Methods, systems, and apparatus for determining and automatically programming network addresses for devices operating in a network
First Claim
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1. A method for configuring a network device including an optical sensor, the method comprising:
- activating the optical sensor of the network device to generate data representing an image in view thereof, wherein the network device is one of a plurality of communicatively coupled nodes in a system;
analyzing the data from the optical sensor to determine image information represented by the image, wherein the image information comprises an alphabetic and/or numeric character string, and wherein the image information indicates a physical location of the image in the system; and
automatically assigning a network address to the network device based on the physical location of the image in view of the optical sensor by;
extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the character string;
generating the network address to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character using a predetermined algorithm such that the network address indicates the physical location of the image in view of the optical sensor; and
storing the network address in a memory of the network device.
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Abstract
A method for configuring a network device including an optical sensor includes activating the optical sensor of the network device to generate data representing an image in view thereof, and analyzing the data from the optical sensor to determine image information represented by the image. A network address is automatically assigned to the network device based on the image information represented by the image in view of the optical sensor. Related methods, systems, and apparatus are also discussed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a network device including an optical sensor, the method comprising:
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activating the optical sensor of the network device to generate data representing an image in view thereof, wherein the network device is one of a plurality of communicatively coupled nodes in a system; analyzing the data from the optical sensor to determine image information represented by the image, wherein the image information comprises an alphabetic and/or numeric character string, and wherein the image information indicates a physical location of the image in the system; and automatically assigning a network address to the network device based on the physical location of the image in view of the optical sensor by; extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the character string; generating the network address to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character using a predetermined algorithm such that the network address indicates the physical location of the image in view of the optical sensor; and storing the network address in a memory of the network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of communicatively coupled network devices, the network devices respectively comprising; an optical sensor that is operable to generate data representing a respective image in view thereof, and a processor that is operable to activate the optical sensor, analyze the data to derive respective image information indicative of a physical location of the respective image in the system therefrom, wherein the respective image information comprises a respective alphabetic and/or numeric character string, and automatically assign a respective network address to its corresponding network device based on the physical location of the respective image in view of the optical sensor by extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the respective character string, generating the respective network address to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character using a predetermined algorithm such that the respective network address indicates the physical location of the respective image in view of the optical sensor, and storing the respective network address in a memory of its corresponding network device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automated pharmaceutical dispensing apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of bins configured to store filled prescriptions therein, wherein the bins include respective barcodes affixed thereto; a plurality of communicatively coupled scanners, the scanners respectively comprising; an optical sensor that is operable to generate data representing a respective barcode in view thereof; and circuitry that is operable to activate the optical sensor, analyze the data to determine image information represented by the respective barcode, wherein the image information comprises a respective alphabetic and/or numeric character string and indicates a physical location of the respective barcode in the apparatus, and automatically assign a respective network address to its corresponding scanner based on the physical location of the respective barcode in view of the optical sensor by extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the respective character string, generating the respective network address to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character using a predetermined algorithm such that the respective network address indicates the physical location of the respective barcode in view of the optical sensor, and storing the respective network address in a memory of its corresponding scanner. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for configuring a network device, the method comprising:
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activating an optical sensor of the network device to receive data; analyzing the data from the optical sensor to determine physical location information represented thereby, wherein the physical location information comprises an alphabetic and/or numeric character string and indicates a physical location in a system; and automatically assigning a network address to the network device based on the physical location indicated by the data from the optical sensor by extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the character string, generating the network address to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character using a predetermined algorithm such that the network address indicates the physical location, and storing the network address in a memory of the network device.
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Specification