Patent ID: 6609152
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An MAC address management apparatus for assigning an MAC address serving as an identification number unique to a network interface device to the network interface device to be connected to a network, comprising:MAC address storage means for storing an MAC address file and a temporary MAC address file, the MAC address file comprising a plurality of MAC addresses; transmission means for reading out one MAC address from the MAC address file and transmitting the MAC address to the network interface device in order to assign an MAC address to the network interface device; reception means for receiving an MAC address write completion notification indicating that the transmitted MAC address has been assigned to the network interface device; rewrite means for rewriting, in the temporary MAC address file, MAC addresses of the MAC address file except for the transmitted MAC address when said reception means receives the MAC address write completion notification; and delete means for deleting the transmitted MAC address from the MAC address file after said rewrite means rewrites the MAC addresses in the temporary MAC address file.