| 摘要 |
A method is provided to address passive network devices in a data-over-cable system. A "passive" network device, such as a printer, facsimile machine, computer other network device, is a device that is assigned a network address by the data-over-cable system and does not have a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol stack to obtain its own network address. A network address assigned to a passive network device by the data-over-cable system is stored in a configuration file for an active network device such as a cable modem that is associated with the passive network device. An active network device has a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Stack to obtain a network address. The active network device is initialized with the configuration file including the assigned network address of the passive network device. The active network device registers with a cable modem termination system by sending a registration message that includes the assigned network address for the passive network device. The active network device and the active network device termination system store the network address for the active network device and the assigned network address for the passive network device in internal tables. When data for the passive network device is received on the cable modem termination system it is forwarded to the active network device and then forwarded to the passive network device using the internal tables on the cable modem termination system and active network device. The active network device functions as a router or switch to forward data to the passive network device. The method allows passive network devices without a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol stack to be used in a data-over-cable system.
|
