Reference-based automatic address assignment system and method for a material handling system

A method for automatic address assignment in a material handling system having a conveying surface divided into a plurality of zones, a plurality of motors each propelling a zone of the conveying surface, a plurality of lower level controllers, a plurality of sensors, each adapted to identify the presence of an article on said conveying surface to an associated lower level controller and an upper level controller in communication with said lower level controllers over a network, the method comprising:

• transporting a reference package on the conveying surface of the material handling system;
• detecting the presence of the reference package with at least one sensor as the package travels along the conveying surface of the material handling system;
• sending a detection signal from the at least one sensor to an associated lower level controller as the package is detected by the at least one sensor;
• sending a notification signal from said lower lever controller to said upper level controller in response to receiving said detection signal;
• in response to said notification signal, determining a unique communication address to be assigned to said lower level controller;
• and
• sending from said upper level controller a unique communication address assignment over the network to said lower level controller, said lower level controller assigning itself the unique communication address in response to said unique communication address assignment.