Method of assigning a node address in a local network

• US 7,949,786 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Yong-Tae, Baek, Seung-Myun, Ha, Sam-Chul, Lee, Koon-Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Musa; Abdelnabi O
• Application Number:
  US10/558,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,566 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/246, 709/238, 709/227, 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

The present invention discloses a home network system using a living network control protocol. The home network system includes: at least one new device including a node address having an initial logical address through a network based on a predetermined protocol, transmitting a configuration request message having the node address to a master device, receiving a temporary address setting request message, changing the initial logical address by selecting one temporary logical address, generating a temporary address setting response message, transmitting the temporary address setting response message to the master device, receiving an address change request message having a predetermined logical address from the master device, changing the temporary logical address into the received logical address, and having a unique node address; and at least one master device for receiving the plurality of configuration request messages from the new device, setting the temporary logical address range for the new device, transmitting the temporary address setting request message having the set temporary logical address range to the new device, receiving the temporary address setting response message from the new device, setting the predetermined logical address of the new device, and transmitting the address change request message having the set logical address to the new device of the selected temporary address.

Claims

1. A home network system for assigning a unique address to an electric device in a local network, the system comprising:

one or more new devices, each new device;

including a node address having an initial logical address when accessing the home network system through a network based on a predetermined protocol,

transmitting a configuration request message having the node address to a master device through the network,

receiving a temporary address setting request message having a predetermined temporary logical address range,

wherein the temporary address setting request message includes an upper address limit and a lower address limit based on a device type associated with each of the one or more new devices,

wherein the lower address limit is based on a maximum value for pre-assigned logical addresses associated with those devices among the one or more new devices which are the same device type,

selecting one value within the predetermined temporary logical address range and setting the selected value as a temporary logical address,

generating a temporary address setting response message having the selected temporary logical address,

transmitting the temporary address setting response message to the master device,

receiving an address change request message having a logical address from the master device, and

setting the received logical address as the unique address; and

at least one master device connected to the one or more new devices through the network, wherein for each new device the master device;

receives a configuration request message from the new device,

sets the temporary logical address range for the new device,

transmits the temporary address setting request message having the set temporary logical address range to the new device,

receives a temporary address setting response messages from the new device,

sets the logical address of the new device, and

transmits the address change request message having the set logical address to the new device of the selected temporary address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the master device updates a home net profile by registering the unique address of the new device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the master device transmits an added device notification message having the unique address of the new device to another master device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the unique address comprises at least a product code and the initial logical address of the new device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the new device receives a temporary address allocation notification message having a temporary logical address set by another new device from another new device after setting the received logical address as the unique address.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the new device generates a temporary address allocation notification message having the temporary logical address and transmits the message to another new device after setting the received logical address as the unique address.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the new device maintains a standby state for a random time within a second predetermined time after transmitting the temporary address allocation notification message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the address change request message comprises the temporary logical address and the set logical address.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the temporary logical address range is individually set according to the product code.