Imprinting method for automated registration and configuration of network devices
US6717919B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W60/00
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
New network elements that are installed in a network are automatically configured using an imprinting process. In this process, when they are first installed and turned on they start listening for packets on the network. When a packet is received, the new network element “imprints” to this packet by adopting configuration information, such as site ID and subnet ID values, that are contained in one or more fields in the first packet. The site ID and subnet ID values allow the new network element to intelligently communicate with other network elements. If the new network element does not receive a packet in a given amount of time, e.g., 30 or 60 minutes, the new network element assumes that it is the first element of the network. It therefore adopts site ID and subnet ID values from another source, such as deriving them from a pre-installed, 48-bit Medium Access Control address that is assigned to the network element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.