Patent ID: 7139839

Claim:
A method of assigning a network identifier to a client node, the client node having a memory and being operably connected to a server wherein the server assigns the network identifier to the client node, the method comprising the steps of: providing a default identifier, the default identifier being assigned to the client node; broadcasting a request for assignment of a network identifier from the server, the request being broadcast by the client node; determining a location of the client node, the location being identified with respect to the server; the determining a location of the client node including: receiving a request for the network identifier from the client node, transmitting a toggle signal from the server, the toggle signal having an amount of state transitions, storing the amount of state transitions in the memory of the client node, identifying the client node having the default identifier and the amount of state transitions by transmitting a request by the server to receive the amount of state transitions stored in the memory of the client node and, comparing the amount of state transitions stored in the memory of the client node with the toggle signal wherein the network identifier is transmitted to the client node in response to the comparison; and, assigning the network identifier to the client node by the server to the client node in response to the determined location of the client node.