Patent ID: 7039701

Claim:
A method of providing management functions in a decentralized network, comprising steps of: creating a persistent node identifier to identify each of a plurality of nodes in the network, even though a different network address may be assigned to the node upon entering the network multiple times; creating a mapping between the persistent node identifier of each node and a current network address assigned to that node, and revising the mapping to reflect the current network address assigned to the node upon each subsequent entry of the node into the network, such that an identity of each of the nodes can be resolved even though a current network address assigned to the node upon entering the network may vary from one entry to another; asserting, by a particular one of the nodes, that it is allowed to perform a management function wherein the particular node directs operation of one or more other nodes in the network; and using the persistent node identifier of the particular node, by a different one of the nodes that receives the assertion, to verify whether the particular node is allowed to perform the management function.