Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-23
2001-01-16
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2756)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
C709S224000, C709S225000, C709S228000, C709S238000, C370S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175867
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods that are used to manage networks that are addressed with common network addresses.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the increase in popularity of the Internet, the widespread deployment of intranets, and the growing use of Internet protocol (IP) based network technologies, many corporations and enterprises have established private networks which have become difficult and costly to manage effectively. Often, such private networks require deployment of large resource pools to service user populations, work forces that are highly skilled in resource management operations, and extensive physical facilities. As such, many enterprises have elected to outsource the management of their networks to third-party service providers. Although outsourcing has enabled enterprises to efficiently and effectively manage their private networks, service providers now face significant problems in managing such networks on behalf of their customers. For example, service providers now face having to manage two or more networks which may use common network addresses for internal network addressing and processing.
The problems associated with managing networks which are addressed by common network addresses are compounded when enterprises use IP technologies. For example, it is well known that there are not enough publicly addressable IP addresses to serve the needs of all who seek to utilize IP technologies. Accordingly, enterprises often must use network addresses in ranges that are approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in standard RFC 1918. The RFC 1918 standard provides the following network address ranges for private IP-based networks:
10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255
Although the above-listed network address ranges have allowed enterprises to adopt corresponding address blocks for internal use, it remains possible for two enterprises to select, adopt, and use one or more of the same network address. Since such a situation would result in two or more enterprises being addressable via a common IP address, service providers face a serious challenge in servicing more than one enterprise. In particular, service providers face deployment of separate resource farms (e.g., separate routers, computing systems, peripherals, etc.) if they desire to service two or more customers with common IP addresses. The costs associated with deploying such resources can outweigh the profits realized from managing a network on behalf of a customer. Such problems can lead to lost sales for service providers and a lack of network management options for enterprises who seek reliable network management services without being required to re-map or re-address their resources.
Thus, there exists a need to provide systems and methods for managing networks which may be addressed with commonly selected network addresses. To be viable such systems and methods must be capable of mapping otherwise common or duplicated network addresses into unique addresses which a management system may use in routing and processing corresponding network packets and data on behalf of a customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the limitations and problems associated with the related art by providing systems and methods that enable commonly used network addresses to properly address network resources within a network data processing environment. The systems and methods provided by the present invention map network addresses into unique network addresses so that network resource addressing is properly performed. Unique network addresses may be based on router assignments relative to a particular private network. As such, two or more enterprises that internally use common network addresses can now have their networks managed by a common management entity without requiring deployment of additional network resources or re-addressing of network resources.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for routing and processing a network packet within a network data processing environment. The system includes a router having an interface for communicating a network packet that includes a network address. The interface has a unique interface identifier relative to the router. The router is configured to map the network address and the unique interface identifier to a unique network address and to replace the network address in the network packet with the unique network address. The system also includes a management system that is coupled to the router. The management system is configured to receive the network packet from the router, to map the unique network address in the network packet to a usage identifier, and to process the network packet and data contained therein based on the usage identifier.
According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is a router for routing a network packet within a network data processing environment. The router includes an interface for communicating a network packet. The network packet includes a network address. The interface has a unique interface identifier relative to the router. The router also includes an address mapping system for mapping the network address and the unique interface identifier to a unique network address, and for replacing the network address in the network packet with the unique network address. The router is configured to route the network packet within the network data processing environment based on the unique network address.
According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is a method for processing a network packet received from a network data processing environment. The method includes a step of receiving a network packet containing a unique network address. The unique network address is based on a network address corresponding to a network element within the network data processing environment. Another step involves mapping the unique network address into a usage identifier corresponding to a network resource addressable within the network data processing environment. An additional step involves processing the network packet based on usage parameters corresponding to the usage identifier
According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is a method for routing a network packet within a network data processing environment. The method includes a step of formatting a network packet for transmission to a network element. The network packet includes a usage identifier and a network address corresponding to the usage identifier. The method further includes the steps of mapping the usage identifier and the network address into a unique network address, inserting the unique network address into the network packet, and routing the network packet to the network element based on the unique network address via the network data processing environment.
According to a another aspect of the present invention, provided is a method for routing and processing a network packet within a network data processing environment. The method includes a step of transmitting a network packet within the network data processing environment. The network packet includes a network address. The method further includes the steps of receiving the network packet, mapping the network address to a unique network address, replacing the network address in the network packet with the unique network address, sending the network address within the network data processing environment based on the unique network address, receiving the network packet, mapping the unique network address in the network packet to a usage identifier, and processing the network packet and data contained therein based on the usage identifier.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4933938 (1990-06-01), Sheehy
patent: 5313465 (1994-05-01), Perlman et al.
patent: 5428615 (1995-06-01), Backes et al.
patent: 5568613 (1996-10-01), Futral
patent: 5636216 (1997-06-01), Fox et al.
patent: 5781550 (1998-06-01), Templin
patent: 5802316
Maung Zarni
MCI World Com, Inc.
Moezz Mahmanzar
LandOfFree
System and method for managing networks addressed via common... 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 managing networks addressed via common..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for managing networks addressed via common... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2525763