A method for locating devices within a network system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a communication system for facilitating communication on the network. Identification of a network device, preferably a controller or IO device, is based on a physical location of device. Accordingly, the physical location of the network device is determined by a device locator. The physical location of each network device is used to associate a network identifier, i.e., network address, with the network device to facilitate network communication with other devices. The network identifier is associated with the network device in response to a signal transmitted from the network device requesting the network identifier. A mapping method is used to convert a map of physical locations to one or more address tables so as to allow a controlling station to associate the network identifier with the network device for routing messages to and from the device based on the physical location.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of communicating with a controller in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 identifying a location of the controller, the controller having a medium access control (MAC) address;    transmitting a reverse address request protocol (RARP) message, the message including the location of the controller and the medium access control address of the controller;    translating the RARP message into a network identifier; and,    associating the network identifier with the controller.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting an application program to the controller, the application program is selected in response to the network identifier.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a controlling device translates the message into a network identifier, the controlling device includes a floor plan of the communication system.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the location of the controller comprises using a global positioning system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identifying the location of the controller comprises using an assisted global positioning system.  
     
     
         6 . A method of communicating with an IO device in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 identifying a location of the IO device, the IO device having a medium access control (MAC) address;    transmitting a reverse address request protocol (RARP) message, the message including the location of the IO device and the medium access control address of the IO device;    translating the RARP message into a network identifier; and,    associating the network identifier with the IO device.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising transmitting an application program to the IO device, the application program is selected in response to the network identifier.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a controlling device translates the message into a network identifier, the controlling device includes a floor plan of the communication system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of identifying the location of the I/O device further comprises using a global positioning system.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of identifying the location of the I/O device further comprises using an assisted global positioning system.