METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ALLOCATING ADDRESSES IN A NETWORK, MATCHING METHOD, APPARATUS AND INSTALLATION RELATING THERETO.

摘要

The addressing operates in a bidirectional communication space linking computers incorporated in appliances. A computer emits an interrogation message carrying an address chosen from a set of possible addresses. The computer then waits for a set time for a response, and if there is no response adopts the address. If there is a response, a different address is chosen and the cycle recommences, continuing until there is no response. The same technique is used by other computers on the network. Each appliance on the network is equipped with a micro-controller having a rewritable non-volatile memory and a battery-backed random access memory. A bidirectional interface provides the communication link, and a protocol program in non-volatile memory controls the communication. USE/ADVANTAGE Simplifies assignment of addresses to components on domestic appliance control network.