APIPA

Also known as autonet, zero configuration network, zeroconf, APIPA, short for Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing is a type of network that requires very little or no configuration of a DHCP, DNS, or manual IP settings and allows a user to connect a computer or hardware device to a network and have it work immediately.

Stuart Cheshire lead the way to zeroconf that is now widely used in bonjour an Apple Computer method of easily connecting network devices.

Also see: DHCP, Network definitions