Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing – Network resource allocating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-17
2003-09-09
Lim, Krisna (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
Network resource allocating
C709S227000, C709S229000, C370S431000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06618757
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to communication network technology and capacity enhancement in connection with coupling a private Internet Protocol (IP) network of a service provider to a public IP network, and more particularly, to a system and method for dynamic IP address management.
Communications service providers can include third generation (3G) terrestrial wireless providers, satellite service providers, Local Exchange Providers, long distance service providers, bandwidth (BW) resellers, enterprise service providers, or any other similar communications service provider. As the telecommunications services industry matures, it is highly probable that the communication service providers will offer some form of Internet based service.
When a service provider offers an Internet based service, the service provider must allocate IP addresses to its subscribers. As the number of Internet services proliferates and the number of users of these services increases exponentially, public IP addresses will become a scarce resource. Accordingly, IP address management will become a critical problem.
Currently, service providers assign private IP addresses (e.g. in the form of 192.x.x.x, where x represents any interger) to subscribers for use within the service provider's private network (or networks). Concurrent in time, more than one service provider may have assigned the same address to one of its respective subscribers or customers. Such an assignment of private IP addresses works fine if all of the respective user activities stay within the corresponding private network.
On the other hand, any request by a user to access the public Internet requires the assignment of a unique public IP address. In connection with accessing the public Internet, service providers have a prescribed set of public IP addresses available to assign to respective subscribers. Equipped with a public IP address, a subscriber may then access the public Internet.
FIG. 1
illustrates a current architecture
10
known in the industry. The current architecture
10
includes a private IP network
12
coupled to the public Internet
14
through a gateway (GW)
16
. The service provider of the private IP network assigns public IP addresses to subscribers via a Dynamic Host Configuration Processor (DHCP)
18
and a Network Address Translator (NAT)
20
. The NAT
20
maintains a table of entries for keeping track of current external (public) IP address(es) that are associated with an active subscriber's internal (private) address. When a private network subscriber desires to access the external Internet
14
, the GW
16
sends a request to the DHCP
18
. In response to the request, the DHCP
18
assigns an available unique external IP address for the respective subscriber to use for external activities. When the subscriber is finished (or ends an external Internet access session), the subscriber informs the GW
16
. The GW
16
then sends a release message to the DHCP
18
, wherein the external IP address is again made available for use.
In addition to the above, the service provider may associate a time limit with a particular external IP address, while allowing for extensions of time to be requested. In such an instance, the subscriber can request extensions if the subscriber needs the external IP address for a longer time duration. Unfortunately, this latter method puts control of the external IP address at the mercy of the subscriber.
A disadvantage of this prior method is that the critical limited resource of external IP addresses is not effectively managed and the external IP addresses are subject to becoming unavailable during high usage demand times.
Accordingly, a suitable method for Internet address management is needed.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment, an architecture for dynamic IP address management includes a gateway (GW) coupled between a private IP network and a public IP network. A dynamic host configuration processor (DHCP) is operatively coupled to the GW. Lastly, a dynamic IP address management (DIPAM) processor is operatively coupled to the GW and the DHCP, for dynamically assigning to a private IP network subscriber equipment an external IP address and a corresponding IP address hold time as a function of an application to be performed. Assignment of the external IP address and a corresponding IP address hold time is in response to a) a request for accessing the public IP network by a subscriber equipment of the private IP network to perform the application or b) a request for accessing the private IP network by an entity of the public IP network. The external IP address is selected from a prescribed number of external IP addresses available to the private IP network.
A technical advantage is that the present embodiments provide an innovative architecture for dynamic IP address management for improving the efficiency of external IP address allocation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5812819 (1998-09-01), Rodwin et al.
patent: 6012088 (2000-01-01), Li et al.
patent: 6178455 (2001-01-01), Schutte et al.
patent: 6185184 (2001-02-01), Mattaway et al.
patent: 6226678 (2001-05-01), Mattaway et al.
patent: 6381646 (2002-04-01), Zhang et al.
patent: 6381650 (2002-04-01), Peacock
patent: 6393484 (2002-05-01), Massarani
patent: 6427170 (2002-07-01), Sitaraman et al.
patent: 6490289 (2002-12-01), Zhang et al.
patent: 6529517 (2003-03-01), Hrastar et al.
patent: 6535918 (2003-03-01), Bender et al.
patent: 6542935 (2003-04-01), Ishii
“The IP Network Address Translator (NAT),” Network Working Group, May 1994, written by K. Egevang and P. Francis.
“Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol,” Network Working Group, Mar. 1997, written by R. Droms.
“An Empirical Model of HTTP Network Traffic,” 1997 IEEE, pp. 592-600, Written by Bruce A. Mah.
“A Parameterizable Methodology for Internet Traffic Flow Profiling,” IEEE Journal on Selected Area in Communications, vol. 13, No. 8, Oct. 1995, written by Kimberly C. Claffy, Hans-Werner Braun, and George C. Polyzos.
“Self-Similarity in World Wide Web Traffic: Evidence and Possible Causes,” IEEE Journal on Selected Area in Communications, vol. 5, No. 6, Dec. 199y, written by Mark E. Crovella and Azer Bestavros.
“On the Relationship Between File Sizes, Transport Protocols, and Self-Similar Network Traffic,” 1996 IEEE, written by Kihong Park, Gitae Kim, and Mark Crovella.
“Digital Cellular Telecommunications System (Phase 2+);” General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Service Description; Stage 2 (GSM 03.60 version 7.3.0 Release 1998), ETSI EN 301 344 v7.3.0 (Dec. 1999).
Abu-Amara Hosame
Babbitt Jeffrey G.
Haynes and Boone L.L.P.
Lim Krisna
Nortel Networks Limited
LandOfFree
System and method for dynamic IP address management does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for dynamic IP address management, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for dynamic IP address management will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3102402