Dynamic address assignment in an arbitrarily connected network

Claim 2

In a network comprising a first node and a second node in wireless communication, a method of assigning a unique network address within said network to said first node, comprising the following steps: a. said first node in said network determining a first provisional network address for use in assigning said unique network address; b. said first node broadcasting a first probe containing said first provisional network address until a first probe response to said first probe is received or a first interval of time has transpired; c. if said first probe response to said first probe is received, then said first node determining a second provisional network address and repeating steps b and c, said second provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said first probe response is received in said first interval of time; d. using said first provisional network address, broadcasting by said second node, a second probe in said network until a second probe response to said second probe is received by said first node or a second period of time has transpired, wherein said second probe comprises a forward probe that includes a radius remaining number indicating whether another node in said network may re-broadcast said forward probe; e. if said second probe response to said second probe is received, then said first node determining a third provisional network address and repeating steps b through e, said third provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said second probe response is received in said second interval of time; and f. using said first provisional network address as said unique network address for said first node.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said first node comprises a shared network resource.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said shared network resource comprises a networked printer.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said forward probe further comprises a probe number indicating a number of times said forward probe has been broadcast.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein said forward probe further comprises a maximum probe number indicating a maximum number of times said forward probe may be broadcast.

Claim 7

In a network comprising a first node and a second node in wireless communication, a method of assigning a unique network address within said network to said first node, comprising the following steps: (1). said first node in said network determining a first provisional network address for use in assigning said unique network address: (2). said first node broadcasting a first probe containing said first provisional network address until a first probe response to said first probe is received or a first interval of time has transpired; (3). if said first probe response to said first probe is received, then said first node determining a second provisional network address and repeating steps b and c, said second provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said first probe response is received in said first interval of time, (4). using said first provisional network address, broadcasting by said second node, a second probe in said network until a second probe response to said second probe is received by said first node or a second period of time has transpired, wherein said second node further performs the following steps: a. receiving said second probe from a transmitting node; b. determining if said first provisional network address is in use by said second node, and if so, transmitting said second probe response to said transmitting node; c. if said first provisional network address is not in use by said second node, then said second node determining if said first provisional network address is in use by a third node which has communicated with said second node; d. if said first provisional network address is in use by said third node, then said second node transmitting said second probe response to said transmitting node including a hardware address of said third node; e. if said second probe has not been re-broadcast a maximum specified number of times, then storing a hardware address of said transmitting node and re-broadcasting said second probe; (5). if said second probe response to said second probe is received, then said first node determining a third provisional network address and repeating steps b through e, said third provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said second probe response is received in said second interval of time; and (6). using said first provisional network address as said unique network address for said first node.

Claim 8

In a network comprising a first node and a second node in wireless communication, a method of assigning a unique network address within said network to said first node, comprising the following steps: (1). said first node in said network determining a first provisional network address for use in assigning said unique network address: (2). said first node broadcasting a first probe containing said first provisional network address until a first probe response to said first probe is received or a first interval of time has transpired; (3). if said first probe response to said first probe is received, then said first node determining a second provisional network address and repeating steps b and c, said second provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said first probe response is received in said first interval of time, (4). using said first provisional network address, broadcasting by said second node, a second probe in said network until a second probe response to said second probe is received by said first node or a second period of time has transpired, wherein said second node further performs the following steps: a. receiving said second probe from a transmitting node; b. determining if said first provisional network address is in use by said second node, and if so, transmitting said second probe response to said transmitting node; c. if said first provisional network address is not in use by said second node, then said second node determining if said first provisional network address is in use by a third node which has communicated with said second node; d. if said first provisional network address is in use by said third node, then said second node transmitting said second probe response to said transmitting node including a hardware address of said third node; e. if said second probe has not been re-broadcast a maximum specified number of times, then storing a hardware address of said transmitting node and re-broadcasting said second probe; (5). if said second probe response to said second probe is received, then said first node determining a third provisional network address and repeating steps b through e, said third provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said second probe response is received in said second interval of time; and (6). using said first provisional network address as said unique network address for said first node.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of waiting a first random interval of time prior to re-broadcasting said second probe.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of waiting a second random interval of time prior to transmitting said second probe response to said transmitting node.

