Modular device backbone for a network of user-swappable products

A modular device network comprising:

• a controller;
• two or more backplates distributed throughout a user space and configured to couple with any of a plurality of swappable devices, wherein each of the two or more backplates comprises:
• a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and further including information for communicating with the controller;
• and a communication unit to transmit the backplate-based configuration information;
• and
• two or more swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices coupled to the two or more backplates,
• wherein, upon coupling of a particular swappable device of the two or more swappable devices to a particular backplate of the two or more backplates,
• the particular swappable device receives configuration information including the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and controller-based configuration information associated with the backplate identifier from the controller,
• wherein the configuration information includes information for communicating with additional swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices and a location of the particular backplate in the user space,
• wherein the particular swappable device self-configures location-based functionality based on the location,
• wherein the two or more swappable devices establish a communication link between each other based on the configuration information.

A method for providing a modular device network comprising:

• mounting two or more backplates throughout a user space, wherein the two or more backplates are configured to couple with any of a plurality of swappable devices, wherein each of the two or more backplates comprises:
• a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and further including information for communicating with a controller;
• and
• a communication unit to transmit the configuration information;
• and
• coupling two or more swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices with the two or more backplates,
• wherein, upon coupling of a particular swappable device of the two or more swappable devices to a particular backplate of the two or more backplates,
• the particular swappable device receives configuration information including the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and controller-based configuration information associated with the backplate identifier from the controller,
• wherein the configuration information includes information for communicating with additional swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices and a location of the particular backplate in the user space,
• wherein the particular swappable device self-configures location-based functionality based on the location,
• wherein the two or more swappable devices establish a communication link between each other based on the configuration information.