System and methods of installing and operating devices without explicit network addresses
A method of discovering addressing information of one or more upstream devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more upstream devices in a network includes acquiring the addressing information in an upstream direction from one or more downstream devices to the one or more upstream devices. The method further includes acquiring the addressing information in a downstream direction from the one or more upstream devices to the one or more downstream devices. The method further includes responding to specific messages using the acquired addressing information about the one or more upstream devices.
1. A method of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices in a network, the method comprising:
acquiring, by a second device, addressing information in an upstream direction from one or more third devices to the one or more first devices;
acquiring, by the second device, addressing information in a downstream direction from the one or more first devices to the one or more third devices; and
responding, by the second device on behalf of the one or more first devices, to specific messages that include requests for functions from the one or more first devices.
2. A method of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices in a network, the method comprising:
pre-programming a second device with test packets that include addressing information in an upstream direction for the one or more first devices in each test packet;
using upstream test packets for triggering one of the one or more first devices to respond with a packet including the addressing information in a downstream direction to one of one or more third devices from one of the one or more first devices; and
responding to specific messages including requests for functions from the one or more first devices using the included addressing information about one of the one or more first devices.
3. A system of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices in a network, the system comprising:
at least one third device coupled to a first processor;
at least one first device coupled to a second processor; and
a second device coupled to a third processor, the second device located between the at least one third device and the at least one first device,
wherein the second device is configured to acquire addressing information in an upstream direction from the at least one third device and in a downstream direction from the at least one first device in order for the second device to respond on behalf of the at least one first device to the specific messages including requests for functions from the at least one first device.
4. A method of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices in a network, the method comprising:
pre-programming a second device with addressing information for addressing the one or more first devices;
using at least one upstream test packet with the addressing information for triggering one of the one or more first devices to respond with a packet including addressing information about the one of the one or more first devices for performing functions on behalf of the one of the one or more first devices.
5. A system of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices in a network, the system comprising:
a device coupled to a processor, the device located between at least one second device and at least one third device and configured to acquire addressing information in an upstream direction from the at least one third device and in a downstream direction from the at least one second device in order for the device to respond on behalf of the at least one second device to the specific messages including requests for functions from the at least one third device.
6. A method of performing functions on behalf of one or more first devices by a second device in a network, the method comprising:
acquiring, by a second device, addressing information in an upstream direction from one or more third devices to the one or more first devices;
acquiring, by the second device, addressing information in a downstream direction from the one or more first devices to the one or more third devices; and
performing, by the second device, a function on behalf of the one or more first devices in response to requests for functions that the one or more first devices are unable to perform.