James C Mathis

US Patent:

51504642, Sep 22, 1992

Filed:

Jun 6, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/534144

Inventors:

Gursharan S. Sidhu - Menlo Park CA
Alan B. Oppenheimer - Cupertino CA
James E. Mathis - San Carlos CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

395200

Abstract:

Method used by a first entity, typically a computer system, on a communication system for assigning itself a unique address known as a network address, which comprises a network number and a node identification number. The entity determines a unique network address for itself within a local subset of entities known as a local area network (LAN). A signal is then transmitted to determine whether a router is connected to the LAN, and if so, to determine if the network number of the address is within a range allowed by the router. If the network number is not within a range allowed by the router, then another network number is selected from a range of numbers provided by the router and another node ID are selected. It is determined whether this value is being used by any other entities in the LAN, and if so, node ID's are selected until an unused network address is ascertained. If all node ID's for an address are checked, then another network number is selected from the range and node ID's are again selected to determine a unique address.