System and method for resolving an electronic address

Details System and method for resolving an electronic address System and method for resolving an electronic address

1999-01-21

2004-04-20

Ho, Duc (Department: 2662)

Multiplex communications

Data flow congestion prevention or control

Control of data admission to the network

C370S401000, C370S486000, C709S230000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06724724

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to communication over a computer network. In particular, the present invention relates to translating an address from one protocol to another in a network environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A network is a data communication system that links two or more computers and peripheral devices. It may allow users to access resources on other computers and exchange messages with other users. A network may allow users to share resources on their own systems with other network users and to access information on centrally located systems or systems that are located at remote offices. It may provide connections to the Internet or the networks of other organizations. Users may interact with network-enabled software applications to make a network request (such as to get a file or print on a network printer). The application then communicates with the network software and the network software interacts with the network hardware. The network hardware is typically responsible for transmitting information to other devices attached to the network.
It is now common to communicate by establishing a connection through two or more networks, such as through the Internet. These various networks may use different communication protocols (packet data protocols) from each other, but should still be able to communicate with each other. For example,
FIG. 1
shows various networks
12
-
16
coupled with various devices
10
,
18
-
22
. Assume that device
10
is attempting to communicate with device
22
. Devices
10
and
22
may be hosts with protocol specific addresses, such as X.25 protocol specific addresses. Between device
10
and device
22
are network
12
, router
18
, network
14
, router
20
, and network
16
.
Each of the networks may work with a selected packet data protocol. Examples of packet data protocols include transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), X.25, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), frame relay, and Network Service Access Point (NSAP). These are examples of wide area network (WAN) protocols. WANs may link geographically dispersed offices in other cities or around the globe. Practically any long distance communication medium can serve as a WAN link, including switched and permanent telephone circuits, terrestrial radio systems, and satellite systems. For example, the network
12
may be located in Australia, while network
16
may be located in the U.S., with a connection through a third network
14
, such as the Internet or a third party network.
In this example, network
12
and network
16
uses X.25 protocol, while network
14
uses TCP/IP. An IP address uniquely identifies a device in the network. This IP address identifies the device in TCP/IP. However, the same device may also have another protocol specific address, such as an X.25 address (sometimes referred to as an x.121 address) which uniquely identifies that device in the X.25 network. Accordingly, devices
10
and
22
may each have multiple addresses uniquely identifying that device in various protocols.
When device
10
attempts to establish communication with device
22
, device
10
may identify or obtain device
22
's X.25 address and contact network
12
. From network
12
, communication should be established to network
14
, then to network
16
to establish communication with device
22
. However, since network
12
utilizes X.25 protocol and network
14
utilizes TCP/IP, router
18
must typically translate device
22
's address from its X.25 address to its TCP/IP address. Likewise, if device
22
was attempting to establish communication with device
10
, then router
20
would translate the X.25 address for device
10
into a TCP/IP address for device
10
.
Each router
18
,
22
typically maintains a table of address translations, such as the translation of device
22
's X.25 address to device
22
's TCP/IP address. These addresses are typically hard coded into the routers
18
-
20
. Accordingly, if an address for a device changes, then each router
18
-
20
that includes that device's address will typically need to be accessed and the address will have to be changed. Since it is fairly common for a network to have its address scheme changed, it may be substantially time consuming to ensure that each router that contained each of the changed addresses is accessed and updated. Additionally, the process of individually changing an address in all the routers that maintain that address may be error prone.
It would be desirable to have an address resolution system and method that allows dynamic changes to addresses and avoid the need to access each router containing the address to change that address. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method according to an embodiment of the present invention for translating an electronic address is presented. The method comprises sending a first protocol specific address from a first device. A second protocol address is received by the first device, wherein the second protocol address has been determined to be associated with the first protocol specific address.
A system according to an embodiment of the present invention for translating an electronic address is also presented. The system comprises a processor configured to send a first protocol specific address, the processor also configured to receive a second protocol specific address that has been determined to be associated with the first protocol specific address. The system also includes a network interface coupled to the processor configured to interface with a network.
Another system for translating an electronic address according to an embodiment of the present invention is also presented. The system comprises a processor configured to receive a first protocol specific address from a first device. The processor is also configured to determine a second protocol specific address associated with the first protocol specific address, and to send the second protocol address to the first device. The system also includes a memory to provide instructions to the processor.
Another method for translating an electronic address is also presented. The method comprises providing a first protocol specific address from a first device; determining a second protocol specific address associated with the first protocol specific address; and sending the second protocol address to the first device.


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