device to and/or from the server is calculated by inputting one or more digits from said unique address of the device into a random number generator means.

2. A data transfer network according to claim 1 characterised in that the devices in the network are broadcast data receivers.

3. A data transfer network according to claim 1 characterised in that the unique address is a Media Access Control Address.

4. A data transfer network according to claim 1 characterised in that the last two bytes/digits of the MAC address are input into the random number generator means.

5. A data transfer network according to claim 1 characterised in that results (RAND) from the random number generation means are fed into an equation for calculating the back off time period (B) wherein:

B=(RAND/(M/H−

I))+I

B=back off time for transferring data from the BDR to the server;

M=maximum value of RAND

H=higher transfer time in milliseconds

I=lower transfer time in milliseconds

6. A data transfer network comprising a TFTP server connected to transfer data to and from a number of broadcast data receivers connected to the network, said broadcast data receivers having a unique MAC address to identify each of said receivers within the network, said data transferred between said server and each of said receivers at pre-determined time periods and characterised in that the method for calculating the pre-determined time period for transferring data from a receiver to and/or from the server is calculated by inputting one or more digits from said unique address of the receiver into a random generator means, the results of said random generator means determining, at least in part, the transfer time period.