SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PREFIXES INDICATIVE OF MOBILITY PROPERTIES IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110258431A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gundavelli, Srinath, Weis, Brian E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/72 Routing based on the source address
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

An example method includes receiving an Internet protocol (IP) address request in a network and selecting an IP address associated with a prefix that represents an IP subnet. The prefix includes a color attribute to be provided as part of a communication session that includes a plurality of packets. The prefix defines one or more properties associated with an application for the session. The prefix is communicated to a network element in a signaling plane, the prefix is configured to be used to make a routing decision for at least some of the plurality of packets. In more specific embodiments, the method can include applying one or more network policies based on the prefix associated with the IP address. The method could also include decrypting an encryption protocol in order to identify the prefix of a subsequent communication flow, and executing a routing decision based on the prefix.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an Internet protocol (IP) address request in a network; and

selecting an IP address associated with a prefix that represents an IP subnet, wherein the prefix includes a color attribute to be provided as part of a communication session that includes a plurality of packets, wherein the prefix defines one or more properties associated with an application for the communication session, and wherein the prefix is configured to be used to make a routing decision for at least some of the plurality of packets.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying one or more network policies based on the prefix associated with the IP address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decrypting an encryption protocol in order to identify the prefix of a subsequent communication flow; and

executing a routing decision based on the prefix of the subsequent communication flow.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading a plurality of prefixes from a prefix pool, wherein the prefixes define particular properties associated with a plurality of IP addresses.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prefix indicates routing restrictions for the packets being routed within a home network, and wherein the prefix reflects a class of IP devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is associated with Internet access for the communication session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is associated with vehicle diagnostics for a vehicle, or the application is associated with a navigation system of the vehicle.

8. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving an Internet protocol (IP) address request in a network; and

selecting an IP address associated with a prefix that represents an IP subnet, wherein the prefix includes a color attribute to be provided as part of a communication session that includes a plurality of packets, wherein the prefix defines one or more properties associated with an application for the communication session, and wherein the prefix is configured to be used to make a routing decision for at least some of the plurality of packets.

9. The logic of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

applying one or more network policies based on the prefix associated with the IP address.

10. The logic of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

decrypting an encryption protocol in order to identify the prefix of a subsequent communication flow; and

executing a routing decision based on the prefix of the subsequent communication flow.

11. The logic of claim 8, The logic of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

downloading a plurality of prefixes from a prefix pool, wherein the prefixes define particular properties associated with a plurality of IP addresses.

12. The logic of claim 8, wherein the prefix indicates routing restrictions for the packets being routed within a home network, and wherein the prefix reflects a class of IP devices.

13. The logic of claim 8, wherein the application is associated with vehicle diagnostics for a vehicle, or the application is associated with a navigation system of the vehicle.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data,

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, and

a network element that includes a prefix color module, the network element being configured to interface with the processor in order to;

receive an Internet protocol (IP) address request in a network; and

select an IP address associated with a prefix that represents an IP subnet, wherein the prefix includes a color attribute to be provided as part of a communication session that includes a plurality of packets, wherein the prefix defines one or more properties associated with an application for the communication session, and wherein the prefix is configured to be used to make a routing decision for at least some of the plurality of packets.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network element is further configured to:

apply one or more network policies based on the prefix associated with the IP address.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network element is further configured to:

decrypt an encryption protocol in order to identify the prefix of a subsequent communication flow; and

execute a routing decision based on the prefix of the subsequent communication flow.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network element is further configured to:

download a plurality of prefixes from a prefix pool, wherein the prefixes define particular properties associated with a plurality of IP addresses.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the prefix indicates routing restrictions for the packets being routed within a home network, and wherein the prefix reflects a class of IP devices.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the application is associated with Internet access for the communication session.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the application is associated with vehicle diagnostics for a vehicle, or the application is associated with a navigation system of the vehicle.