Automatic configuration of network components having separate unprogrammed network devices configured to communicate with separate interconnected network terminals

• US 7,395,359 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hirschmann Electronics GmbH (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hirschmann Electronics GmbH (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Reister, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US10/451,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,385 Days
• Field of Search: 710 8- 11, 710/13, 710/62, 710/72, 713/162, 713/201, 709/220
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/445 with switching in a hub, e.g. ETHERNET switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing configuration information to terminals and network components within a network. In particular, a specialist is no longer necessary in order to exchange a terminal or a component for the network. The network user simply exchanges the terminal or the network component and places a configuration storage adapter in a serial interface of the replaced terminal or component, whereby the newly inserted terminal or network component is automatically provided with stored configuration information and the network can then be started.

Claims

1. A method for a setting-up a network apparatus having a network including at least two interconnected network terminals, said network further including separate programmed network devices connected to separate interconnected network terminals, operation of said network being controlled by network configuration parameter information, the network interconnected programmed network devices can operate independently or the network interconnected programmed network devices can communicate with each other, the method comprising:

storing the network configuration parameter information in a storage adapter;

connecting an unprogrammed network device to one of said network terminals;

connecting said adapter as a direct connection without interconnection through the network to an interface that is connected to said unprogrammed network device; and

inputting the stored network configuration parameter information from said storage adapter through said interface without communication through said network into said unprogrammed network device to configure said unprogrammed network device into a programmed network device that operates using said network.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said unprogrammed network device is a terminal device.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said terminal device is a personal computer.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said unprogrammed network device is a network component.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said network component is an Ethernet switch.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising inputting network configuration parameter information to said unprogrammed network device by having said storage adapter output an identification character in both said unprogrammed network device and said network.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising downloading configuration operating parameters to said unprogrammed network device from a server when said server receives the identification character output from said storage adapter.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said storage device receives power from said unprogrammed network device.

9. A network apparatus having a network including at least two interconnected terminals, said network further including separate programmed network devices connected to separate interconnected terminals, operation of said network, including communication of data between separate interconnected programmed network devices being controlled by network configuration parameter information, the network apparatus comprising:

a storage adapter having stored network configuration parameter information for said network;

an unprogrammed network device connected to a terminal of said network; and

said storage adapter being directly connected without interconnection through the network to an interface that is connected to said unprogrammed network device;

wherein the network configuration parameter information stored in said adapter is input from said adapter through said interface without communication through said network into said unprogrammed network device to configure said new unprogrammed network device into a programmed network device with operating parameters for said network apparatus.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said unprogrammed network device is a terminal device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said terminal device is a personal computer.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said unprogrammed network device is a network component.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said network component is an Ethernet switch.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said storage device outputs an identification character into both said unprogrammed network device and said network.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:

a server connected to said network, and network operating parameters also stored on said server such that when said server receives the identification character output from said storage adapter the network operating parameters stored on said server are downloaded to said unprogrammed network device.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising:

said unprogrammed network device connected to said storage adapter to provide power to said storage adapter.

17. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said storage adapter is an EEPROM.