Patent ID: 8645509

Claim:
A method of automatic location-dependent hostname configuration of clients on a network, the network installed at a facility having a predetermined plurality of separate locations therein, the method comprising: providing a control server coupled to the network; receiving at the control server a hostname request from a client device via the network, wherein the client device is located at a location within the facility, the location selected from the predetermined plurality of separate locations; determining, by the control server and at least according to information received with the hostname request, a location identifier representing the location at which the client device is located; forming a hostname to assign to the client device by the control server according to the location identifier and a predetermined naming convention, the hostname including at least the location identifier representing the location at which the client device is located; and assigning the hostname to the client device by sending an acknowledgement including the hostname from the control server to the client device via the network; whereby, upon receiving the acknowledgement from the control server, the client device is automatically configured with the hostname being a location-dependent hostname appropriate for the location at which the client device is located within the facility.