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Local area network device startup process

  • US 5,150,464 A
  • Filed: 06/06/1990
  • Issued: 09/22/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a communication system for transferring data between a plurality of entities coupled together in said communication system, said communication system including subsets of said plurality of entities which each have at least one routing means interconnecting each of said subsets with other subsets in said communication system, said subsets including a local subset of entities which comprises a first entity, a method used by the first entity for assigning itself a unique address on the communication system, comprising the steps of:

  • a. if a first value is stored in a first storage means, then performing the following steps;

    i. storing the first value in a second storage means;

    ii. transmitting a first signal to said local subset of entities to determine if the first value is used for the unique identification of another entity in said local subset of entities;

    iii. if the first value is used for the unique identification of said another entity in said local subset of entities then receiving a second signal from another entity in said local subset of entities within a first predetermined amount of time;

    iv. storing the value in said second storage means in said first storage means;

    b. if the first value has not been stored in the first storage means, or if the first value has been stored in the first storage means and the second signal is received then performing the following steps;

    i. randomly selecting a third value and storing said third value in the second storage means;

    ii. transmitting a third signal to said local subset of entities to determine if the third value is used for the unique identification of said another entity;

    iii. if the third value is used for the unique identification of said another entity then receiving a fourth signal from said another entity in said local subset of entities, randomly selecting a fourth value, storing the fourth value in the second storage means and repeating steps b.ii and b.iii until the fourth signal is not received, the fourth value becoming the third value at the beginning of each repetition of step b.ii;

    iv. storing the value in said second storage means in said first storage means;

    c. transmitting a fifth signal to said local subset of entities to request information from a first routing means coupled to the local subset of entities;

    d. if a sixth signal is received from the routing means within a second predetermined period of time, the sixth signal including a list of values for the local subset of entities, then performing the following steps;

    i. if a first portion of the value contained within the second storage means does not equal one value in the list of values provided in the sixth signal, then randomly selecting a fifth value from the list of values provided in said sixth signal and storing said fifth value in the second storage means;

    ii. transmitting a seventh signal to said local subset of entities to determine if the value contained in the second storage means is used for the unique identification of said another entity;

    iii. if the value contained in the second storage means is used for the unique identification of said another entity then receiving an eighth signal from another entity in said local subset of entities, randomly selecting a sixth value from the list of values provided in the sixth signal, and storing the sixth value in the second storage means, said sixth value having a first portion equivalent to the first portion of said second storage means and repeating steps d.ii and d.iii until the eighth signal is not received or until all possible sixth values have been stored in said second storage means;

    iv. if all possible sixth values have been stored in the second storage means then randomly selecting a seventh value from said list of values in said sixth signal, and storing said seventh value in said second storage means and repeating step d.ii.;

    v. storing the value in said second storage means in said first storage means;

    e. using said value in said first storage means as said unique identification for said first entity.

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