Patent ID: 6345044
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
In a communication system having a plurality of terminals connected to a common node by a digital interface bus, an apparatus for assigning address to the terminals, comprising:means for transmitting a request for a first address from of the terminals to the common node; means for determining whether said first address is in use by any other terminal; means for transmitting an address grant packet from the common node to said one of the terminals when no other terminal is using said first address; means for transmitting an address reject packet from the common node to said one of the terminals when another terminal is already using the first address; means for transmitting a request for a second address from said one of the terminals to the common node when an address reject packet is received; and means for assigning to each of the plurality of terminals a time-out period, based on a division of said terminals into a plurality of sets.