Automatic assignment of addresses in a computer communications network
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a communications network, comprising:
- means for storing a manual flag having a stored manual flag logic value in said apparatus, said manual flag stored in a first non-volatile memory;
means for storing a trusted flag having a stored trusted flag logic value in said apparatus, said trusted flag stored in a second non-volatile memory;
means for connecting said apparatus to a computer network and for performing a boot-up operation;
means for learning an address of a neighbor apparatus connected through said communications network;
means, responsive to said manual flag and responsive to said trusted flag and responsive to said boot-up operation and responsive to learning a neighbor address of said neighbor apparatus, for configuring an address of said apparatus from an identifier stored in a third non-volatile memory in said apparatus and from said neighbor address, and for changing said stored trusted flag logic value to a second logic value.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus stores a manual flag having a stored manual flag logic value, and the manual flag is stored in a first non-volatile memory. The apparatus stores a trusted flag having a stored trusted flag logic value, and the trusted flag is stored in a second non-volatile memory. The apparatus is connected to a computer network for performing a first boot-up operation. The apparatus learns an address of a neighbor apparatus connected through the communications network. The apparatus is responsive: to the manual flag, and to the trusted flag, and to the first boot-up operation, and to learning a neighbor address of the neighbor apparatus, for configuring an address of the apparatus from an identifier stored in a third non-volatile memory, and from the neighbor address, and for changing the stored trusted flag logic value to a second logic value. Also the apparatus chooses, responsive to the manual flag, between using a manually loaded address or performing the configuring an address. Additionally, the apparatus decides, responsive to a neighbor trusted flag learned by communicating with the neighbor apparatus through the communications network, to use the neighbor address of the neighbor apparatus in configuring an address of the apparatus.
204 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for use in a communications network, comprising:
-
means for storing a manual flag having a stored manual flag logic value in said apparatus, said manual flag stored in a first non-volatile memory; means for storing a trusted flag having a stored trusted flag logic value in said apparatus, said trusted flag stored in a second non-volatile memory; means for connecting said apparatus to a computer network and for performing a boot-up operation; means for learning an address of a neighbor apparatus connected through said communications network; means, responsive to said manual flag and responsive to said trusted flag and responsive to said boot-up operation and responsive to learning a neighbor address of said neighbor apparatus, for configuring an address of said apparatus from an identifier stored in a third non-volatile memory in said apparatus and from said neighbor address, and for changing said stored trusted flag logic value to a second logic value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A communications network apparatus, comprising:
-
means for storing an end system identifier, ESI, of said apparatus in a first non-volatile memory; means for storing a default value of a prefix in a second non-volatile memory; means for using said default value of a prefix as a stored prefix, said default value of a prefix used as said stored prefix when said apparatus is manufactured; means for setting a manual flag in said apparatus, said manual flag capable of having a first logic value, and capable of having a second logic value; means for setting a trusted flag in said apparatus, said trusted flag capable of having a first logic value, and capable of having a second logic value; update means for said apparatus to update an address assigned to said apparatus; selection means for selecting a prefix during an event when said update means performs an update of said address assigned to said apparatus, said selection means responsive to said manual flag and responsive to said trusted flag as follows,
space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ value value action of of manual trusted flag flag first first wait for manual configuration logic logic value value first second wait for manual configuraiton logic logic value value second second IF a trusted neighbor exists logic logic adopt a neightbor prefix of said value value trusted neightbor as a designated prefix store said designated prefix as said stored prefix set said trusted flag to said first logic value ELSE (no trusted neighbor exists) set said designated prefix to said stored prefix second first set designated prefix to said logic logic stored prefix value value ______________________________________address forming means to combine said designated prefix with said ESI of said apparatus, said designated prefix and said ESI forming at least a part of an address of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification