Method and apparatus for discovering Internet addresses
First Claim
1. A method for discovering Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, comprising:
- determining whether an intermediary Network Address Translator (NAT) resides between a local NAT and a public Internet network;
enabling a local address return service when no intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and a public Internet network; and
disabling the local address return service and using a remote address return service when the intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and a public Internet network.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Local address return services reduce the burden on central address return servers. A local client determines whether an intermediary Network Address Translator (NAT) resides between a local NAT and a public Internet network. The local address return service is enabled when no intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and the public Internet network. The local address return service is disabled and the central address return service is used when an intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and the public Internet network. In one embodiment, the local client is a Simple Traversal of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) Through Network Address Translators (NATS) (STUN) client and the local and central address return services are STUN servers.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for discovering Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, comprising:
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determining whether an intermediary Network Address Translator (NAT) resides between a local NAT and a public Internet network;
enabling a local address return service when no intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and a public Internet network; and
disabling the local address return service and using a remote address return service when the intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and a public Internet network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A network processing device, comprising:
- a processor operating a client that determines whether the network processing device operates within a public network or operates within a private network, the processor enabling or disabling a local address discovery service depending upon whether the network processing device operates within the public network or within the private network.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A network device, comprising:
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memory storing a list of address locations for address discovery devices used for identifying addresses for Network Address Translators (NATs); and
a processor using a remote address discovery device to discover the address for an intermediate NAT when the intermediate NAT resides between a local NAT and a public network and using a local address discovery device to discover the address for the local NAT when no intermediate NAT resides between the local NAT and the public network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for discovering an Internet Protocol (IP) address, comprising:
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sending an inquiry through a local Network Address Translator (NAT) first to a local address return server to identify a public address for the local NAT; and
alternatively sending the inquiry through a remote NAT to a remote address return server to identify a public address for the remote NAT when the remote NAT is located between the local NAT and a public network. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for discovering an Internet Protocol (IP) address, comprising:
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means for sending an inquiry through a local Network Address Translator (NAT) first to a local address return server to identify a public address for the local NAT; and
means for alternatively sending the inquiry through a remote NAT to a remote address return server to identify a public address for the remote NAT when the remote NAT is located between the local NAT and a public network. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An article of machine-readable media containing instructions for discovering an Internet Protocol (IP) address, the instructions when executed:
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sending an inquiry through a local Network Address Translator (NAT) first to a local address return server to identify a public address for the local NAT; and
alternatively sending the inquiry through a remote NAT to a remote address return server to identify a public address for the remote NAT when the remote NAT is located between the local NAT and a public network. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification