Dynamic network address updating

• US 6,243,749 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sitaraman, Aravind, Sthothra Bhasham, Sampath Kumar, Dos Santos, Maria Alice, Jin, Jane Jiaying
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/169,182
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/220, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/230, 709/238, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

An information broker is provided which receives information regarding the updating of IP addresses and distributes the information to subscribing Domain Name Service (DNS) or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. A list of subscribing servers is maintained by the broker. The broker may broadcast information regarding the allocation of a IP addresses to subscribing DNS servers, which then may be added to the DNS databases or the database may be updated with the new information. The broker may also broadcast information regarding the revocation of IP addresses to subscribing DNS servers, which may then be used to clear DNS entries in the database. Revocation of dynamically allocated IP addresses in networks with multiple DHCP servers may also be simplified by using the broker, where the broker broadcasts information regarding the revocation of IP addresses to subscribing DHCP servers. Utilization of the broker within a segment of the Internet allows a user to determine the dynamically allocated IP address of a user within the segment simply by making a standard DNS query.

Claims

1. A method for assigning network addresses in a network including one or more Domain Name Service (DNS) servers, said method including:

allocating a network address;

sending information regarding said allocated network address to a broker; and

broadcasting said information regarding said allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers using said broker.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating includes dynamically allocating a network address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating includes allocating a static network address.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address in each of said one or more DNS servers; and

updating each of said one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said broadcasting includes sending information regarding said dynamically allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

7. A method for revoking network addresses in a network including one or more DNS servers, said method including:

revoking a dynamically allocated network address;

sending information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to a broker; and

broadcasting said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers using said broker.

8. The method of claim 7, further including:

receiving said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address in each of said one or more DNS servers; and

updating each of said one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said broadcasting includes sending information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the network further includes one or more Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers, and said broadcasting includes broadcasting said information regarding revoked dynamically allocated networked address to the one or more DHCP servers using said broker.

12. The method of claim 11, further including:

receiving said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address in each of said one or more DNS servers;

updating each of said one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address;

receiving said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address in each of said one or more DHCP and one or more DNS servers; and

updating each of said one or more DHCP servers and one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, the one or more DHCP servers are only those DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said broadcasting information regarding said allocated network address includes sending information regarding said allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and said broadcasting information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address includes sending information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to only those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker.

15. A method for managing network addresses in a network including one or more Domain Name Service (DNS) servers, said method including:

allocating a network address;

sending information regarding said allocated network address to a broker;

broadcasting said information regarding said allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers using said broker;

revoking a dynamically allocated network address;

sending information regarding said dynamically allocated network address to said broker; and

broadcasting said information regarding said dynamically allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers using said broker.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said allocating includes dynamically allocating a network address.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said allocating includes allocating a static network address.

18. The method of claim 15, further including:

receiving said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address in each of said one or more DNS servers;

updating each of said one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address;

receiving said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address in each of said one or more DNS servers; and

updating each of said one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said broadcasting information regarding said allocated network address includes sending information regarding said allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and said broadcasting information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address includes sending information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the network further includes one or more Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers, and said broadcasting includes broadcasting said information regarding revoked dynamically allocated networked address to the one or more DHCP servers using said broker.

22. The method of claim 21, further including:

receiving said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address in each of said one or more DNS servers;

updating each of said one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address;

receiving said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address in each of said one or more DHCP and one or more DNS servers; and

updating each of said one or more DHCP servers and one or more DNS servers with said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, the one or more DHCP servers are only those DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said broadcasting information regarding said allocated network address includes sending information regarding said allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and said broadcasting information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address includes sending information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to only those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker.

25. A method for managing IP addresses in a network segment of the Internet, the network segment including one or more DNS servers, the method including:

receiving information regarding an assigned IP address;

broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address to the one or more DNS servers using a broker, for eventual update of the one or more DNS servers.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said receiving information regarding an assigned IP address includes receiving information regarding an assigned IP address from a DHCP server.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said information regarding an assigned IP address is information regarding a dynamically allocated IP address.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said information regarding an assigned IP address is information regarding a static IP address.

