Configuration device for use in a networked communication system

• US 5,420,572 A
• Filed: 04/12/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Sinks, Rod G., Riley, Glen M., Dolin, Robert A. Jr., Kagan, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/226,407
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.17, 340/825.5, 340/825.52
• US Class Current: 340/9.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

An apparatus useful in the configuration of communication network. The present invention provides for improved apparatus and techniques for configuration of network nodes. In particular, what is described is a device which may be coupled with each node of a network. When coupled to a node, the device and node cooperate in allowing communication of information identifying the node and the node type to the device. The node identification and type information may then be utilized to reliably complete configuration of a network.

Claims

1. A device for communicating with a node of a network, said device including:

a connector for providing a temporary communication

coupling between said device and said node;

a display for displaying information; and

an input device for inputting information from an operator to said device;

said node comprising;

a coupler for coupling with said connector of said device;

storage for storing a unique identifier, said unique identifier stored in said storage at the time said node is manufactured; and

a pad for sensing an activation source for causing said node to immediately transmit said unique identifier from said storage to said device over said coupler and said connector.

2. The node as recited by claim 1 further comprising an indicator for indicating whether said node has been configured.

3. The node as recited by claim 2 wherein said indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

4. A networked communication system having at least a first node coupled with a communication media through a first port and a second node also coupled with said communication media, said networked communication system including apparatus for allowing collection of identification information from said first node, said apparatus including a device for coupling with said first node through a second port to receive said identification information and a connector for allowing coupling of said device to said first node, said first node comprising:

storage for storing a unique identifier; and

a pad for sensing an activation source for causing said first node to immediately transmit said unique identifier to said device over said second port.

5. The networked communication system of claim 4 wherein said unique identifier is stored in said storage at the time of manufacture of said first node.

6. The networked communication system of claim 5 wherein said unique identifier is a 48-bit identifier.

7. The networked communication system of claim 4 wherein said first node further comprises an indicator for indicating the state of said first node.

8. The networked communication system of claim 7 wherein said indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

9. A method for configuring a network comprising:

(a) coupling a device to a first connector of a node of said network, said node further having a second connector for coupling with a communication media of said network;

(b) immediately transmitting node identifying information over said first connector to said device, responsive to actuation of a pad associated with said node;

(c) said device receiving said node identifying information; and

(d) said device providing location information to said node responsive to said device receiving said node identifying information.

10. The method as recited by claim 9 wherein said node identifying information comprises a unique node identifier code.

11. The method as recited by claim 10 wherein said unique node identifier code is a 48-bit code.

12. A system for configuring a node of a network, said system comprising:

said node including

a coupler for providing communications access to said node by a network,

a storage for storing a unique identifier, said unique identifier stored in said storage at the time said node is manufactured,

a sensor for sensing an activation source, said sensor for causing said node to transmit said unique identifier from said storage in response to sensing said activation source and in the absence of said node receiving a message from said network requesting a transmission of said unique identifier; and

a device for receiving said unique identifier and for transmitting a location code for said node in response to receiving said unique identifier, said device including

a connector for providing a temporary communication coupling between said device and said node,

a display for displaying information, and

an input device for inputting information from an operator to said device, said inputted information including said location code for said node.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said sensor is a sensing pad.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said connector couples to a network medium, and wherein said coupler couples to said network medium, said network medium for transmitting information.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said connector couples directly to said coupler.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said node further includes an indicator for indicating whether said node has been configured.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

18. The system of claim 12 wherein said sensor includes a pad, and wherein said node transmits said unique identifier when said pad is grounded.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein said causing said node to transmit is not caused by a message from a second device coupled in communications with said node.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein said causing said node to transmit is caused, without an intervening cause, by said sensing said activation source.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein said node type information is stored in said storage and wherein said sensor is further for sensing an activation source for activating said node to transmit said node type information.

22. A method of configuring an unconfigured node on a network, said network including a plurality of unconfigured nodes, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling a portable configuring device to said network;

activating a sensor on said unconfigured node;

said unconfigured node sensing said activating;

said unconfigured node transmitting a message on said network responsive to said sensing and in the absence of receiving a message from said network requesting said message, said message including a node id;

said portable configuring device receiving said message and transmitting node configuring information to said unconfigured node;

said unconfigured node receiving said configuring information; and

decoupling said portable configuring device from said network.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said node identifier is a unique node identifier and wherein said configuring information includes a location id.

24. A network having a device, a node and a communications medium,

said node being coupled in communications with said communications medium, said node having

storage for storing a unique identifier, and

a sensor for sensing an activation source for causing said node to transmit a message including said unique identifier in the absence of a signal being received from said communications medium requesting a transmission of said unique identifier;

and

said device being coupled in communications with said node, said device having

an input for inputting configuration information from an operator to said device, and

a communications coupling for receiving said unique identifier from said node, said communications coupling for transmitting said configuration information to said node in response to receiving said unique identifier.

25. The network of claim 24 wherein said configuration information includes a network address.

26. The network of claim 24 wherein said configuration information includes node interface and installation information.

27. The network of claim 24 wherein said configuration information includes node type information.

28. The network of claim 24 wherein said communications coupling is for coupling to said communications medium, and wherein said device is coupled in communications with said node via said communications coupling and said communications medium.

29. The network of claim 24 wherein said communications coupling is for coupling directly to said node and not to said communications medium, and wherein said device is coupled in communication with said node via said communications coupling only.

30. An apparatus for configuring a node on a network, said apparatus comprising:

an input device for receiving node configuration information; and

a coupler, being coupled to said input device, for coupling to said network, said coupler for receiving a unique identifier message from said node in an absence of a transmission by said apparatus over said coupler of a message requesting said unique identifier message and in response to said node sensing an activation of an activation device being coupled to said node, said unique identifier message including a unique identifier of said node, said coupler further for transmitting a configuration message in response to receiving said unique identifier message and said configuration information, said configuration message including said configuration information.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said configuration information includes a location code.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said apparatus further includes a connector, said connector, being coupled to said input device, for connecting to said node and not to said network, said connector for receiving a second unique identifier message in an absence of a transmission over said coupler of a message requesting said second unique identifier message and in response to said node sensing said activation of said activation device, said second unique identifier message including said unique identifier, said connector further for transmitting a second configuration message in response to receiving said second unique identifier message and said configuration information, said second configuration message including said configuration information.

33. A node comprising:

a storage for storing a unique identifier, said unique identifier being generated when said node is manufactured;

a network communications port for transmitting a first message and for receiving a configuration message, said first message including said unique identifier, said configuration message including configuration information for configuring said node;

a sensor for sensing an activation source, said sensor for causing said node to transmit said first message in response to sensing said activation source without first receiving a second message at said network communications port requesting a transmission of said first message, a transmission of said first message causing a receiving of said configuration message; and

a processor, being coupled to said storage, said network communications port, and said sensor.

34. The node of claim 33 further wherein said storage is for storing a state of said node, said state being one of configured or unconfigured, a receiving of said configuration message causing said state to be configured.

35. The node of claim 34 further including a state indicator, said state indicator being coupled to said processor, said state indicator for visually indicating said state.

36. The node of claim 33 wherein said sensor includes a sensing pad and wherein said activation source is generated by coupling said sensing pad to ground.