Addressing in a system of interconnected unites
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsJan-Erik Lundberg, Curt Olsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controlling unit retrieves information regarding system interconnect topology and assigns unique address to all connected units without the need for any prior configuration. An added unit with cascading ports will be able to use the address assignment that enables the controller to avoid address collisions between connected units. In short, the disclosure provides the system of interconnected units with a “plug and play” capability.
Claims21
A method performed by a controlling unit in a system of interconnected units, wherein each of said interconnected units comprises at least one port via which an interconnection between said interconnected units is realized, and wherein at least a subset of said interconnected units comprises at least one cascading port, said method comprising a system start-up procedure that comprises:
- transmitting at least one first request for information to at least one port on the controlling unit, the controlling unit being connected to a first unit via said at least one port on the controlling unit,
- receiving, from the first unit, a response to said at least one first request, said response comprising information that identifies the first unit, the information further comprising information that identifies at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- transmitting a second request for information to said at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- receiving, from a second unit, a response to said second request, said response comprising information that identifies the second unit, the information further comprising information that identifies a cascading port on the second unit,
- assigning a respective unique address associated with the first unit and the second unit wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit via said at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- recording the assigned unique addresses together with the information that identifies the first unit and the second unit and the information that identifies said at least one cascading port on the first unit and said cascading port on the second unit, and
- transmitting the recorded unique addresses to the first unit and to the second unit.
A controlling unit for use in a system of interconnected units, the controlling unit comprising:
- input/output circuitry,
- a processor, and
- a memory, said memory containing instructions which, when executed by said processor, instruct said controlling unit to perform a system start-up procedure operative to:
- transmit at least one first request for information to at least one port on the controlling unit, the controlling unit being connected to a first unit via said at least one port on the controlling unit,
- receive, from the first unit, a response to said at least one first request, said response comprising information that identifies the first unit, the information further comprising information that identifies at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- transmit a second request for information to said at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- receive, from a second unit, a response to said second request, said response comprising information that identifies the second unit, the information further comprising information that identifies a cascading port on the second unit,
- assign a respective unique address associated with the first unit and the second unit, wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit via said at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- record the assigned unique addresses together with the information that identifies the first unit and the second unit and the information that identifies said at least one cascading port on the first unit and said cascading port on the second unit, and
- transmit the recorded unique addresses to the first unit and to the second unit.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions which, when executed on at least one processor in a controlling unit for use in a system of interconnected units, cause the controlling unit to perform operations, including a system start-up procedure comprising:
- transmitting at least one first request for information to at least one port on the controlling unit, the controlling unit being connected to a first unit via said at least one port on the controlling unit,
- receiving, from the first unit, a response to said at least one first request, said response comprising information that identifies the first unit, the information further comprising information that identifies at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- transmitting a second request for information to said at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- receiving, from a second unit, a response to said second request, said response comprising information that identifies the second unit, the information further comprising information that identifies a cascading port on the second unit,
- assigning a respective unique address associated with the first unit and the second unit wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit via said at least one cascading port on the first unit,
- recording the assigned unique addresses together with the information that identifies the first unit and the second unit and the information that identifies said at least one cascading port on the first unit and said cascading port on the second unit, and
- transmitting the recorded unique addresses to the first unit and to the second unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.