Simple installation of devices on a network
One embodiment of the invention employs techniques for the self-installation of network devices using fire-and-forget principles. These devices modify their own network configuration data, but do not modify the network configuration data of other devices. Utilizing fire-and-forget principles, the need for a central database and central authority on the network is not required but may still be used.
1. A method of interconnecting devices in a network of devices, comprising:
a first device assigning itself a network address without regard to network addresses assigned to other devices of the network in a first domain of the network, wherein the network address consists of a subnet and node identifier;
broadcasting the assigned network address of the first device to other devices on the network over a second domain, wherein if a second device has that network address then the second device assigns itself a different network address and the first device keeps the assigned network address, and the first and second domains are different;
binding the first device to create a connection to the network without waiting for a response to the broadcasting; and
verifying the connection of the first device in the network.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
discovering other devices on the network.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the first device's connection.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
maintaining a device interaction table stored in a controller, wherein the controller is a device in the network.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
decommissioning the first device to remove all connection data associated with the first device.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
deleting devices from the device interaction table that have reported their network address for a period of time.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein verifying the connection further comprises:
periodically receiving a device resource usage message from a second device on the network, wherein the device resource usage message contains the network address associated with the second device; and
determining if the first and second devices share the same network address.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning a network address further comprises:
selecting the subnet and node ID for the first device.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting a new subnet and node ID for a second device if the second device has the same subnet and node ID as the first device; and
broadcasting the new subnet and node ID of the second device on the second domain.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein binding the first device to create a connection to the network further comprises:
selecting a connection selector and creating a connection ID;
broadcasting the connection ID;
opening a connection period;
approving at least one connection requested during the connection period; and
closing the connection period.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
selecting new connection ID for the first device if a second device has the same connection ID;
broadcasting the new connection ID of the first device; and
acquiring a new connection selector.
12. A system, comprising:
a first self-installing network device;
a second self-installing network device coupled to the first self-installing network device on a first domain, wherein the first self-installing network device to broadcast a device resource usage message including a network address of the first self-installing device to the second self-installing network device over a second domain upon the assignment of network address to alert the second self-installing network device of the first self-installing network device's network address and wherein the second self-installing network device to choose a different network address if the network address in the device resource usage message is the same as the network address of the second self-installing network device and the first device keeps the network address broadcasted in the device resource usage message; and
at least one network domain to facilitate communication between the devices.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the self-installation is used for device network address assignment and binding.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the self-installing network devices operates as a controller.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller determines the size of the network based on messages received from other devices in the network.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the size of the network determines the frequency of the periodic broadcast of the device resource usage message.
17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including a program code which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the operations of:
a first device assigning itself a network address without regard to network addresses assigned to other devices of the network in a first domain of the network, wherein the network address consists of a subnet and node identifier;
broadcasting the assigned network address of the first device to other devices on the network over a second domain, wherein if a second device has that network address then the second device assigns itself a different network address, the first device keeps the assigned network address, and the first and second domains are different;
binding the first device to create a connection to the network without waiting for a response to the broadcasting; and
verifying the connection of the first device in the network.
18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein assigning a network address to a device further comprises:
selecting the subnet and node ID for the device;
broadcasting the subnet and node ID of the device over the second domain; and
confirming the network address of the device.
19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
selecting new subnet and node ID for a second device if the second device has the same subnet and node ID as the first device; and
broadcasting the new subnet and node ID of the second device over the second domain.
20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein binding the network variables of the device to create a connection to the network further comprises:
selecting a connection selector and creating a connection ID; broadcasting the connection ID;
opening a connection period;
approving at least one connection requested during the connection period; and
closing the connection period.