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US6061739A
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Network address assignment using physical address resolution protocols
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-26
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2017-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for initial network address configuration using physical address resolution protocol. A device attempts a connection to the network, which causes address resolution (ARP) packets to be generated. The device monitors communications on the network for a specified number of unanswered ARP packets. Thereafter, the device adopt the network address in the unanswered ARP packets and responds to the unanswered ARP packets with the its' physical address.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin Clay Reed
- 👤 Steven R. Welch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/09; H04L61/10; H04L61/103; H04L41/00; H04L61/50; H04L61/5007; H04L61/5014; H04L61/5046; H04L61/5092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of assigning a network address to a device coupled to the network using a physical address resolution protocol, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein; (b) adopting the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value; and (c) responding to the unanswered ARP packets with the device's physical address after the network address has been adopted.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of assigning a network address to a device coupled to the network using a physical address resolution protocol, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein; (b) adopting the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value; and (c) responding to the unanswered ARP packets with the device's physical address after the network address has been adopted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the monitoring step further comprises the step of monitoring communications on the network for the specified number of unanswered ARP packets in a given length of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 above, further comprising the step of generating the ARP packets by attempting a connection to the network from the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4 above, further comprising the step of dropping the adopted network address when the attempt connection to the network from the device fails in a given length of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 above, further comprising the step of repeating the generating, monitoring, adopting and responding steps when the adopted network address is dropped.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for assigning a network address using a physical address resolution protocol, comprising: a device, coupled to a network, wherein the device monitors communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein, adopts the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value, and responds to the unanswered ARP packets with the device's physical address after the network address has been adopted.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for assigning a network address using a physical address resolution protocol, comprising: a device, coupled to a network, wherein the device monitors communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein, adopts the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value, and responds to the unanswered ARP packets with the device's physical address after the network address has been adopted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 above, wherein the device monitors communications on the network for the specified number of unanswered ARP packets in a given length of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 above, wherein the device generates the ARP packets by attempting a connection to the network from the device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11 above, wherein the device drops the adopted network address when the attempt connection to the network from the new device fails in a given length of time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the device repeats the generating, monitoring, adopting and responding functions when the adopted network address is dropped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
112 words
An article of manufacture comprising a carrier embodying logic that causes a device connected to a network to perform a method for assigning a network address to the device using a physical address resolution protocol, the method comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein; (b) adopting the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value; and (c) responding to the unanswered ARP packets with the device's physical address after the network address has been adopted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
An article of manufacture comprising a carrier embodying logic that causes a device connected to a network to perform a method for assigning a network address to the device using a physical address resolution protocol, the method comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein; (b) adopting the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value; and (c) responding to the unanswered ARP packets with the device's physical address after the network address has been adopted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article of manufacture of claim 15 above, wherein the monitoring step further comprises the step of monitoring communications on the network for the specified number of unanswered ARP packets in a given length of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of manufacture of claim 16 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of manufacture of claim 15 above, further comprising the step of generating the ARP packets by attempting a connection to the network from the device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of manufacture of claim 18 above, further comprising the step of dropping the adopted network address when the attempt connection to the network from the device fails in a given length of time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of manufacture of claim 19 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article of manufacture of claim 19 above, further comprising the step of repeating the generating, monitoring, adopting and responding steps when the adopted network address is dropped.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |