Patent ID: 8099469
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: defining a position of an ID or partial ID by means of an index in a master node and a slave node, the master and slave nodes being coupled together within a communication network, each slave node comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a multi-digit ID stored therein which enables unambiguous identification of the slave node within the communication network, each digit of the multi-digit ID exhibiting a predetermined value; transmitting a first probe command from the master node to the slave node, the first probe command defining, at that position of the ID or partial ID that is defined by the index, a first value “0” to be probed; comparing the first value “0” to be probed with a value at that position of a dedicated ID or partial ID that is defined by the index, in the slave node; transmitting an interrupt signal from the slave node responsive to the comparison resulting in that the first value “0” to be probed equals the value at that position of the dedicated ID or partial ID that is defined by the index, and that the slave node comprises an active status; if the master node receives the interrupt signal, then transmitting a first enter command from the master node to the slave node, the first enter command defining, at that position of the ID or partial ID which is defined by the index, a value “0” to be entered; if the master node does not receive the interrupt signal, then transmitting a second enter command from the master node to the slave node, the second enter command defining, at that position of the ID or partial ID that is defined by the index, a value “1” to be entered; comparing the value defined by the first or second enter command with a value at that position of the dedicated ID or partial ID which is defined by the index, in the slave node; changing a dedicated status of the slave node from the active status to an inactive status responsive to the comparison resulting in that the value defined by the first or second enter command does not equal the value at that position of the dedicated ID or partial ID that is defined by the index; changing the index by one position in a search direction in the master node and the slave node, responsive to the first or second enter command; and transmitting by the master node a second probe command, wherein the first enter command defines a first value “0” to be entered that matches the first value “0” to be probed of a previously transmitted first probe command, if the master node has received the interrupt signal upon the first probe command, and wherein the second enter command defines a second value “1” to be probed entered that matches a second value “1” to be probed of the previously transmitted second probe command, if the master node has received no interrupt signal upon the previously transmitted first probe command and has received an interrupt signal upon the previously transmitted second probe command.