Method and apparatus for identifying an order in a network
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for identifying an order of users of a network, whereby the network contains a multitude of nodes and each of the nodes has a number of connections by means of which the nodes and the users can be interconnected. The inventive method comprises the following steps: a) identifying the node connected to one of the users; b) determining the number of connections of this node and a predetermined hierarchy of the connections; c) determining, for these nodes, the connection with which the user is connected to this node and; d) determining, for the nodes, other connections that are connected to other nodes or to other users; e) establishing a relationship between users of the network based on the hierarchy of the connections that is predefined for node and on the determined connections that are connected to users or to other nodes.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method for identifying an order of devices in a network, wherein the network contains a number of nodes, and wherein each of the nodes has a number of connections for interconnecting the nodes and the devices, the method comprising the following steps:
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a) identifying the node connected to one of the devices;
b) ascertaining the number of connections of this node and a predefined hierarchy of the connections;
c) determining for this node the connection with which the device is connected to this node;
d) determining for this node other connections which are connected to other nodes or devices; and
e) establishing a relationship between devices in the network on the basis of the connection hierarchy predefined for the node and of the determined connections which are connected to the devices or other nodes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for identifying an order of devices in a network, the network having a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes having a number of connections with a predefined hierarchy and the nodes and the devices being interconnectable by means of the connections, the apparatus comprising:
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a mechanism for identifying the node connected to one of the devices;
a mechanism for determining other connections of the node which are connected to other nodes or devices; and
a mechanism for establishing a relationship between devices in the network, on the basis of the connection hierarchy predefined for the node and of the determined connections which are connected to devices or other nodes. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification