Method of assigning addresses to a plurality of devices on a network and a network system therefor

• US 7,564,804 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Yeon Kyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHRISS, ANDREW W
• Application Number:
  US11/065,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20050185595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/255
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

In the present invention, if it is determined that address assignment request messages are received from a plurality of devices, a home server on the network commands each of the plurality of devices to generate a temporary address. Receiving temporary addresses generated by the plurality of devices according to the address generation command, the home server assigns unique network addresses to the received temporary addresses and transmits the network addresses to the plurality of devices, thereby assigning a unique network address to each of the plurality of devices on the network.

Claims

1. A network system to which a plurality of devices are connected, comprising:

a home server; and

at least one device that transmits an address assignment request message to the home server when it is connected to the network, wherein if it is determined that the address assignment request message is transmitted by a plurality of devices of a same kind, the home server assigns unique network addresses to the plurality of devices by commanding the plurality of devices to generate temporary addresses, the temporary addresses being received by the home server, and assigning a unique network address to each of the plurality of devices using the temporary addresses generated by the plurality of devices.

2. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one device transmits the address assignment request message periodically after it is connected to the network.

3. The network system set forth in claim 2, wherein if the home server receives an address assignment request message, the home server waits from that point during a time interval that is longer than the period for the address assignment request message and shorter than double the period and determines that more than one device transmits address assignment request messages if two or more address assignment request messages having the same source address are received during the time interval.

4. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein the address assignment request message transmitted by the at least one device to the home server has a network address comprising a factory-set product code and a logical address as its source address.

5. The network system set forth in claim 4, wherein the home server assigns unique network addresses to the plurality of devices by assigning a unique logical address to the factory-set logical address of each of the plurality of devices.

6. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein the home server specifies the range of allowable temporary addresses when the home server commands the plurality of devices to generate temporary addresses.

7. The network system set forth in claim 6, wherein addresses included in the specified range are greater than the sum of the last address among addresses that have been assigned thus far and the number of the plurality of devices.

8. The network system set forth in claim 7, wherein the number of the plurality of devices is determined based on the number of address assignment request messages received during a predefined time interval after the reception of the initial address assignment request message.

9. The network system set forth in claim 7, wherein the home server assigns sequential network addresses corresponding to the generated temporary addresses to the plurality of devices, the sequential network addresses starting from the address one greater than the last address.

10. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein if some of the temporary addresses generated according to the command for generating temporary addresses are identical, the home server retransmits the command for generating temporary addresses to the identical temporary address.

11. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein if the number of address setup confirmation messages received after the home sever transmits the network addresses corresponding to the temporary addresses to the plurality of devices is not the same as the number of the assigned network addresses, the home server retransmits the command for generating temporary addresses to a part or all of the plurality of devices.

12. A method of assigning network addresses to devices connected to a network established in a house, conducted by a home server, the method comprising:

determining if received address assignment request messages are transmitted by a plurality of devices of a same kind;

commanding the plurality of devices to generate temporary addresses and then receiving the generated temporary addresses, if it is determined that the address assignment request messages are transmitted by a plurality of devices of the same kind; and

assigning unique network addresses using the received temporary addresses to the plurality of devices respectively.

13. The method set forth in claim 12, wherein the plurality of devices transmit the address assignment request messages periodically after the plurality of devices are connected to the network.

14. The method set forth in claim 13, wherein if an address assignment request message is received, determining if received address assignment request messages are transmitted by a plurality of indistinguishable devices comprises pausing from a point during a time interval that is longer than the period for the address assignment request message and shorter than double the period and determines that a plurality of devices transmit the address assignment request messages if two or more address assignment request messages having the same source address are received during the time interval.

15. The method set forth in claim 12, wherein each of the address assignment request messages transmitted by the plurality of devices to the home server has a network address comprising a factory-set product code and a logical address as its source address.

16. The method set forth in claim 15, wherein assigning unique network addresses to the plurality of devices comprises assigning unique network addresses to the plurality of devices by assigning a unique address to the factory-set logical address of each of the plurality of devices.

17. The method set forth in claim 12, wherein commanding the plurality of devices to generate temporary addresses comprises specifying the range of allowable temporary addresses when commanding the plurality of devices to generate temporary addresses.

18. The method set forth in claim 17, wherein addresses included in the specified range are greater than the sum of the last address among addresses that have been assigned thus far and the number of the plurality of devices.

19. The method set forth in claim 18, wherein the number of the plurality of devices is determined based on the number of address assignment request messages received during a predefined time interval after the reception of the initial address assignment request message.

20. The method set forth in claim 18, wherein assigning unique network addresses to the plurality of devices comprises assigning sequential network addresses corresponding to the received temporary addresses to the plurality of devices, the network addresses starting from the address one greater than the last address.

21. The method set forth in claim 12, wherein if some of the received temporary addresses are identical, assigning unique network addresses to the plurality of devices comprises does not assigning addresses and retransmitting the command for generating temporary addresses to the identical temporary address.

22. The method set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

retransmitting the command for generating temporary addresses to a part or all of the plurality of devices if the number of address setup confirmation messages received after the step of assigning unique network addresses to the plurality of devices is not the same as the number of the assigned network addresses.