Automatic device ordering

Abstract

For automatic device addressing, a processor configures each node device on a serial network for an order measurement. The processor further measures an order parameter for each of the node devices. The processor determines an order number of each of the node devices based on the order parameter for the node device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing code executable by the processor to perform:   configuring each node device on a serial network for an order measurement;   measuring an order parameter for each of the node devices; and   determining an order number of each of the node devices based on the order parameter for the node device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the processor further assigning a serial network unique device address to each of the node devices based on the order number of the node device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the processor further communicating with a node device based on the device address. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one node device comprises at least one node component presenting a constant Direct Current (DC) resistance in series with data lines of the serial network and configuring each of the node devices comprises applying a specified current to the data lines and directing each node device to report a node voltage and a node device identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein measuring the order parameter comprises receiving the node voltage as the order parameter associated with the node device identifier, wherein the order number is from highest to lowest node voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein configuring each of node devices comprises iteratively directing one of the node devices to communicate an answering pulse and directing all other of the node devices to not communicate the answering pulse. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein measuring the order parameter comprises transmitting a pulse over the data lines, receiving an answering pulse selected from the group consisting of a reflection of the pulse and a response pulse generated by the node device and measuring the order parameter as a time of flight for the answering pulse over the data lines from transmitting the pulse to receiving the answering pulse. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least one node device comprises at least one node component to increase the time-of-flight in series with data lines of the serial network. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 configuring, by use of a processor, each node device on a serial network for an order measurement;   measuring an order parameter for each of the node devices; and   determining an order number of each of the node devices based on the order parameter for the node device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the method further assigning a serial network unique device address to each of the node devices based on the order number of the node device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , the method further comprising communicating with a node device based on the device address. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one node device comprises at least one node component presenting a constant Direct Current (DC) resistance in series with data lines of the serial network and configuring each of the node devices comprises applying a specified current to the data lines and directing each node device to report a node voltage and a node device identifier. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein measuring the order parameter comprises receiving the node voltage as the order parameter associated with the node device identifier, wherein the order number is from highest to lowest node voltage. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein configuring each of node devices comprises iteratively directing one of the node devices to communicate an answering pulse and directing all other of the node devices to not communicate the answering pulse. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein measuring the order parameter comprises transmitting a pulse over the data lines, receiving an answering pulse selected from the group consisting of a reflection of the pulse and a response pulse generated by the node device and measuring the order parameter as a time of flight for the answering pulse over the data lines from transmitting the pulse to receiving the answering pulse. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one node device comprises at least one node component to increase the time-of-flight in series with data lines of the serial network. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having code embodied therein, the code readable/executable by a processor to perform:
 configuring each node device on a serial network for an order measurement;   measuring an order parameter for each of the node devices; and   determining an order number of each of the node devices based on the order parameter for the node device.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , the processor further assigning a serial network unique device address to each of the node devices based on the order number of the node device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein at least one node device comprises at least one node component presenting a constant Direct Current (DC) resistance in series with data lines of the serial network and configuring each of the node devices comprises applying a specified current to the data lines and directing each node device to report a node voltage and a node device identifier. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein measuring the order parameter comprises receiving the node voltage as the order parameter associated with the node device identifier, wherein the order number is from highest to lowest node voltage.