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, the method comprising:
- activating a sensor of the network device to receive data, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader;
analyzing the data to determine a physical location indicated thereby, wherein the data represents an alphabetic and/or numeric character string; and
automatically assigning a network address to the network device based on the physical location indicated by the data by;
extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the character string;
generating the network address for the network device to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the character string using a predetermined algorithm such that the network address of the network device indicates the physical location; and
storing the network address in a memory of the network device.
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Abstract
A method for configuring a network device includes activating a sensor of the network device to receive data. The data from the sensor is analyzed to determine physical location information indicated thereby. A network address is automatically assigned to the network device based on the physical location information indicated by the data from the sensor. Related methods, systems, and apparatus are also discussed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a network device, the method comprising:
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activating a sensor of the network device to receive data, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader; analyzing the data to determine a physical location indicated thereby, wherein the data represents an alphabetic and/or numeric character string; and automatically assigning a network address to the network device based on the physical location indicated by the data by; extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the character string; generating the network address for the network device to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the character string using a predetermined algorithm such that the network address of the network device indicates the physical location; and storing the network address in a memory of the network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of communicatively coupled network devices, the network devices respectively comprising; a sensor that is configured to receive data representing a respective alphabetic and/or numeric character string, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a processor coupled to the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to activate the sensor, analyze the data to determine a respective physical location indicated thereby, and automatically assign a respective network address to its corresponding network device based on the physical location indicated by the data extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the respective character string, automatically generating the respective network address for its corresponding network device to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character using a predetermined algorithm such that the respective network address of its corresponding network device indicates the respective physical location, and automatically storing the respective network address in a memory of its corresponding network device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of bins configured to store filled prescriptions therein; a plurality of communicatively coupled scanners, the scanners respectively comprising; a sensor that is configured to receive data representing a respective alphabetic and/or numeric character string indicating a respective physical location in the apparatus of a respective one of the plurality of bins from one or more elements of the apparatus; and circuitry that is configured to activate the sensor, analyze the data to determine the respective physical location indicated thereby, and automatically assign a respective network address to its corresponding scanner based on the physical location indicated by the data by extracting at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character from the respective character string, automatically generating the respective network address for its corresponding scanner to include a representation of the at least one alphabetic and/or numeric character such that the respective network address of each scanner indicates the respective physical location of the one of the plurality of bins adjacent thereto, and automatically storing the respective network address in a memory of its corresponding scanner, wherein the apparatus comprises an automated pharmaceutical dispensing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification