Method and apparatus for automatic network configuration
First Claim
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1. A method of automatically initializing a first device on a network comprising:
- requesting configuration information from a second device upon connecting the first device to the network;
delaying a period of time before continuing with said initialization;
providing configuration services to said network if a response to said configuration information request is not received from said second device within said period of time;
providing said configuration services to said network if said first device has a higher priority than said second device. continuously monitoring said network to detect a connection of an additional device to said network.
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Abstract
A dynamically configurable network architecture comprising networked office appliances which provide network addressing, network naming, service discovery, and user identification in one system. The network architecture provides automatic configuration services for unadministered environments.
77 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of automatically initializing a first device on a network comprising:
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requesting configuration information from a second device upon connecting the first device to the network;
delaying a period of time before continuing with said initialization;
providing configuration services to said network if a response to said configuration information request is not received from said second device within said period of time;
providing said configuration services to said network if said first device has a higher priority than said second device. continuously monitoring said network to detect a connection of an additional device to said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of automatically allocating network information comprising:
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assigning a network address to a device;
assigning a network name to said device;
correlating said network name with said network address; and
recording said correlated network name and said correlated network address in a table to allow a user to refer to said device by said assigned network name independent of said assigned network address. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of automatically initializing a network comprising:
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automatically assigning an address to a device on said network;
automatically assigning a network name to said device on said network;
automatically supplying user and group information across said network; and
automatically determining service capability of said device on said network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network comprising:
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a first device coupled to said network, said first device configured to automatically request a first network address;
receive said first network address from a second device coupled to said network;
provide a network configuration if said first network address is not received from said second device;
determine its priority level on said network if said first network address is received from said second device; and
provide said network configuration if said priority level is higher than a second priority level of said second device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A network comprising:
a first device configured to assign an address to a second device on said network;
assign a network name to said second device on said network;
supply user and group information across said network; and
determine service capability of said second device on said network. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
Specification