Patent ID: 8654677

Claim:
A method for registering a remote network device with a network control device, comprising: determining a network identification code stored within the remote network device; determining that the network identification code comprises a default network identification code; in response to determining that the network identification code stored within the remote network device comprises the default network identification code: transmitting a message indicative of a request to join an existing network; determining whether a first response to the transmitted message was received; when a first response to the transmitted message is received: determining a second network identification code from the first response; and assigning the second network identification code to the remote network device: determining whether a second response to the transmitted message has been received; and in response to receipt of the second response to the transmitted message: placing the remote network device in an alternative operating mode; receiving an instruction from the network control device instructing the remote network device to store a third network identification code contained within the instruction; and storing the third network identification code.