Patent ID: 6189102
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a data-over-cable system including a plurality of network devices, a method of authenticating a network device, the method comprising the following steps:receiving a first message on a third network device with a first network address for a first network device associated with a second network device during an initialization sequence for the first network device;storing the first network address for the first network device and a second network address for the third network device in an internal table on the third network device;receiving a second message on the third network device from the second network device to authenticate the first network device, wherein the second messages include a third network address for the first network device and a fourth network address for the second network device; anddetermining with the internal table whether the third network address is equal to the first network address and whether the fourth network address is equal to the second network address, and if so,registering the first network device on the third network device.