1. A method of operating an Internet protocol (IP) address, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) in an IP address including a subnet prefix area and an Interface ID area, allocating certain bits of the Interface ID area as an index area of a lowest subnet gateway;
(b) allocating a first combination comprising a first portion of the certain bits and the subnet prefix area as a first subnet ID area for a lower subnet gateway, and allocating a second combination comprising the first portion, a second portion of the certain bits, and the subnet prefix area as a second subnet ID area for a next lower subnet gateway;
(c) recreating an Interface ID using the certain bits, and allocating the Interface ID to terminating equipment having access to an IP network based on a format of the IP address in the lowest subnet gateway;
(d) at a first subnet gateway, allocating the first portion of the certain bits as an index area of the lower subnet gateway;
(e) at the lower subnet gateway, allocating the first portion and the second portion of the certain bits as an index area of the next lower subnet gateway; and
wherein the lower subnet gateway processes input packets using the second combination, determines the next lower subnet gateway according to the second subnet ID area, and transmits the input packets to the next lower subnet gateway.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes:
selecting, from a portion of the Interface ID area that is not included in the certain bits, a value that is not identical to a value allocated to other terminating equipment as a termination identifier;
extracting the certain bits from the subnet ID area; and
allocating a combination comprising the certain bits and the termination identifier as the Interface ID for the terminating equipment.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of, at the subnet gateway, processing input packets using the IP address and transmitting them to the destination.
4. A method of operating an Internet protocol (IP) address, the method comprising:
in an IP area including a subnet prefix area and an Interface ID area, allocating certain bits of the Interface ID area as an index area of a subnet gateway;
allocating the combination of the certain bits and the subnet prefix area as the subnet ID area; and
allocating an Interface ID for terminating equipment having access to an IP network based on a format of the IP address in a lowest subnet gateway; and
at the subnet gateway, processing input packets using the IP address and transmitting them to the destination,
wherein the packet transmission step includes:
at the subnet gateway, checking whether external input packets are to be transmitted to its subnet;
if the packets are to be transmitted to its subnet, masking a certain higher bits of the Interface ID and transmitting the masked packets to the corresponding lower subnet gateway matched thereto;
at the lower subnet gateway, checking whether the packets inputted from the higher subnet gateway are to be transmitted to its subnet; and
if the packets are to be transmitted to its subnet, masking a certain bits following the certain higher bits and forwarding the masked packets to the next lower subnet gateway matched thereto to transmit them to the corresponding destination.
5. A subnet system, comprising:
a first gateway;
a second gateway constituting a first lower layer relative to the first gateway,
wherein an Internet protocol (IP) address of the second gateway uses a first portion of Interface ID area bits of an IP address of the first gateway as a first index area of the second gateway, and an IP address of a third gateway constituting a lower layer relative to the second gateway uses the first portion and a second portion of the Interface ID area bits as a second index area of the third gateway;
wherein the subnet system further comprises a fourth gateway at the first lower layer relative to the first gateway, and an IP address of the fourth gateway uses the first portion of the Interface ID area bits of the IP address of the first gateway as a first index area of the fourth gateway; and
wherein if information is received at the first gateway, a value of the first portion of bits of a destination IP address of the information indicates whether the information is to be routed to the second gateway or to the fourth gateway.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the next lower subnet gateway is the lowest subnet gateway.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A battery charging monitoring and status indication system, comprising:
a battery mounted to an electric vehicle;
a charging coupler port mounted to said electric vehicle and coupled to said battery, the charging coupler port configured to conduct charging energy to said battery;
a charging coupler port door, wherein said charging coupler port door at least partially covers said charging coupler port;
a charging coupler port door switch configured to output a first door status signal when said charging coupler port door is open and to output a second door status signal when said charging coupler port door is closed;
a battery charge state circuit,
wherein said battery charge state circuit is configured to output a first charge state signal when a charging coupler is attached to said charging coupler port and energy is not being transmitted through said charging coupler port,
wherein said battery charge state circuit is configured to output a second charge state signal when said charging coupler is attached to said charging coupler port and when energy is being transmitted through said charging coupler port and when a battery state of charge (SOC) is less than a target SOC, and
wherein said battery charge state circuit is configured to output a third charge state signal when said charging coupler is attached to said charging coupler port and when said battery SOC is greater than said target SOC;
a fault detection circuit configured to output a fault signal when an electrical fault is detected; and
a lighting circuit,
wherein said lighting circuit is configured to activate a first colored status indicator when said charging coupler port door switch outputs said first door status signal and when said battery charge state circuit does not output said first, second or third charge state signals,
wherein said lighting circuit is configured to activate a second colored status indicator when said charging coupler port door switch outputs said first door status signal and said battery charge state circuit outputs said first charge state signal,
wherein said lighting circuit is configured to activate a third colored status indicator when said charging coupler port door switch outputs said first door status signal and said battery charge state circuit outputs said second charge state signal,
wherein said lighting circuit is configured to activate a fourth colored status indicator when said charging coupler door switch output said first door status signal and said battery charge state circuit outputs said third charge state signal, and
wherein said lighting circuit is configured to activate a fifth colored status indicator when said charging coupler door switch output said first door status signal and said fault detection circuit outputs said fault signal.
2. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth colored status indicators are comprised of LEDs.
3. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, further comprising a lens at least partially surrounding said charging coupler port to direct light from said first, second, third, fourth and fifth colored status indicators onto said charging coupler port.
4. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 3, said lens further comprising a diffuser.
5. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 3, said lens further comprising a light pipe disposed between a body panel of said electrical vehicle and said charging coupler port, wherein said light pipe is configured to transmit light from said first, second, third, fourth and fifth colored status indicators to said body panel.
6. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 5, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth colored status indicators are comprised of LEDs configured to illuminate an input surface of said light pipe.
7. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, further comprising a hinge, wherein said hinge couples said charging coupler port door to said electric vehicle.
8. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, further comprising a light pipe, wherein said light pipe is at least partially arcuate and at least partially surrounds said charging coupler port to direct light from said first, second, third, fourth and fifth colored status indicators onto said charging coupler port.
9. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, wherein said first colored status indicator emits white light, wherein said second colored status indicator emits blue light, wherein said third colored status indicator emits yellow light, wherein said fourth colored status indicator emits green light, and wherein said fifth colored status indicator emits red light.
10. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, wherein said lighting circuit is configured to pulse said third colored status indicator when said charging coupler port door switch outputs said first door status signal and said battery charge state circuit outputs said second charge state signal.
11. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 10, wherein said lighting circuit is configured to pulse said third colored status indicator at a first frequency when said battery SOC is less than said target SOC and less than a first charge level, and wherein said lighting circuit is configured to pulse said third colored status indicator at a second frequency when said battery SOC is less than said target SOC and greater than said first charge level.
12. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, wherein said electrical fault is indicative of a battery malfunction.
13. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, wherein said battery is comprised of a plurality of cells.
14. The battery charging monitoring and status indication system of claim 1, wherein said battery is comprised of a plurality of lithium ion cells.