Methods and apparatus for maintaining network addresses

• US 20070294421A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Octaviano, Raymond G., Cromer, Daryl, Jakes, Philip J., Locker, Howard J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,327,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2521 Translation architectures other than single NAT servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level

Abstract

This present invention relates to a method for using hypervisors to enable stable wireless network connections. The crux of the invention involves pushing the control of the networking devices from the Operating System level down to a networking front end hypervisor level. The hypervisor will control all networking devices, the authentication for these devices, and the selection of which connection to use. The hypervisor will also perform Network Address Translation (NAT) to the Operating System. Thus, the Operating System will receive a single, private IP address for use with the Operating System'"'"'s applications. The hypervisor will handle the change of the IP address when roaming between networks and hide it from the Operating System through the use of the NAT.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a hypervisor that enables more than one operating system to run concurrently;

a client operating system that connects to a network;

at least one application that relies on the IP address relating to the network connection;

wherein the hypervisor provides a stable IP address for the client computer as the client computer roams networks.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hypervisor performs Network Address Translation for the client system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hypervisor is inserted between the upper, Operating System layers and the lower, hardware layers of the OSI model.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the hypervisor handles all of the logic of switching from one network to another.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the hypervisor automatically searches and connects to wireless networks when the client computer is not currently connected.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the hypervisor buffers incoming and outgoing data from the client computer when switching from one network to another.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the hypervisor switches from one network to another based on policy.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the hypervisor is aware of all of the different wireless devices of the client computer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the hypervisor maintains the drivers necessary to talk to the wireless devices.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the hypervisor runs from power up of the client computer to power down of the client computer.

11. A method comprising:

enabling more than one operating system to run concurrently through the user of a hypervisor;

connecting a client operating system to a network;

running at least one application that relies on the IP address relating to the network connection;

wherein the hypervisor provides a stable IP address for the client computer as the client computer roams networks.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hypervisor performs Network Address Translation for the client system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the hypervisor is inserted between the upper, Operating System layers and the lower, hardware layers of the OSI model.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the hypervisor handles all of the logic of switching from one network to another.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the hypervisor automatically searches and connects to wireless networks when the client computer is not currently connected.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the hypervisor buffers incoming and outgoing data from the client computer when switching from one network to another.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the hypervisor is aware of all of the different wireless devices of the client computer.

18. The system of claim 18, wherein the hypervisor maintains the drivers necessary to talk to the wireless devices.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the hypervisor runs from power up of the client computer to power down of the client computer.

20. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps, said method comprising the steps of:

enabling more than one operating system to run concurrently through the user of a hypervisor;

connecting a client operating system to a network;

running at least one application that relies on the IP address relating to the network connection;

wherein the hypervisor provides a stable IP address for the client computer as the client computer roams networks.