Method and apparatus for discovery and enumeration of sequentially networked devices

摘要

A system and method that automates assigning unique IDs to sequentially networked devices. The system also allows for the discovery of the number of devices on the network as well as the type of these devices, as well as placing terminations. Each node has a switch that can disable all downstream communications. Nodes power-up with the switches closed. A controller broadcasts for all switches to be opened. Then the controller repetitiously orders each node with unassigned ID to take the current ID, close its switch and respond. This process continues until all nodes have an ID. Network terminations can be switched in either automatically, or by command from the controller wherever the end of the network is during the ID process.

主权项

1. A method for enumerating nodes on a serial network where each node is equipped with a switch adapted to prevent communications on the network in a downstream direction from that node, the method comprising:
(a) causing all switches to opening; (b) commanding any node with no identification (ID) assigned to take a next unique ID; (c) at a node having just taken an ID, closing the switch at said node and sending notification of having taken an ID; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until all nodes have unique IDs.