Local area network.

摘要

57 A local area network comprises a controller (1) a transmission medium (2) and a plurality of terminals (3-n). Each terminal (3-n) includes means for requesting the controller to allocate it an address. The address request is transmitted together with a random number generated within the terminal (3-n). When the controller (1) transmits the allocated address to the terminal it also repets the random number associated with the address request.

In order to reduce the likelihood of two terminals generating the same random number each terminal (3-n) generates a new random number whenever a human interaction with the terminal takes place.