Abstract: A system and corresponding methods for registering network units or nodes into a data communication network is provided. The data communication network includes a base node that controls one or more other remote nodes on the network. The base node automatically sets-up or initializes the network when the number and identity of the remote nodes is not previously known. In one embodiment, the base node utilizes a concurrent, bit-wise serial transmission of addresses from the remote nodes to determine the highest valued address among the responding remote nodes. A responding remote node with a higher value address is registered prior to another responding remote node with a lower value address. The remote node with the lower value address withdraws at some point during the registration process when the remote node determines that there is another responding remote node with a higher value address. Once registration has occurred, the base node can communicate with the registered remote node.

Abstract: Parallel data busses are embedded in multiple parallel grooves that are inscribed onto the exterior surface of a rectangular substrate or a cylindrical substrate that has a cylindrical hole running through the center thereof. These grooves which run along the length of the substrate may contain a suitable polymeric optical medium such as plexiglass or lexan or left entirely vacant to be filled with air. Optical transceivers placed to be orthogonal to the data busses and reflective conical structures positioned within the busses expedite the injection and retrieval of optical signals travelling through the data busses.