METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK IDENTIFICATION CODE ASSIGNMENT

• US 20130044630A1
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seelman, George, Stone, Jay, Bailey, Michael, Lamb, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,654,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51

Abstract

A method and apparatus for registering a remote network device with a network control device. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a network identification code stored within the remote network device and determining if the network identification code comprises a default network identification code. If the network identification code comprises a default network identification code, transmitting a message indicative of a request to join an existing network and determining whether a first response to the transmitted message was received. If a first response to the transmitted message was received, determining a second network identification code from the first response, and assigning the second network identification code to the remote network device.

Claims

1. A method for registering a remote network device with a network control device, comprising:

determining a network identification code stored within the remote network device;

determining if the network identification code comprises a default network identification code;

if the network identification code stored within the remote network device comprises the default network identification code;

transmitting a message indicative of a request to join an existing network;

determining whether a first response to the transmitted message was received;

if a first response to the transmitted message was received;

determining a second network identification code from the first response; and

assigning the second network identification code to the remote network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises the network identification code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a serial number assigned to the remote network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the network identification code does not comprise a default network identification code and, in response;

allowing a user of the remote network device to set the network identification code to the default network identification code;

transmitting a message indicative of a request to join an existing network; and

determining if a response to the transmitted message was received and if so;

determining a second network identification code from the first response; and

assigning the second network identification code to the remote network device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a random network identification code to the remote network device if a the first response to the transmitted message is not received.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a predetermined network identification code to the remote network device if the first response to the transmitted message is not received.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

if a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

alerting a user of the remote network device that more than one response was received.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

allowing the user to assign a new network identification code to the remote network device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

if the second response to the transmitted message has been received;

placing the remote network device in an alternative operating mode;

receiving an instruction from the network control device instructing the remote network device to store a third network identification code contained within the instruction; and

storing the third network identification code.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending an acknowledgement message back to the network control device after successfully storing the third network identification code.

11. An apparatus for registering a remote network device with a network control device, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting information;

a receiver for receiving information;

a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver; and

a memory coupled to the processor for storing a network identification code and processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

determine if the network identification code comprises a default network identification code;

if the network identification code comprises the default network identification code;

transmit a message indicative of a request to join an existing network;

determine whether a first response to the transmitted message was received;

if a first response to the transmitted message was received;

determine a second network identification code from the first response; and

assign the second network identification code to the remote network device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the message comprises the network identification code.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the message comprises a serial number assigned to the remote network device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

determine if the network identification code does not comprise a default network identification code, and if not;

allow a user of the remote network device to set the network identification code to the default network identification code;

transmit a message indicative of a request to join an existing network; and

if a first response to the transmitted message was received;

determine a second network identification code from the first response; and

assign the second network identification code to the remote network device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

assign a random network identification code to the remote network device if a a first response to the transmitted message is not received.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

assign a predetermined network identification code to the remote network device if a first response to the transmitted message is not received.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

determine whether a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

if a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

alert a user of the remote network device that more than one response was received.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

allow the user to assign a new network identification code to the remote network device.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

determine whether a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

if the second response to the transmitted message has been received;

place the remote network device in an alternative operating mode;

receive an instruction from the network control device instructing the remote network device to change the network identification code to a third network identification code contained within the instruction; and

storing the third network identification code in the memory.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

send an acknowledgement message back to the network control device after successfully storing the third network identification code.

21. A processor-readable medium having processor-usable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for registering a remote network device with a network control device, comprising:

determining a network identification code stored within the remote network device;

determining if the network identification code comprises a default network identification code;

if the network identification code stored within the remote network device comprises the default network identification code;

transmitting a message indicative of a request to join an existing network;

determining whether a first response to the transmitted message was received;

if a first response to the transmitted message was received;

determining a second network identification code from the first response; and

assigning the second network identification code to the remote network device.

22. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the message comprises the network identification code.

23. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the message comprises a serial number assigned to the remote network device.

24. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the processor-usable instructions further comprise instructions for:

determining if the network identification code does not comprise a default network identification code, and if not;

allowing a user of the remote network device to set the network identification code to the default network identification code;

transmitting a message indicative of a request to join an existing network; and

if a first response to the transmitted message was received;

determining a second network identification code from the first response; and

assigning the second network identification code to the remote network device.

25. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the processor-usable instructions further comprise instructions for:

assigning a random network identification code to the remote network device if a a first response to the transmitted message is not received.

26. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the processor-usable instructions further comprise instructions for:

assigning a predetermined network identification code to the remote network device if a first response to the transmitted message is not received.

27. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the processor-usable instructions further comprise instructions for:

determining whether a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

if a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

alerting a user of the remote network device that more than one response was received.

28. The processor-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the processor-usable instructions further comprise instructions for:

allowing the user to assign a new network identification code to the remote network device.

29. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the processor-usable instructions further comprise instructions for:

determining whether a second response to the transmitted message has been received;

if the second response to the transmitted message has been received;

placing the remote network device in an alternative operating mode;

receiving an instruction from the network control device instructing the remote network device to change the network identification code to a third network identification code contained within the instruction; and

storing the third network identification.

30. The processor-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the processor-usable instructions further comprise instructions for sending an acknowledgement message back to the network control device after successfully storing the third network identification code.