US6434627B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
IP network for accomodating mobile users with incompatible network addressing
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
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Filing: 1999-03-15
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Granted: 2002-08-13
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Expires: 2019-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An flexible address translation method allows a computer network to automatically learn that a visiting node has attached and then automatically establish a virtual gateway so that the visiting node can communicate through the network with local nodes, other visiting nodes, and/or Internet sites. The network performs an address translation to enable the connectivity of the visiting node. The network maintains one or more globally unique outside addresses that point to it. In other words, packets addressed to the one or more outside addresses are routed to the network. When a visiting node connects to the network, the network translates the source address of packets from the node to a particular one of its outside addresses. The network also replaces destination addresses in packets received by the network that are addressed to the particular outside address. Specifically, the network replaces the globally unique outside address with the “home” address of the visiting node. Thereafter, the packet is forwarded to the visiting node, which is now connected to the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark E. Millet
- 👤 Chi-Shing Ng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/09; H04L61/10; H04L61/25; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/26; H04W80/00; H04W80/04; H04W88/00; H04W88/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of providing network connections for visiting nodes at a remote network, the visiting nodes being configured to connect through a home network that is remote from the remote network, the method comprising: establishing a virtual gateway on the remote network for a visiting node by responding to a message from the visiting node addressed to a default gateway on the home network of the visiting node, which virtual gateway behaves as the home default gateway for the visiting node; and in a packet received at the virtual gateway, switching a home IP address of the visiting node with a globally unique outside address provided by the remote network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of providing network connections for visiting nodes at a remote network, the visiting nodes being configured to connect through a home network that is remote from the remote network, the method comprising: establishing a virtual gateway on the remote network for a visiting node by responding to a message from the visiting node addressed to a default gateway on the home network of the visiting node, which virtual gateway behaves as the home default gateway for the visiting node; and in a packet received at the virtual gateway, switching a home IP address of the visiting node with a globally unique outside address provided by the remote network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the virtual gateway comprises sending a default gateway packet to the visiting node, the default gateway packet indicating that the remote network can handle Internet traffic from the visiting node.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the default gateway packet identifies a gateway node on the remote network that is configured to act as virtual gateway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the default gateway packet is a reply to a default gateway ARP packet sent by the visiting node.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein switching the home IP address with a globally unique outside address takes place when the packet is sent from the visiting node, and wherein the source IP address of such packets is replaced with the globally unique outside address.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising forwarding the packet to a destination on the Internet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein switching the home IP address with a globally unique outside address takes place when the packet has the globally unique outside address as a destination IP address, and wherein the destination IP address of the packet is replaced with the home IP address of the visiting node.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a translation entry specifying the home IP address of the visiting node and the globally unique outside address.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the address translation entry specifies a destination IP address for node on the Internet with which the visiting node communicates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising checking a list of translation entries to identify the home IP address of the visiting node and the globally unique outside address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the visiting node has made a Domain Name System request addressed to a home name server that is not on the remote network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising redirecting the Domain Name Service request to a remote name server to which the remote network is configured to submit Domain Name Service requests.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus configured to provide network connections for visiting nodes at a remote network, the visiting nodes being configured to connect through a home network that is remote from the remote network, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors; a memory in communication with at least one of the processors; an address translation list including one or more translation entries, each specifying a home IP address of the visiting node and a globally unique outside address, wherein the globally unique outside address is provided by the remote network and the home IP address is the IP address of the visiting node on its home network, and wherein at least one of the processors and the memory is configured or designed to act as a virtual gateway on the remote network for a visiting node, which virtual gateway behaves as the home default gateway for the visiting node by responding to a message from the visiting node addressed to a default gateway on the home network of the visiting node.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus configured to provide network connections for visiting nodes at a remote network, the visiting nodes being configured to connect through a home network that is remote from the remote network, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors; a memory in communication with at least one of the processors; an address translation list including one or more translation entries, each specifying a home IP address of the visiting node and a globally unique outside address, wherein the globally unique outside address is provided by the remote network and the home IP address is the IP address of the visiting node on its home network, and wherein at least one of the processors and the memory is configured or designed to act as a virtual gateway on the remote network for a visiting node, which virtual gateway behaves as the home default gateway for the visiting node by responding to a message from the visiting node addressed to a default gateway on the home network of the visiting node.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the virtual gateway sends a default gateway packet to the visiting node, which default gateway packet indicating that the remote network can handle Internet traffic from the visiting node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the default gateway packet identifies a gateway node on the remote network that is configured to act as virtual gateway.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the default gateway packet is a reply to a default gateway ARP packet sent by the visiting node.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein an address translation entry specifies a destination IP address for node on the Internet with which the visiting node communicates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the processor is configured or designed to determine the visiting node has made a Domain Name System request addressed to a home name server that is not on the remote network; and then redirect the Domain Name Service request to a remote name server to which the remote network is configured to submit Domain Name Service requests.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is a network device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is a router.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising an operating system that configures the apparatus to act as the virtual gateway.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising an operating system that configures the apparatus to perform address translation by switching the globally unique outside address and the home IP address on packets to and from the visiting node.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
134 words
A computer program product comprising: (a) a machine readable medium; and (b) program instructions contained in the machine readable medium, the program instructions specifying a method for providing network connections for visiting nodes at a remote network, the visiting nodes being configured to connect through a home network that is remote from the remote network, the method comprising: establishing a virtual gateway on the remote network for a visiting node by responding to a message from the visiting node addressed to a default gateway on the home network of the visiting node, which virtual gateway behaves as the home default gateway for the visiting node; and in a packet received at the virtual gateway, switching a home IP address of the visiting node with a globally unique outside address provided by the remote network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
134 words
A computer program product comprising: (a) a machine readable medium; and (b) program instructions contained in the machine readable medium, the program instructions specifying a method for providing network connections for visiting nodes at a remote network, the visiting nodes being configured to connect through a home network that is remote from the remote network, the method comprising: establishing a virtual gateway on the remote network for a visiting node by responding to a message from the visiting node addressed to a default gateway on the home network of the visiting node, which virtual gateway behaves as the home default gateway for the visiting node; and in a packet received at the virtual gateway, switching a home IP address of the visiting node with a globally unique outside address provided by the remote network.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein establishing the virtual gateway comprises sending a default gateway packet to the visiting node, the default gateway packet indicating that the remote network can handle Internet traffic from the visiting node, and wherein the default gateway packet is a reply to a default gateway ARP packet sent by the visiting node.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein switching the home IP address with a globally unique outside address takes place when the packet is sent from the visiting node, and wherein the source IP address of such packets is replaced with the globally unique outside address.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein switching the home IP address with a globally unique outside address takes place when the packet has the globally unique outside address as a destination IP address, and wherein the destination IP address of the packet is replaced with the home IP address of the visiting node.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , further comprising program instructions for creating a translation entry specifying the home IP address of the visiting node and the globally unique outside address.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , further comprising program instructions for checking a list of translation entries to identify the home IP address of the visiting node and the globally unique outside address.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , further comprising program instructions for determining that the visiting node has made a Domain Name System request addressed to a home name server that is not on the remote network; and redirecting the Domain Name Service request to a remote name server to which the remote network is configured to submit Domain Name Service requests.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-12 | 2006-02-11 | 2006-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-12 | 2010-02-11 | 2010-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-12 | 2014-02-11 | 2014-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |