Process for allocating addresses to newly connected apparatus in a domestic network controlled by a master controller

Process for the allocation of addresses in a domestic network for the distribution of electrical energy in a dwelling, said domestic network using carrier currents for a transmission of information between emitter-receivers (2, 3) called slaves which are connected by a socket (9) to said domestic network, each of said slaves comprising a microcontroller (4, 5) and an EEPROM memory adapted to contain the addresses relative to the slave and to the dwelling and at least one master controller (MC) (6) comprising a display unit (DU) and a microcontroller (7) for information processing which is connected to a programming keyboard (8), said master controller comprising memory storing user programs and the address allocated to each slave located in said dwelling, said process comprising the steps of:

• a) a user activating the master controller (MC) by typing on the keyboard (8) a numeral corresponding to said address to be allocated and for indicating to said master controller (MC) that a new slave is connected to said domestic network and requests the allocation of an address;
• b) awaiting a first message M1 from the slave and starting simultaneously a time-delay at the end of which the master controller (MC) is automatically deactivated if it receives no message from the slave newly connected;
• c) said user actuating a pushbutton (13) on the said newly connected slave which triggers a production by a program (14) of said first message (M1) for requesting the allocation of an address;
• d) sending said first message (M1) onto said domestic network to the master controller (MC);
• e) delaying the transmission of an acknowledgment signal (ACK) from said slave until said slave receives a second message (M2) transmitted by the master controller (MC);
• f) transmitting a second message (M2) to the slave, by the master controller (MC) upon receiving a message (M1), said message (M2) comprising said numeral corresponding to said address allocated by said user of the slave;
• and
• g) storing, in said EEPROM memory of said slave, said allocated address contained in said message (M2), said allocated address thus becoming the address of said slave on said domestic network;
• h) transmitting, through said domestic network, by said slave upon receipt of the message (M2), the acknowledgment signal (ACK) to the master controller (MC).