Methods and apparatus for configuring multiple logical networks of devices on a single physical network

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for configuring multiple logical networks that share a common transmission medium are presented. According to an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for configuring multiple logical networks of devices on a single physical network includes a transceiver configured to exchange information with devices connected to a shared bus of the physical network. The apparatus includes logic configured to assign a network number to a new logical network when the apparatus is first activated on the shared bus, the assigned network number being different from network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus. Also, the apparatus includes logic configured to enter into a configuration mode for a limited amount of time, during which time the apparatus is capable of participating in a configuration session with at least one of the devices connected to the bus. The apparatus further includes logic configured to assign a logical address to the at least one device while participating in the configuration session with the at least one device, the assigned logical address being different from all logical addresses associated with devices belonging to other logical networks on the physical network. After configuration, the at least one device responds only to information addressed to its assigned logical address within the new logical network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for configuring multiple logical networks of devices on a single physical network, the apparatus comprising: 
 a transceiver configured to exchange information with devices connected to a shared bus of the physical network;    logic configured to assign a network number to a new logical network when the apparatus is first activated on the shared bus, the assigned network number being different from network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus;    logic configured to enter into a configuration mode for a limited amount of time, during which time the apparatus is capable of participating in a configuration session with at least one of the devices connected to the bus; and    logic configured to assign a logical address to the at least one device while participating in the configuration session with the at least one device, the assigned logical address being different from all logical addresses associated with devices belonging to other logical networks on the physical network;    wherein after configuration, the at least one device responds only to information addressed to its assigned logical address within the new logical network.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the logic configured to assign a network number comprises: 
 logic configured to identify the network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the logic configured to assign a logical network number comprises: 
 logic configured to assign a node address to the at least one device; and    logic configured to combine the network number assigned to the new logical network with the node address assigned to the at least one device to form the logical address of the at least one device.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the logic configured to assign a node address is further configured to assign a unique node address to each device belonging to the new logical network.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the logic configured to enter into a configuration mode comprises: 
 logic configured to monitor network traffic on the shared bus;    logic configured to search the network traffic for information relating to the at least one device; and    logic configured to enter into the configuration mode based on the information relating to the at least one device.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the logic configured to enter into a configuration mode comprises: 
 a switch that, when activated, enables the apparatus to enter into the configuration mode.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 logic configured to accept a request from the at least one device to enter the configuration session with the apparatus only while the apparatus is operating in its configuration mode.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 logic configured to generate a network encryption key associated with the new logical network for encrypting/decrypting information exchanged among devices belonging to the new logical network.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the logic configured to generate a network encryption key comprises: 
 a random number generator that uses the network number assigned to the new logical network as a seed for generating the network encryption key.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 logic configured to accept a one-time encryption key associated with the at least one device.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the logic configured to accept a onetime encryption key comprises at least one of: 
 a keypad; and    a barcode reader.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 logic configured to encrypt/decrypt information exchanged over the bus between the at least one device and the apparatus during the configuration session using the one-time encryption key.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the information encrypted/decrypted using the one-time key includes at least the logical address assigned to the at least one device and a network encryption key associated with the new logical network for encrypting/decrypting information exchanged among devices belonging to the new logical network.  
     
     
         14 . An arrangement of multiple logical networks of devices operating on a single physical network, the arrangement comprising: 
 a shared bus;    a number of devices connected to the shared bus; and    a network configuration apparatus (NCA) associated with each logical network operating on the physical network, each NCA including 
 a transceiver configured to exchange information with the devices connected to the shared bus;  
 logic configured to assign a network number to the logical network associated with the NCA when the NCA is first activated on the shared bus, the assigned network number being different from network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus;  
 logic configured to enter into a configuration mode for a limited amount of time, during which time the NCA is capable of participating in a configuration session with at least one of the devices connected to the bus; and  
 logic configured to assign a logical address to the at least one device while participating in the configuration session with the at least one device, the assigned logical address being different from all logical addresses associated with devices belonging to other logical networks on the physical network;  
   wherein after configuration, the at least one device responds only to information addressed to its assigned logical address within the logical network associated with the NCA.    
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the logic configured to assign a network number comprises: 
 logic configured to identify the network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus.    
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the logic configured to assign a logical network number comprises: 
 logic configured to assign a node address to the at least one device; and    logic configured to combine the network number assigned to the logical network associated with the NCA with the node address assigned to the at least one device to form the logical address of the at least one device.    
     
     
         17 . The arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the logic configured to assign a node address is further configured to assign a unique node address to each device belonging to the logical network associated with the NCA.  
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the logic configured to enter into a configuration mode comprises: 
 logic configured to monitor network traffic on the shared bus;    logic configured to search the network traffic for information relating to the at least one device; and    logic configured to enter into the configuration mode based on the information relating to the at least one device.    
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the logic configured to enter into a configuration mode comprises: 
 a switch that, when activated, enables the NCA to enter into the configuration mode.    
     
     
         20 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein each NCA further includes: 
 logic configured to accept a request from the at least one device to enter the configuration session with the NCA only while the NCA is operating in its configuration mode.    
     
     
         21 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one device comprises: 
 logic configured to enter into a configuration mode for a limited amount of time, during which time the at least one of the device is capable of participating in the configuration session with the NCA.    
     
     
         22 . The arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein the logic configured to enter into a configuration mode included in the at least one device comprises: 
 logic configured to enter the configuration mode after a predetermined amount of time elapses from a time when the at least one device is connected to the shared bus.    
     
     
         23 . The arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein the logic configured to enter into a configuration mode included in the at least one device comprises: 
 a switch that, when activated, enables the at least one device to enter into the configuration mode.    
     
     
         24 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one device comprises: 
 logic configured to accept a solicitation from the NCA to enter the configuration session with the at least one device only while the at least one device is operating in a configuration mode for a limited amount of time.    
     
     
         25 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein each NCA further includes: 
 logic configured to generate a network encryption key for the logical network associated with the NCA, the network encryption key for encrypting/decrypting information exchanged among devices belonging to the logical network associated with the NCA.    
     
     
         26 . The arrangement of  claim 25 , wherein the logic configured to generate a network encryption key comprises: 
 a random number generator that uses the network number assigned to the logical network associated with the NCA as a seed for generating the network encryption key.    
     
     
         27 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the NCA further includes: 
 logic configured to accept a one-time encryption key associated with the at least one device.    
     
     
         28 . The arrangement of  claim 27 , wherein the logic configured to accept a one-time encryption key comprises at least one of: 
 a keypad; and    a barcode reader.    
     
     
         29 . The arrangement of  claim 27 , where the NCA further includes: 
 logic configured to encrypt/decrypt information exchanged over the bus between the at least one device and the NCA during the configuration session using the one-time encryption key.    
     
     
         30 . The arrangement of  claim 29 , wherein the information encrypted/decrypted using the one-time key includes at least the logical address assigned to the at least one device and a network encryption key for the logical network associated with the NCA, the network encryption key for encrypting/decrypting information exchanged among devices belonging to the logical network associated with the NCA.  
     
     
         31 . A method for configuring multiple logical networks of devices connected to a shared bus of a single physical network, the method comprising the steps of: 
 assigning a network number to a new logical network, the assigned network number being different from network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus;    entering into a configuration mode for a limited amount of time, during which time a configuration session is capable of being established with at least one of the devices connected to the bus; and    assigning a logical address to the at least one device during the configuration session, the assigned logical address being different from all logical addresses associated with devices belonging to other logical networks on the physical network;    wherein after configuration, the at least one device responds only to information addressed to its assigned logical address within the new logical network.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of assigning a network number comprises the step of: 
 identifying the network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of assigning a logical network number comprises the steps of: 
 assigning a node address to the at least one device; and    combining the network number assigned to the new logical network with the node address assigned to the at least one device to form the logical address of the at least one device.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of assigning a node address includes the step of: 
 assigning a unique node address to each device belonging to the new logical network.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of entering into a configuration mode comprises the steps of: 
 monitoring network traffic on the shared bus;    searching the network traffic for information relating to the at least one device; and    entering the configuration mode based on the information relating to the at least one device.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of entering into a configuration mode comprises the step of: 
 entering into the configuration mode in response to the activation of a switch.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of: 
 accepting a request from the at least one device to enter the configuration session only while operating in the configuration mode.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of: 
 in the at least one device, entering into a configuration mode for a limited amount of time, during which time the at least one of the device is capable of participating in the configuration session.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of entering into a configuration mode in the at least one device comprises the step of: 
 entering the configuration mode after a predetermined amount of time elapses from a time when the at least one device is connected to the shared bus.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of entering into a configuration mode in the at least one device comprises the step of: 
 entering into the configuration mode in response to the activation of a switch included in the at least one device.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , further including the step of: 
 in the at least one device, accepting a solicitation to enter the configuration session only while the at least one device is operating in a configuration mode for a limited amount of time.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the steps of: 
 generating a network encryption key associated with the new logical network; and    encrypting/decrypting information exchanged among devices belonging to the new logical network using the generated network encryption key.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of generating a network encryption key comprises the step of: 
 generating a random number using the network number assigned to the new logical network associated as a seed.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of: 
 accepting a one-time encryption key associated with the at least one device.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one-time encryption key is accepted using at least one of: 
 a keypad; and    a barcode reader.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising the step of: 
 encrypting/decrypting information exchanged with the at least one device during the configuration session using the one-time encryption key.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the information encrypted/decrypted using the one-time key includes at least the logical address assigned to the at least one device and a network encryption key associated with the new logical network for encrypting/decrypting information exchanged among devices belonging to the new logical network.