Integrated circuit and method for bringing an integrated circuit to execute instructions

A method for configuring each among a plurality of networked devices coupled to a network as a node among a plurality of nodes and the networked device including a cache memory, a main memory and a device type identifier corresponding to a group of the plurality of networked devices, and the method for configuring comprising the acts performed on the networked device of:

• receiving an initial data packet including transitory program code from a node among the plurality of nodes on the network;
• executing the transitory program code to perform the acts of;
• a) placing the device type identifier and a random identifier in a first data packet on the network with a destination address corresponding to a source address contained in the initial data packet;
• b) accepting a second data packet from the node on the basis of the random identifier contained therein, and the second data packet containing a unique network address and a program code segment suitable for enabling the operation of the networked device;
• and
• c) assigning as a network address for the networked device the unique network address in said second data packet;
• processing the program code segment to enable the networked device.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a processing unit;
• a port for external communication;
• memory means;
• and
• a switching means for switching the circuit between a working mode and an initiating mode, wherein the circuit in the initiating mode, is adapted to bring the processing unit to execute external instructions received from an external initiating signal.

A method for bringing an integrated circuit to execute instructions, comprising the acts performed on the integrated circuit of:

• bringing the integrated circuit into an initiating mode, wherein it is adapted for receiving an external initiating signal including external instructions;
• receiving said external signal;
• and
• processing said external instructions.