29. The method of claim 25, further including maintaining a list of subscribing DNS servers.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address only to subscribing DNS servers.

33. The method of claim 25, further including maintaining a list of subscribing DNS servers.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address only to subscribing DNS servers.

31. A method for managing IP addresses in a network segment of the Internet, the network segment including one or more DNS servers, the method including:

receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address; and

broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address to the one or more DNS servers using a broker, for eventual update of the one or more DNS servers.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address from a DHCP server.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the network segment of the Internet further includes one or more DHCP servers and said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address to the one or more DHCP servers and the one or more DNS servers.

36. The method of claim 35, further including maintaining a list of subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address only to subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers.

38. A method for managing IP addresses in a network segment of the Internet, the network segment including one or more DNS servers, the method including:

receiving information regarding an assigned IP address;

broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address to the one or more DNS servers using a broker, for eventual update of the one or more DNS servers;

receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address; and

broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address to the one or more DNS servers using said broker, for eventual update of the one or more DNS servers.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said receiving information regarding an assigned IP address includes receiving information regarding an assigned IP address from a DHCP server.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address from a DHCP server.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said information regarding an assigned IP address is information regarding a dynamically allocated IP address.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein said information regarding an assigned IP address is information regarding a static IP address.

43. The method of claim 38, further including maintaining a list of subscribing DNS servers.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address only to subscribing DNS servers, and said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address only to subscribing DNS servers.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the network segment of the Internet further includes one or more DHCP servers and said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address to the one or more DHCP servers and the one or more DNS servers.

46. The method of claim 45, further including maintaining a list of subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding an assigned IP address only to subscribing DNS servers, and said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address includes broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated IP address only to subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers.

48. A method for dynamically allocating a network address to a subscriber in a communications network, the communications network having one or more DNS servers, the method comprising:

assigning a host address to the subscriber by selecting an address from a pool of available network addresses, said assigning step performed in response to the subscriber attempting to log-on to the communications network;

sending information regarding said subscriber as well as said host address to a broker;

utilizing said broker to broadcast said information regarding said subscriber as well as said host address to the one or more DNS servers; and

updating the one or more DNS servers with said information regarding said subscriber as well as said host address.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

50. A method for revoking a dynamically allocated network address assigned by a DHCP server in a communications network, the communications network having one or more DNS servers, the method comprising:

removing the dynamically allocated network address from the DHCP server which assigned the address;

returning the dynamically allocated network address to a pool of available addresses associated with said DHCP server which assigned the address;

sending information regarding the dynamically allocated network address to a broker;

utilizing said broker to broadcast said information regarding the dynamically allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers; and

updating the one or more DNS servers with said information regarding said dynamically allocated network address.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the communications network further has a plurality of DHCP servers, and said utilizing further includes utilizing said broker to broadcast information regarding the dynamically allocated network address to the plurality of DHCP servers.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the plurality of DHCP servers are only those DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

54. A communications network including:

one or more DNS servers, which maintain a list of assigned host addresses within the communications network;

an address allocator, which allocates a network address to a host on the communications network;

a transmitter, which sends information regarding said allocated network address to a broker; and

said broker having a broadcaster, which broadcasts said information regarding said allocated network address to said one or more DNS servers.

55. The communications network of claim 54, wherein said address allocator is a DHCP server.

56. The communications network of claim 54, wherein said network address is a status network address.

57. The communications network of claim 54, wherein said broker further includes a list of subscribing DNS servers and broadcasts said information regarding said allocated network address only to the subscribing DNS servers.

58. The communications network of claim 54, wherein said one or more DNS servers receive said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address and update themselves with said information.

59. A communications network including:

one or more DNS servers;

an address revoker, which revokes a dynamically allocated network address from a host on the communications network;

a transmitter, which sends information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to a broker; and

said broker having a broadcaster, which broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to said one or more DNS servers.

60. The communications network of claim 59, wherein said broker further includes a list of subscribing DNS servers and broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address only to the subscribing DNS servers.

