Home Server Address Assignment for Identical Source Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In home network systems, when multiple electronic appliances of the same kind are connected simultaneously, the home server assigns the same network address due to identical source addresses, leading to inability to individually control these appliances.

Innovation Solution

The home server commands devices to generate temporary addresses, assigns unique network addresses based on these temporary addresses, and ensures uniqueness by specifying address ranges and retransmitting commands for identical addresses, allowing for sequential logical address assignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the home server assigns network addresses using the source address from address assignment request messages, then the address assignment process is simple, but multiple devices of the same kind cannot be individually identified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddress assignment processVSAvoiddevice identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the address assignment process into two distinct phases: first collecting address assignment requests from multiple devices, then generating and assigning unique network addresses in a second step. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple devices of the same kind individually while maintaining a relatively simple overall process structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The home server performs preliminary actions by collecting all address assignment request messages before generating network addresses. This preliminary collection phase allows the server to identify multiple devices of the same kind and ensure each receives a unique address, preventing the identification problem that would occur with immediate address assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the home server assigns network addresses simultaneously to multiple devices, then the address assignment speed is fast, but devices with identical source addresses cannot be distinguished

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddress assignment speedVSAvoidsource address identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the home server acts as a mediator that receives address assignment requests from multiple devices, identifies them as distinct entities despite identical source addresses, and manages the unique address generation and assignment process. This intermediary role allows simultaneous processing while maintaining precise device identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If multiple devices transmit address assignment requests simultaneously, then the network setup time is reduced, but the home server cannot identify individual device sources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork setup timeVSAvoidsource address information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the home server receives address assignment requests from multiple devices, provides feedback by generating unique network addresses for each device based on the collected requests, and ensures proper identification. This feedback loop allows simultaneous device connection while preserving source identification through the structured request-response process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7564804B2Method of assigning addresses to a plurality of devices on a network and a network system therefor

Publication Date: 2009.07.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

In the present invention, if it is determined that address assignment request messages are received from a plurality of devices, a home server on the network commands each of the plurality of devices to generate a temporary address. Receiving temporary addresses generated by the plurality of devices according to the address generation command, the home server assigns unique network addresses to the received temporary addresses and transmits the network addresses to the plurality of devices, thereby assigning a unique network address to each of the plurality of devices on the network.