Dynamic network configuration of a one-way adapter using a proxy agent that communicates with a resource server through a configured return path adapter
First Claim
1. A method for initializing a one-way adapter that receives data from a computer network via a first communication path, and communicates with a two-way adapter via a packet processing relay agent, wherein said two-way adapter is adapted to receive data from, and send data to, a service provider of said computer network via a second communication path, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a link between said two-way adapter and said service provider via said second communication path;
obtaining an address from said service provider, and communicating said address to said packet processing relay agent via said second communication path and said two-way adapter;
providing a session initialization request packet from said one-way adapter to said packet processing relay agent;
said packet processing relay agent providing said session initialization request packet with;
(a) a source address according to said address obtained from said service provider, and (b) a destination address of a network address server associated with said first communication path; and
communicating said session initialization request packet to said network address server via said two-way adapter and said second communication path according to said destination address thereof;
wherein;
said network address server responds to said packet communicated thereto by communicating address configuration information to said two-way adapter via said second communication path; and
said packet processing relay agent obtains said address configuration information from said two-way adapter for use in providing initialization of said one-way adapter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A one-way adapter such as a cable modem is initialized to allow a personal computer to receive data from a computer network such as the Internet via a broadcast channel, while transmitting data upstream to the computer network via a telephone line. First, a two-way adapter such as a phone modem is initialized by establishing a telephone link with a terminal server of an Internet Service Provider telephone network. The terminal server obtains an IP address from a phone network address server, and assigns the IP address to the phone modem stack. Next, the cable modem stack sends out a request for session initialization to a cable modem driver. The request is processed by a packet processing relay agent (PPRA), and the IP address of the phone modem is inserted into the packet. The IP packet destination address is set to that of a cable network address server. A cable network address server receives the packet via an upstream telephone line and responds with IP address and configuration information for the relay agent address. The phone modem receives the response and passes it to the cable modem stack via the PPRA. The cable modem is thus initialized with IP address and configuration information and is ready to receive Internet data via a one-way RF channel.
112 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for initializing a one-way adapter that receives data from a computer network via a first communication path, and communicates with a two-way adapter via a packet processing relay agent, wherein said two-way adapter is adapted to receive data from, and send data to, a service provider of said computer network via a second communication path, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a link between said two-way adapter and said service provider via said second communication path;
obtaining an address from said service provider, and communicating said address to said packet processing relay agent via said second communication path and said two-way adapter;
providing a session initialization request packet from said one-way adapter to said packet processing relay agent;
said packet processing relay agent providing said session initialization request packet with;
(a) a source address according to said address obtained from said service provider, and (b) a destination address of a network address server associated with said first communication path; and
communicating said session initialization request packet to said network address server via said two-way adapter and said second communication path according to said destination address thereof;
wherein;
said network address server responds to said packet communicated thereto by communicating address configuration information to said two-way adapter via said second communication path; and
said packet processing relay agent obtains said address configuration information from said two-way adapter for use in providing initialization of said one-way adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
said link is established between said two-way adapter and said service provider via said second communication path in response to a user request to access said computer network.
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said session initialization request packet is provided from said one-way adapter to said packet processing relay agent in response to a user request to access said computer network.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said first communication path comprises at least one of a cable television link, a satellite television link, and a terrestrial broadcast television link.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said one-way adapter comprises one of a cable television modem, satellite television modem, and a terrestrial broadcast television modem.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said second communication path comprises a telephone link.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said two-way adapter comprises a modem.
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8. The method of claim 1, wherein said packet processing relay agent is adapted to process data packets forwarded thereto to provide functional enhancements including at least one of:
application level proxy, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol relay agent, Internet Group Management Protocol proxy, Internet Protocol encapsulation, Internet Protocol filtering, data-link layer tunneling, data-link layer filtering, and proxy Address Resolution Protocol agent.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said address configuration information is provided by said network address server according to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
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10. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of:
providing a confirmation message from said one-way adapter to said network address server via said packet processing relay agent, two-way adapter, and second communication path to confirm receipt of said address configuration information at said one-way adapter.
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11. The method of claim 10, comprising the further step of:
providing a confirmation message from said network address server to said one-way adapter via said second communication path, said two-way adapter, and said packet processing relay agent to confirm receipt of said confirmation message from said one-way adapter.
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12. An apparatus for initializing a one-way adapter that receives data from a computer network via a first communication path, comprising:
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a packet processing relay agent;
a two-way adapter that communicates with said one-way adapter via said packet processing relay agent;
said two-way adapter adapted to receive data from, and send data to, a service provider of said computer network via a second communication path;
means for establishing a link between said twoway adapter and said service provider via said second communication path;
means for obtaining an address from said service provider, and communicating said address to said packet processing relay agent via said second communication path and said two-way adapter; and
means for providing a session initialization request packet from said one-way adapter to said packet processing relay agent;
said packet processing relay agent providing said session initialization request packet with;
(a) a source address according to said address obtained from said service provider, and (b) a destination address of a network address server associated with said first communication path; and
means for communicating said session initialization request packet to said network address server via said two-way adapter and said second communication path according to said destination address thereof;
wherein;
said network address server responds to said packet communicated thereto by communicating address configuration information to said two-way adapter via said second communication path; and
said packet processing relay agent obtains said address configuration information from said two-way adapter for use in providing initialization of said one-way adapter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
said link is established between said two-way adapter and said service provider via said second communication path in response to a user request to access said computer network.
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14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
said session initialization request packet is provided from said one-way adapter to said packet processing relay agent in response to a user request to access said computer network.
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15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
said first communication path comprises at least one of a cable television link, a satellite television link, and a terrestrial broadcast television link.
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16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
said one-way adapter comprises one of a cable television modem, satellite television modem, and a terrestrial broadcast television modem.
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17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
said second communication path comprises a telephone link.
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18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
said two-way adapter comprises a modem.
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19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said packet processing relay agent is adapted to process data packets forwarded thereto to provide functional enhancements including at least one of:
application level proxy, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol relay agent, Internet Group Management Protocol proxy, Internet Protocol encapsulation, Internet Protocol filtering, data-link layer tunneling, data-link layer filtering, and proxy Address Resolution Protocol agent.
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20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
said address configuration information is provided by said network address server according to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
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21. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
means for providing a confirmation message from said one-way adapter to said network address server via said packet processing relay agent, two-way adapter, and second communication path to confirm receipt of said address configuration information at said one-way adapter.
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22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
means for providing a confirmation message from said network address server to said one-way adapter via said second communication path, said two-way adapter, and said packet processing relay agent to confirm receipt of said confirmation message from said one-way adapter.
Specification