61. The communications network of claim 59, wherein said one or more DNS servers receives said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address and update themselves with said information.

62. A communications network including:

one or more DNS servers, which maintain a list of assigned host addresses within the communications network;

an address allocator, which allocates a network address to a first host on the communications network;

a transmitter, which sends information regarding said allocated network address to a broker;

said broker having a broadcaster, which broadcasts said information regarding said allocated network address to said one or more DNS servers; and

an address revoker, which revokes a dynamically allocated network address from a second host on the communications network,

wherein said transmitter further sends information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to said broker, and

wherein said broadcaster further broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to said one or more DNS servers.

63. The communications network of claim 62, wherein said broker further includes a list of subscribing DNS servers, and wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said information regarding said allocated network address only to the subscribing DNS servers and broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address only to the subscribing DNS servers.

64. The communications network of claim 62, wherein said one or more DNS servers receive said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address and update themselves with said information, and said one or more DNS servers receive said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address and update themselves with said information.

65. The communications network of claim 62, further including one or more DHCP servers, wherein said broadcaster further broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to said one or more DHCP servers.

66. The communications network of claim 65, wherein said broker further includes a list of subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers, and said broadcaster broadcasts said information regarding said allocated network address only to the subscribing DNS servers and broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address only to the subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers.

67. The communications network of claim 65, wherein said one or more DNS servers receive said broadcast information regarding said allocated network address and update themselves with said information, and wherein said one or more DHCP servers receive said broadcast information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address, update themselves with said information, and return said revoked dynamically allocated network address to a pool of available addresses.

68. A broker for managing host addresses assigned to subscribers in a communications network, including:

a receiver, which receives information regarding a subscriber and an assigned host address, said assigned host address assigned to the subscriber by selecting an address from a pool of available network addresses in response to the subscriber attempting to log on to the communications network; and

a broadcaster which broadcasts said information regarding said subscriber as well as said assigned host address to one or more DNS servers for eventual update.

69. The broker of claim 68, further including a database manager, which maintains a list of subscribing DNS servers, wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said information and said assigned host address only to the subscribing DNS servers.

70. A broker for managing host addresses assigned to subscribers in a communications network, said broker including:

a receiver, which receives information regarding a revoked dynamically assigned host address, which was revoked in response to a subscriber attempting to log off the communications network; and

a broadcaster which broadcasts said information regarding said subscriber as well as said revoked dynamically assigned host address to one or more DNS servers for eventual update and release of said dynamically assigned host address into one or more pools of available addresses.

71. The broker of claim 70, further including a database manager, which maintains a list of subscribing DNS servers, wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said information and said assigned host address only to the subscribing DNS servers.

72. The broker of claim 70, wherein said broadcaster further broadcasts said information regarding said subscriber as well as said revoked dynamically assigned host address to one or more DHCP servers for eventual update and release of said dynamically assigned host address into one or more pools of available addresses.

73. The broker of claim 72, further including a database manager, which maintains a list of subscribing DHS and DHCP servers, wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said information and said assigned host address only to the subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers.

74. A broker for managing host addresses assigned to subscribers in a communications network, said broker including:

a receiver, which receives information regarding a subscriber and an assigned host address, said assigned host address assigned to said subscriber by selecting an address from a pool of available network addresses in response to said subscriber attempting to log on to a communications network, and which receives information regarding a revoked dynamically assigned host address, which was revoked in response to a subscriber attempting to log off the communications network; and

a broadcaster which broadcasts said information regarding said subscriber as well as said assigned host address to one or more DNS servers for eventual update, and which broadcasts said information regarding said subscriber as well as said revoked dynamically assigned host address to said one or more DNS servers for eventual update.

75. The broker of claim 74, further including a database manager, which maintains a list of subscribing DNS servers, wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said information and said assigned host address only to the subscribing DNS servers, and broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated host address only to the subscribing DNS servers.

