Persistent Connection between Network Devices

• US 20140156788A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lewis, Richard, Nicholson, Clark
• Granted Patent: US 9,363,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management

Abstract

A first device and a second device are each assigned an IP address that is used to exchange messages with the other device. The first device stores the IP address for the second device. A new IP address may be assigned to the first device when it reestablishes a network connection following a location change or other network reconnection. The first device detects when a new IP address has been assigned. The first device then sends a hello message directly to the second device comprising the new IP address assigned to the first device. The new IP address allows the second device to find the first device without requiring network location services such as DNS. The first device may further include authentication credentials in the hello message to verify the new IP address.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

detecting when a new IP address is assigned to a first device; and

sending a message directly from the first device to a second device, the message comprising the new IP address, wherein the new IP address allows the second device to send messages directly to the first device without requiring network location services.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a persistent network connection between the first device and the second device; and

storing an IP address for the second device on the first device, the IP address for the second device allowing the first device to send messages directly to the second device without requiring network location services.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing authentication credentials between the first device and the second device; and

providing the authentication credentials from the first device to the second device to verify the new IP address.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the network location services comprises a Domain Name System (DNS).

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein sending the message directly from the first device to the second device further comprises:

writing the new IP address directly to a storage location on the second device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a host name for the second device on the first device; and

sending the message directly from the first device to the second device using the stored host name.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the message with the new IP address at the second device; and

sending messages directly to the first device at the new IP address.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting the new IP address written to the storage location on the second device; and

sending messages directly to the first device at the new IP address.

9. A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors;

system memory;

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform a method for maintaining a network connection to a remote device, the processor operating to;

detect when a new IP address is assigned to the computer system; and

send a message directly to the remote device, the message comprising the new IP address, wherein the new IP address allows the remote device to send messages directly to the computer system without requiring network location services.

10. The computer system of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

establish a persistent network connection between the computer system and the remote device; and

store an IP address for the remote device in the memory, the IP address for the remote device allowing the computer system to send messages directly to the remote device without requiring network location services.

11. The computer system of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

establish authentication credentials between the computer system and the remote device; and

provide the authentication credentials to the remote device to verify the new IP address.

12. The computer system of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

store a host name for the remote device in the memory; and

send the message directly to the remote device using the stored host name.

13. The computer system of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

receiving messages directly from the remote device at the new IP address.

14. The computer system of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

write the new IP address directly to a storage location on the remote device.

15. The computer system of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

detect a second new IP address written to a storage location corresponding to remote device; and

send messages directly to the remote device at the second new IP address.

16. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform a method for maintaining a network connection between a first device and a second device, the method comprising:

establishing a persistent network connection between the first device and the second device;

storing an IP address for the second device on the first device, the IP address for the second device allowing the first device to send messages directly to the second device without requiring network location services;

detecting when a new IP address is assigned to the first device; and

sending a message directly from the first device to a second device, the message comprising the new IP address, wherein the new IP address allows the second device to send messages directly to the first device without requiring network location services.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the method further comprising:

establishing authentication credentials between the first device and the second device; and

providing the authentication credentials from the first device to the second device to verify the new IP address.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the network location services comprises a Domain Name System (DNS).

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the method further comprising:

writing the new IP address directly to a storage location on the second device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, the method further comprising:

detecting the new IP address written to the storage location on the second device; and

sending messages directly to the first device at the new IP address.