Network communication device identification in a communication network
US6751727B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 4, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 15, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/51
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An identification system is disclosed that is configured to identify communication devices on a network. The identification system is comprised of boot circuitry and an interface. The boot circuitry receives an identification request to identify communication devices. The boot circuitry scans memory addresses that represent communication paths with the communication devices. The boot circuitry generates identification query signals for each memory address scanned. The interface formats each identification query signal based on communication formats to generate formatted identification signals. The communication formats are based on the communication paths with the communication devices. The interface transmits the formatted identification signals to the communication devices based on the communication formats. The interface receives response signals from each of the communication devices and transfers the response signals to the boot circuitry. The boot circuitry identifies the communication devices based on the response signals. Advantageously, the boot circuitry comprises a BIOS chip, or some other convention boot chip, that is well known and relatively inexpensive.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.