US Patent 8654677 Method and apparatus for network identification code assignment

A method and apparatus for registering a remote network device with a network control device. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a network identification code stored within the remote network device and determining if the network identification code comprises a default network identification code. If the network identification code comprises a default network identification code, transmitting a message indicative of a request to join an existing network and determining whether a first response to the transmitted message was received. If a first response to the transmitted message was received, determining a second network identification code from the first response, and assigning the second network identification code to the remote network device.