A process for generating a serial number from a random number is suitable for being used on a device that uses serial number in a bus. First, this process generates a serial number for use from a random number according to a seed number, and then it checks if this generated serial number is repeated in the bus. When this generated serial number is the same as the serial number corresponding to any other devices that are of the same kind as the above mentioned device in the bus, a new serial number for use will be generated.

Patent
   RE40389
Priority
Sep 05 2000
Filed
Nov 14 2005
Issued
Jun 17 2008
Expiry
Sep 05 2020
Assg.orig
Entity
unknown
2
8
EXPIRED
0. 11. A method, comprising:
generating a serial number for use by a device on a bus, wherein the serial number is generated at least in part from a random number based on a seed number, wherein the seed number is taken from an actual operation characteristic of the device; and
determining whether the generated serial number is the same as a serial number corresponding to another device on the bus.
0. 18. An apparatus, comprising:
means for generating a serial number for use by a device on a bus; and
a processor capable of generating a random number based on a seed number, wherein the serial number is based at least in part on the random number based on the seed number, wherein the seed number is taken from an actual operation characteristic associated with the device, and wherein the processor is further adapted to determine whether the generated serial number is the same as a serial number corresponding to another device on the bus.
1. A process for generating a serial number from a random number, which is suitable for being used on a device that uses the serial number in a bus, the process comprising:
generating the serial number for use from a random number based on a seed number, wherein the seed number is taken from an actual operation quantity carried by the device;
checking if the generated serial number is repeated in the bus; and
when the generated serial number is the same as a serial number corresponding to any other device of the bus, regenerating another serial number for the device.
5. A process for generating a serial number from a random number, which is suitable for being used on a device that uses the serial number in a bus, the process comprising:
generating the serial number for use from a random number based on a seed number;
checking if the generated serial number is repeated in the bus; and
when the generated serial number is the same as a serial number corresponding to any other device of the bus, regenerating another serial number for the device,
wherein the device is a scanner, and the seed number is taken from a quantity selected from the group consisting of a variability of increasing of a tube's brightness after the scanner is started, a brightness of a reflected light of a correcting board, a random noise of a charge couple device, and a distance between an edge of the correcting board and a home position of the correcting board.
2. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 1, wherein the seed number is a serial number corresponding to any of other devices in the bus.
3. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 2, wherein the generated serial number for use is formed by the combination of the serial number corresponding to any of the other devices in the bus.
4. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 3, wherein the said serial number is formed by permuting in a random way the said serial number corresponding to any of the other devices in the bus.
6. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 5, wherein said generated serial number for use comprises a plurality of digit bits.
7. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 6, wherein each said digit bit of the generated serial number is generated from the seed number.
8. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 5, wherein the seed number is a serial number corresponding to any of other devices in the bus.
9. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 8, wherein the generated serial number for use is formed by the combination of the serial number corresponding to any of the other devices in the bus.
10. A process for generating a serial number from a random number according to claim 9, wherein the said serial number is formed by permuting in a random way the said serial number corresponding to any of the other devices in the bus.
0. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein generating a serial number for use by a device comprises generating a serial number for use by a scanner.
0. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the seed number is taken from a quantity selected from a group consisting of a variability of a tube's brightness after the scanner is started, a brightness of a reflected light of a correcting board, a random noise of a charge coupled device, and a distance between an edge of the correcting board and a home position of the correcting board.
0. 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a new serial number for use by the device on the bus in response to a determination that the generated serial number is repeated by another device on the bus.
0. 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
checking other devices on the bus to determine whether the generated serial number is being used by another device.
0. 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a new random number and a new serial number in response to a determination that the generated serial number is used by another device on the bus.
0. 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
generating several random numbers using the seed number; and
combining the generated random numbers to form the serial number.
0. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the seed number is taken from a value selected from a group consisting of a variability of a tube's brightness after the scanner is started, a brightness of a reflected light of a correcting board, a random noise of a charge coupled device, and a distance between an edge of the correcting board and a home position of the correcting board.
0. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further adapted to generate a new serial number for use by the device on the bus in response to a determination that the generated serial number is repeated by another device on the bus.
0. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further capable of checking other devices on the bus to determine whether the generated serial number is being used by another device.
0. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further capable of generating a new random number and a new serial number in response to a determination that the generated serial number is used by another device on the bus.
0. 23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further capable of:
generating several random numbers using the seed number; and
combining the generated random numbers to form the serial number.

The present invention relates to a process for generating Aa device that can obtain a seed number with the least need of extra devices. For example, when this device is a scanner, the way to obtain a seed number can be by the variability of the increase of the tube's brightness after the device is started, the brightness of the reflected light of the correcting board, the random noise of the Charge Couple Device, or by the distance between the edge of the correcting board and the home position.

Following Step 110, Step 120 is to generate a serial number from a combination of the random number. In this step, the most typical way is to take directly the random number obtained from Step 110 as the serial number for use. After this, Step 130 determines if the serial number for use obtained from Step 120 repeats the serial number of the other devices of the same kind in the bus. If it repeats, the device goes back to Step 110 to obtain a new seed number and then to obtain a new random number and a new serial number. Of course, it is also possible to renew only the random number without the need to obtain a new seed number.

Apart from this, when the serial number for use includes several digits, Step 110 can be repeated for several times, and a random number is obtained in the process of each repetition. Then the random numbers obtained from every time are combined together in Step 120. In another word words, several random numbers can be taken as digits that form the serial numbers in use number.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of another preferred embodiment according to the invention. In this embodiment, the device that uses the process of the present invention first in Step 210 obtains serial numbers from the other devices of the same kind in the bus, then in Step 220 combines random numbers with these serial numbers, and obtain obtains the serial number of the device according to the result of the combination. Finally, in Step 230 it checks the serial number for use in order to make sure the serial number for use does not repeats repeat the serial numbers of the other devices of the same kind. When the serial number for use repeats the serial numbers of the other devices of the same kind, the device goes back to Step 220 to combine random number numbers and serial numbers again to obtain another serial number for use.

It must be noted that while this invention can be used in devices with a Central Processing Unit, it is not limited to the scanner mentioned herein. In addition, the processes disclosed in the two examples of embodiment embodiments for generating a serial number from a random number can be used together. They do not have to be used separately.

To sum up, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: the invention saves working time and the cost of the relevant component components, and it easily avoids the disturbance caused by the same repeated serial numbers.

While the invention is disclosed above with the preferred examples of embodiment embodiments, the invention is not limited by the preferred examples of emobdiment embodiments. Anyone who is familiar with the art can make various modifications thereto, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Chiu, Chui-Kuei

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