Claim 11

The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of: a. receiving said second probe response to said second probe; b. retrieving said hardware address of said transmitting node; and c. re-broadcasting said second probe response to said hardware address of said transmitting node.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of waiting a third random interval of time prior to re-broadcasting said second probe response.

Claim 13

The method of claim 6 wherein said step of storing said hardware address of said transmitting node further comprises the step of storing said first provisional network address, and a hardware address of said first node in an entry wherein said hardware address of said transmitting node, said first provisional network address, and said hardware address of said first node are associated with one another.

Claim 14

The method of claim 6, wherein said determining step further comprises determining if said first provisional network address is in use by said second node, and if so, transmitting said second probe response to said transmitting node including a hardware address of said second node.

Claim 15

In a network comprising a first node and a second node in wireless communication, a method for determining a unique network address for said first node, comprising the following steps: a. said first node selecting a provisional network address and broadcasting a first signal to said second node until a unique provisional network address is determined for said first node; b. said first node broadcasting a second signal to said second node to determine if said unique provisional network address is being used by a third node which may exist in said network, wherein said second signal comprises a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether said second node or another node may re-broadcast said forward probe; c. said second node broadcasting said second signal to said third node which may exist in said network to determine if said third node is using said unique provisional network address; d. if said third node which may exist in said network is using said unique provisional network address, then repeating steps a-c until it is determined that said third node is not using said unique provisional network address; and e. using said unique provisional network address as said unique network address.

Claim 16

In a network comprising a first node and a second node in wireless communication, a method for determining a unique network address for said first node, comprising the following steps: a. said first node selecting a provisional network address and broadcasting a first signal to said second node until a unique provisional network address is determined for said first node; b. said first node broadcasting a second signal to said second node to determine if said unique provisional network address is being used by a third node which may exist in said network, wherein said second signal comprises a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether said second node or another node may re-broadcast said forward probe; c. said second node broadcasting said second signal to said third node which may exist in said network to determine if said third node is using said unique provisional network address; d. if said third node which may exist in said network is using said unique provisional network address, then repeating steps a-c until it is determined that said third node is not using said unique provisional network address; and e. using said unique provisional network address as said unique network address.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13, wherein said first node comprises a shared network resource.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14, wherein said shared network resource comprises a shared network printer.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13, wherein said network comprises an arbitrarily connected network.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13, wherein said forward probe further comprises a probe number indicating a number of times said first node has broadcast said forward probe.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13, wherein said forward probe further comprises a maximum probe number indicating a maximum number of times said first node may broadcast the forward probe.

Claim 24

The method of claim 1, wherein said network comprises an arbitrarily connected network.

Claim 25

A data processing apparatus comprising: selection circuitry selecting a provisional network address; receiver circuitry coupled to said selection circuitry and for coupling to an intermediate node which may exist in a network; broadcast circuitry coupled to said selection circuitry and for communicating in a wireless manner with said intermediate node which may exist in said network, said selection circuitry causing said broadcast circuitry to broadcast a first signal to said intermediate node until a unique provisional network address is determined for said data processing apparatus, said selection circuitry causing said broadcast circuitry to further broadcast a second signal to said intermediate node to determine if said unique provisional network address is being used by another node which may exist in said network, said second signal for causing a broadcasting of a third signal by said intermediate node to said another node which may exist in said network and for determining if said another node is using said unique provisional address, said second signal comprising a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether said intermediate node or said another node may re-broadcast said forward probe, said data processing apparatus using said unique provisional network address as a unique network address if said intermediate node and said another node are not using said unique provisional network address.

