Devices and Method for Assigning Network Addresses
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switching device comprises a terminal pair arranged for signal transmission and reception. Circuitry is adapted for generating a stimulus signal to a plurality of network devices forming a daisy chain and for receiving a response signal to the stimulus signal. The circuitry is arranged for deriving from at least the response signal an indication of a network device of the plurality being operational or not. Processing means is arranged for assigning a location-based network address to the network device of the plurality considering the derived indication.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A method for assigning a location-based network address to a network device in a network comprising a plurality of network devices forming a daisy chain, said network devices comprising means for exchanging communication data with an application, first connection means arranged for connecting in a first position a first terminal pair with said means for exchanging communication data, second connection means arranged for connecting in a first position a second terminal pair with said means for exchanging communication data and an electrical circuit providing a connection with at least said first or said second connection means so that a connection can be established between said electrical circuit and at least one port of said first or second terminal pair when said first or second connection means is in a second position, said first and second connection means further arranged for being switched to interconnect in a bypass mode while having said electrical circuit in parallel in case of a malfunctioning network device, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting in a switching device, based on a response signal received from said network, a change in topology of said network comprising a plurality of network devices by a change in the number of observed electrical circuits; sending a command instructing at least one network device of said plurality having no location-based network address to open said second connection means; receiving a request for assigning a network address from a network device of the at least one network device having no location-based network address yet; measuring an electrical quantity of said response signal to determine the number of malfunctioning network devices in said daisy chain between said switching device and said network device from which said request was received; assigning with said switching device a location-based network address to said network device from which said request was received, taking into account the number of said malfunctioning network devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A switching device comprising
a terminal pair arranged for signal transmission and reception; -
circuitry adapted for generating a stimulus signal to a network comprising a plurality of network devices forming a daisy chain and for receiving a response signal to said stimulus signal, said circuitry further arranged for detecting based on at least said response signal a change in topology of said network by a change in the number of observed electrical circuits in said network devices, for sending a command to at least one network device of said plurality having no location-based network address, for receiving a request for assigning a network address from a network device of the at least one network device having no location-based network address and for measuring an electrical quantity of said response signal; and processing means arranged for determining based on said measured electrical quantity the number of malfunctioning network devices in said daisy chain between the switching device and said network device from which said request was received_and for assigning a location-based network address to said network device of said plurality taking into account said number of malfunctioning network devices. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A network comprising a plurality of network devices forming a daisy chain, each network device comprising:
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a first terminal pair for connecting a first transmit/receive wire pair; a second terminal pair for connecting a second transmit/receive wire pair; means for exchanging communication data with an application, said communication comprising a request for obtaining a network address; first connection means arranged for establishing in a first position connection between said first terminal pair and said means for exchanging communication data; second connection means arranged for establishing in a first position connection between said second terminal pair and said means for exchanging communication data; wherein said network device further comprises an electrical circuit providing a connection with at least said first or said second connection means, so that a connection can be established between said electrical circuit and at least one port of said first or second terminal pair when said first or second connection means is in a second position, said first and second connection means further arranged for being switched to interconnect in a bypass mode while having said electrical circuit in parallel in case of a malfunctioning network device, said network further arranged for receiving a command instructing at least one network device of said plurality having no location-based network address to open said second connection means, for sending a request for assigning a network address from a network device of the at least one network device having no location-based network address yet and for sending a response signal comprising an electrical quantity allowing determining the number of malfunctioning network devices. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification