Proxy methods for IP address assignment and universal access mechanism

• US 20010030977A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Next Level Communications, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Next Level Communications, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: May, Lauren T.
• Application Number:
  US09/745,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030977A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/475
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2881 IP/Ethernet DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

The present invention encompasses a proxy method for providing an IP address to a computer configured for operation on a wide area network using a local area network address assignment format. The method allows a subscriber side network terminal to receive from a locally attached computer an IP address request in a wide area network compatible format and to obtain from a remote server an IP address using a local area network compatible request.

Claims

1. In a data access system, a method of providing an Internet Protocol (IP) address for a computer device, said method comprising:

a) receiving a request from said computer device for an IP address at a subscriber side network terminal, wherein said computer is configured for operation on a wide area network, and wherein said request is in a format compatible with a wide area network;

b) translating the request from the format compatible with a wide area network into a local area network compatible request; and

c) obtaining an IP address for said computer device.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein the local area network compatible request is a dynamic host configuration protocol request.

3. The method described in

claim 1

further characterized in that said computer device establishes a Point-to-Point protocol (PPP) session with said subscriber side network terminal connected to said computer device.

4. The method described in

claim 1

wherein said request takes place within a point-to-point protocol session established between said computer device and said subscriber side network terminal.

5. The method described in

claim 1

further characterized in that said subscriber side network terminal periodically renews an IP address lease for said IP address.

6. The method of

claim 1

wherein said subscriber side terminal periodically renews said IP address lease for said IP address using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease renewal packets.

7. An apparatus for providing connectivity to the Internet over a high speed access network, said apparatus comprising:

a) a protocol stack for receiving a request from a computer device for an IP address, wherein said request is in a format compatible with a wide area network; and

b) a translator for translating said request from said format compatible with a wide area network into a local area network compatible request.

8. The apparatus of

claim 7

wherein the local area network compatible request is a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request.

9. The apparatus of

claim 7

wherein said apparatus supports a connection to a twisted wire pair network using xDSL transmission.

10. The apparatus of

claim 7

wherein said apparatus supports a connection to a hybrid fiber coaxial cable network.

11. A method for use in a network environment for an assignment of Internet Protocol (IP) address, the method comprising:

a) establishing a local Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session between a computer device and a local network interface device to acquire an IP address for the computer device;

b) using a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) between the local network interface device and a remote server to acquire the IP address; and

c) relaying said IP address to the computer device using a PPP-based message.

12. The method of

claim 11

further comprising:

d) periodically sending from the local network interface device a lease renewal message to the server to renew the IP address.

13. A proxy method for a universal access mechanism to a broadband access system, the method comprising:

a) requesting a connection to a broadband access network through a network interface device from a Local Area Network (LAN)-attached device;

b) establishing a Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet (PPPoE) connection to an access server connected to said broadband access network;

c) performing protocol encapsulation and de-encapsulation for relaying messages transmitted between the broadband access network and the LAN-attached device for the duration of the PPPoE connection.