76. A broker for managing host addresses assigned to subscribers in a communications network, said broker including:

a receiver, which receives information regarding a subscriber and an assigned host address, said assigned host address assigned to said subscriber by selecting an address from a pool of available network addresses in response to said subscriber attempting to log on to a communications network, and which receives information regarding a revoked dynamically assigned host address, which was revoked in response to a subscriber attempting to log off the communications network; and

a broadcaster which broadcasts said information regarding said subscriber as well as said assigned host address to one or more DNS servers for eventual update, and which broadcasts said information regarding said subscriber as well as said revoked dynamically assigned host address to one or more DNS or DHCP servers for eventual update and release of said dynamically assigned host address into one or more pools of available addresses.

77. The broker of claim 76, further including a database manager, which maintains a list of subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers, wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said information and said assigned host address only to the subscribing DNS servers and broadcasts said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated host address only to the subscribing DNS servers and DHCP servers.

78. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for managing network addresses in a network including one or more Domain Name Service (DNS) servers, said method including:

receiving information regarding an allocated network address; and

broadcasting said information regarding said allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers using a broker, for the eventual update of the one or more DNS servers.

79. The program storage device of claim 78, wherein said allocated network address is a dynamically allocated network address.

80. The program storage device of claim 78, wherein said allocated network address is a static network address.

81. The program storage device of claim 78, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

82. The program storage device of claim 81, wherein said broadcasting further includes sending information regarding said allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

83. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for managing network addresses in a network including one or more DNS servers, said method including:

receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address; and

broadcasting said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers using a broker, for eventual update of the one or more DNS servers.

84. The program storage device of claim 83, wherein the one or more DNS servers are only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker and the method further includes the step of maintaining a list of those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

85. The program storage device of claim 84, wherein said broadcaster sends information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to only those DNS servers which have subscribed to said broker.

86. The program storage device of claim 83, wherein the network further includes one or more DHCP servers, and said broadcasting further includes broadcasting said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to the one or more DHCP servers using said broker, for eventual update of the one or more DHCP servers.

87. The program storage device of claim 86, wherein the one or more DHCP servers are only those DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes of maintaining a list of those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker.

88. The program storage device of claim 87, wherein said broadcasting further includes broadcasting said information regarding said revoked dynamically allocated network address to only those DNS servers and DHCP server which have subscribed to said broker.

89. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for managing network addresses in a network including one or more DNS servers, the method including:

receiving information regarding an assigned network address;

broadcasting said information regarding an assigned network address to the one or more DNS servers using a broker, for eventual update of the one or more DNS servers;

receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address; and

broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address to the one or more DNS servers using said broker, for eventual update of the one or more DNS servers.

90. The program storage device of claim 89, wherein said receiving information regarding an assigned network address includes receiving information regarding an assigned network address from a DHCP server.

91. The program storage device of claim 89 wherein said receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address includes receiving information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address from a DHCP server.

92. The program storage device of claim 89, wherein said information regarding an assigned network address is information regarding a dynamically allocated network address.

93. The program storage device of claim 89, wherein said information regarding an assigned network address is information regarding a static network address.

94. The program storage device of claim 89, wherein the method further includes maintaining a list of subscribing DNS servers.

95. The program storage device of claim 94, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding an assigned network address includes broadcasting said information regarding an assigned network address only to subscribing DNS servers, and said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address includes broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address only to subscribing DNS servers.

96. The program storage device of claim 89, wherein the network further includes one or more DHCP servers, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding an assigned network address further includes broadcasting said information regarding said assigned network address to the one or more DHCP servers using said broker, for eventual update of the one or more DHCP servers, and wherein said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address further includes broadcasting said information regarding said revoked dynamically assigned network address to the one or more DHCP servers using said broker, for eventual update of the one or more DHCP servers.

97. The program storage device of claim 96, wherein the one or more DHCP servers are only those DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker, and the method further includes maintaining a list of those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker.

98. The program storage device of claim 97, wherein said broadcasting said information regarding said assigned network address further includes broadcasting only to those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker, and said broadcasting said information regarding a revoked dynamically allocated network address further includes broadcasting said information regarding said revoked dynamically assigned network address to only those DNS servers and DHCP servers which have subscribed to said broker.