Automated address discovery method and apparatus for local area networks
First Claim
1. In a local area network comprised of a plurality of intelligent devices and a central administrator, wherein each intelligent device has a physical network address stored therein, a method comprising the steps of,transmitting the physical network address of a device from the device to the central administrator, receiving the physical network address of the device at the central administrator,associating the physical network address of the device with a logical identifier at the central administrator, transmitting the logical identifier back to the device, andmaintaining a compilation of associations between physical network addresses and logical identifiers for intelligent devices of the local area network at the central administrator.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically associating physical network addresses with logical identifiers in local area networks. The physical network address is transmitted to a central administrator of the local area network, where the association between such address and a logical identifier is made. In the case where a new device is being installed on the network, the logical identifier may be an arbitrary word, number, or combination thereof which is supplied by the operator at the central administrator. In the situation where a device is being replaced, the logical identifier is the same as the identifier of the replaced device, while the physical network address of the replacement device is substituted in the association for the address of the replaced device. A compilation of the associations is maintained at the central administrator, and the associations are transmitted back to the devices being installed or replaced, as well as other devices on the network. A removal procedure is also utilized, whereby a selected association(s) may be removed from the system.
34 Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a local area network comprised of a plurality of intelligent devices and a central administrator, wherein each intelligent device has a physical network address stored therein, a method comprising the steps of,
transmitting the physical network address of a device from the device to the central administrator, receiving the physical network address of the device at the central administrator, associating the physical network address of the device with a logical identifier at the central administrator, transmitting the logical identifier back to the device, and maintaining a compilation of associations between physical network addresses and logical identifiers for intelligent devices of the local area network at the central administrator.
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10. In a local area network comprised of a plurality of intelligent devices and a central administrator wherein each intelligent device has a physical network address stored therein, apparatus comprising,
means for transmitting the physical network address of a device from the device to the central administrator, means for receiving the physical network address of the device at the central administrator, means for associating the physical network address of the device with a logical identifier at the central administrator, means for transmitting the logical identifier back to the device, and means for maintaining a compilation of associations between physical network addresses and logical identifiers for intelligent devices of the local area network at the central administrator.
Specification