Relative addressing for network elements

[0022]The figures depict a preferred embodiment of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One of skill in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the claimed invention.

[0023]FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a relative address protocol 400 of the present invention. The relative address protocol 400 of the present invention may be used for communicating message packets along a portion of a network acting as a network chain of nodes coupled by data links. It will be understood that chain networks include sections of networks that function like linear chain networks over a portion of the network. As used in this application, the term “node” includes the broad meaning that a node is a point in a network where at least two data communication lines are interconnected. This includes conventional network nodes that couple dat...