NETWORK NODE

• US 20110228791A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Mangs, Jan-Erik, Melander, Bod, Flinta, Christofer
• Granted Patent: US 8,861,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5053 Lease time; Renewal aspects

Abstract

The invention relates to a network node arranged to provide an end user of a network terminal in a network with an access link to an external network comprising at least one external network interface, a control unit, and at least one internal network interface, the network node being arranged to be connected between the network and the external network. The network node is characterized in that it the control unit is arranged to deactivate and re-activate the at least one internal network interface towards the network terminal in the network in order to trigger a dynamic host configuration protocol request from the network terminal such that a new IP configuration can be established for the network terminal. The invention also relates to a method for use in a network node and a computer program product.

Claims

1. A network node arranged to provide an end user of a network terminal in a local area network [LAN] with an access link to an external network, comprising:

at least one external network interface,

a control unit; and

,

at least one local area network interface, said network node being arranged between said local area network and said external network;

wherein said control unit is arranged to deactivate and re-activate said at least one local area network interface connecting the network node to the network terminal in said local area network in order to trigger a dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] request from said network terminal such that a new IP configuration can be established for said network terminal.

2. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is arranged to perform said deactivation and re-activation upon detecting a need for providing said network terminal in said local area network with a new IP configuration.

3. The network node according to claim 2, wherein said need for providing said network terminal in said local area network with a new IP configuration is detected by not receiving a DHCP request from said at least one network terminal in the local area network for a predetermined period of time.

4. The network node according to claim 2, wherein said need for providing said network terminal in said local area network with a new IP configuration is detected by said control unit by receiving an IP reconfiguration signal.

5. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is arranged to repeat said deactivation and re-activation of said at least one local area network interface towards the network terminal for a predetermined number of times if a DHCP request previously has not been triggered.

6. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is further arranged to provide said network terminal with a correct IP configuration upon receiving a DHCP request from said network terminal.

7. The network node according to claim 6, wherein said network node is a residential gateway and said local area network is a residential network.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said detection may be performed by the steps of:

not receiving a DHCP request in said network node from said at least one network terminal in the network node for a predetermined period of time;

or

receiving an IP reconfiguration signal in said network node over at least one external network interface.

8. A method for use in a network node providing an end user of a network terminal in a local area network with an access link to an external network, said network node being arranged between said local area network and said external network, comprising the steps of:

detecting a need for providing said network terminal in said local area network with a new IP configuration;

upon detecting said need of a new IP configuration, deactivating at least one local area network interface connecting the network node to the network terminal in said local area network; and

re-activating said at least one local area network interface in order to trigger a DHCP request from said network terminal such that a new IP configuration can be established for said network terminal.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of repeating said deactivation and re-activation of said at least one local area network interface towards the network terminal for a predetermined number of times (M), if a DHCP request previously has not been triggered.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of providing said network terminal with a new IP configuration upon receiving a DHCP request from said network terminal.

12. A computer program product for use in a network node in a local area network, which comprises computer readable code means, which when run in a control unit in the network node causes said control unit to perform the steps of:

detecting a need for providing a network terminal in said local area network with a new IP configuration;

upon detecting said need of a new IP configuration, deactivating at least one local area network interface connecting the network node to the network terminal in said local area network; and

,

re-activating said at least one local area network interface in order to trigger a DHCP request from said network terminal such that a new IP configuration can be established for said network terminal.

13-14. -14. (canceled)