Claim 26

A data processing apparatus comprising: selection circuitry selecting a provisional network address; receiver circuitry coupled to said selection circuitry and for coupling to an intermediate node which may exist in a network; broadcast circuitry coupled to said selection circuitry and for communicating in a wireless manner with said intermediate node which may exist in said network, said selection circuitry causing said broadcast circuitry to broadcast a first signal to said intermediate node until a unique provisional network address is determined for said data processing apparatus, said selection circuitry causing said broadcast circuitry to further broadcast a second signal to said intermediate node to determine if said unique provisional network address is being used by another node which may exist in said network, said second signal for causing a broadcasting of a third signal by said intermediate node to said another node which may exist in said network and for determining if said another node is using said unique provisional address, said second signal comprising a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether said intermediate node or said another node may re-broadcast said forward probe, said data processing apparatus using said unique provisional network address as a unique network address if said intermediate node and said another node are not using said unique provisional network address.

Claim 27

The data processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a shared network resource.

Claim 28

The data processing apparatus of claim 22, wherein said shared network resource comprises a shared network printer.

Claim 29

The data processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein said forward probe further comprises a probe number indicating a number of times said selection circuitry causes said broadcast circuitry to broadcast said forward probe.

Claim 30

The data processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein said forward probe further comprises a maximum probe number indicating a maximum number of times said selection circuitry may cause said broadcast circuitry to broadcast said forward probe.

Claim 31

The data processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein said data processing node directly communicates with said intermediate node.

Claim 32

The data processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein data processing apparatus directly communicates with said another node.

Claim 33

The data processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein said data processing apparatus indirectly communicates with said another node through said intermediate node.

Claim 34

A data processing apparatus comprising: receiver circuitry for coupling to an acquiring node in a network; and broadcast circuitry coupled to said receiver circuitry and for communicating in a wireless manner with the acquiring node and another node in said network, said receiver circuitry for receiving a first signal from said acquiring node, said first signal for determining whether said data processing apparatus is using a network address of said acquiring node, said receiver circuitry further for receiving a second signal from said acquiring node, wherein said second signal comprises a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether said forward probe may be re-broadcast by said data processing apparatus or by said another node, said second signal causing a broadcasting of a third signal by said broadcast circuitry to said another node, said third signal for determining whether said another node is using said network address of said acquiring node.

Claim 35

A data processing apparatus comprising: receiver circuitry for coupling to an acquiring node in a network; and broadcast circuitry coupled to said receiver circuitry and for communicating in a wireless manner with the acquiring node and another node in said network, said receiver circuitry for receiving a first signal from said acquiring node, said first signal for determining whether said data processing apparatus is using a network address of said acquiring node, said receiver circuitry further for receiving a second signal from said acquiring node, wherein said second signal comprises a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether said forward probe may be re-broadcast by said data processing apparatus or by said another node, said second signal causing a broadcasting of a third signal by said broadcast circuitry to said another node, said third signal for determining whether said another node is using said network address of said acquiring node.

Claim 36

The data processing apparatus of claim 29, wherein said second signal is for determining whether said data processing apparatus is communicating with said another node which is using said network address.

Claim 37

The data processing apparatus of claim 29, wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a shared network resource.

Claim 38

The data processing apparatus of claim 31, wherein said shared network resource comprises a shared network printer.

Claim 39

The data processing apparatus of claim 29, wherein said forward probe further comprises a probe number indicating a number of times said acquiring node has broadcast said forward probe.

Claim 40

The data processing apparatus of claim 29, wherein said forward probe further comprises a maximum probe number indicating a maximum number of times said acquiring node may broadcast said forward probe.

Claim 41

The data processing apparatus of claim 29, wherein said data processing apparatus directly communicates with said acquiring node and said another node, and said acquiring node directly communicates with said another node.

Claim 42

The data processing apparatus of claim 29, wherein said data processing apparatus directly communicates with said acquiring and said another node, and said acquiring node indirectly communicates with said another node.

Claim 43

The data processing apparatus of claim 29, wherein said data processing apparatus further comprises a table communicating with said receiver circuitry and said broadcast circuitry, said table associating said forward probe with said acquiring node.

Claim 44

In a wireless network, a method of assigning a unique network address within said wireless network to a first node, comprising the following steps: a. said first node in said wireless network determining a first provisional network address for use in assigning said unique network address; b. said first node broadcasting a first probe containing said provisional network address until a first probe response to said first probe is received or a first interval of time has transpired; c. if said first probe response to said first probe is received, then said first node determining a second provisional network address and repeating steps b and c, said second provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said first probe response is received in said first interval of time; d. using said first provisional network address, broadcasting by a second node, a second probe in said wireless network until a second probe response to said second probe is received by said first node or a second period of time has transpired, wherein the second node is an arbitrary node in the wireless network and not a server or a bridge to another wireless network; e. if said second probe response to said second probe is received, then said first node determining a third provisional network address and repeating steps b through e, said third provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said second response is received in said second interval of time; and f. using said first provisional network address as said unique network address for said first node.

Claim 45

In a wireless network, a method of assigning a unique network address within said wireless network to a first node, comprising the following steps: a. said first node in said wireless network determining a first provisional network address for use in assigning said unique network address; b. said first node broadcasting a first probe containing said provisional network address until a first probe response to said first probe is received or a first interval of time has transpired; c. if said first probe response to said first probe is received, then said first node determining a second provisional network address and repeating steps b and c, said second provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said first probe response is received in said first interval of time; d. using said first provisional network address, broadcasting by a second node, a second probe in said wireless network until a second probe response to said second probe is received by said first node or a second period of time has transpired, wherein the second node is an arbitrary node in the wireless network and not a server or a bridge to another wireless network; e. if said second probe response to said second probe is received, then said first node determining a third provisional network address and repeating steps b through e, said third provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said second response is received in said second interval of time; and f. using said first provisional network address as said unique network address for said first node.

Claim 50

In a network comprising a first node and a second node in wireless communication, a method of assigning a unique network address within said network to said first node, comprising the following steps: a. said first node in said network determining a first provisional network address for use in assigning said unique network address; b. said first node broadcasting a first probe containing said first provisional network address until a first probe response to said first probe is received or a first interval of time has transpired; c. if said first probe response to said first probe is received, then said first node determining a second provisional network address and repeating steps b and c, said second provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said first probe response is received in said first interval of time; d. using said first provisional network address, transmitting by said second node, a second probe in said network until a second probe response to said second probe is received by said first node or a second period of time has transpired, said second probe comprising a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether another node in said network may re-broadcast said forward probe; e. if said second probe response to said second probe is received, then said first node determining a third provisional network address and repeating steps b through e, said third provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said second probe response is received in said second interval of time; and f. using said first provisional network address as said unique network address for said first node.

Claim 51

In a network comprising a first node and a second node in wireless communication, a method of assigning a unique network address within said network to said first node, comprising the following steps: a. said first node in said network determining a first provisional network address for use in assigning said unique network address; b. said first node broadcasting a first probe containing said first provisional network address until a first probe response to said first probe is received or a first interval of time has transpired; c. if said first probe response to said first probe is received, then said first node determining a second provisional network address and repeating steps b and c, said second provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said first probe response is received in said first interval of time; d. using said first provisional network address, transmitting by said second node, a second probe in said network until a second probe response to said second probe is received by said first node or a second period of time has transpired, said second probe comprising a forward probe including a radius remaining number indicating whether another node in said network may re-broadcast said forward probe; e. if said second probe response to said second probe is received, then said first node determining a third provisional network address and repeating steps b through e, said third provisional network address becoming said first provisional network address, until no said second probe response is received in said second interval of time; and f. using said first provisional network address as said unique network address for said first node.