Network address allocation method

摘要

A distributed network address allocation method is disclosed. For this purpose, an apparatus is provided for use as or in a node of the network. The apparatus comprises a portion (2, 3, 4) for maintaining a seed value n and a state value s. An address (8) of the node is determined from the seed value n by address setting portion (6). A portion (9) is provided for receiving a request from a new node wishing to join the network and itself adapted to perform the method. A portion (10, 12) is provided for generating a proposed seed value using the formula (n+2s) and a proposed state value using the formula (s+1). A portion (14) is provided for offering the proposed seed and state values to the new node. A portion (18) is provided for updating the node's state value s to be the same as that accepted by the new node, if the proposed seed and state values are accepted by the new node. This provides unique address allocation to nodes in a Mobile Ad-Hoc Network