Patent ID: 6956827
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for assigning identifiers in a distributed system, comprising: (a) establishing a circle as a locus of all identifiers, with the value of any point on the circle being the portion of one complete revolution in a first direction around the circle to the point, measured from a first zero point; and (b) selecting values to be assigned as identifiers as needed by rounds of assignment, wherein, in any round of assignment, beginning with n equal-length sectors, termed long sectors, only the value of midpoints of long sectors are selected as new identifiers to be assigned in the system, each new assignment creating two new short sectors, the round continuing until all long sectors are divided, making the number of sectors at the end of the round, and the beginning of the next round 2n, and wherein the beginning and end of any round of assignment has identifiers assigned with point values that divide the circle into equal-length sectors.