Responding to network access requests using a transparent media access and uniform delivery of service

• US 6,385,653 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1998
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhasham, Sampath Kumar Sthothra, Sitaraman, Aravind, Lou, Shuxian, Zhang, Shujin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/184,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/203, 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Network access requests, which may based on different access methods, are processed by using a protocol gateway that insulates the processing of the access requests from the specialized protocols required to obtain the necessary services required for the different access methods supported. In a first aspect of the present invention, this includes using a protocol handler that is responsive to the network protocol used by the access request. The protocol handler performs a set of steps necessary for responding to the access request. If the steps include procuring a state service, a state object is used to obtain the state service, insulating the protocol handler from having to communicate with a provider of the state service, such as a service component. Upon completion of the steps defined within the set of steps, the protocol handler denies or grants network access.

Claims

1. A method of responding to network access requests which may be based on more than one type of network access protocol, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first access request which is based on a first network protocol;

processing said first access request using a subscriber service independent of said network access protocol as a first task;

processing said first task by using a first protocol handler chosen by a state manager responsive to said first network protocol, said first protocol handler performing a first set of steps necessary for responding to said first access request, said first set of steps including at least one service request;

procuring at least one service upon request by said first protocol handler; and

granting or denying said first access request when a response to said step of procuring is received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of steps define at least one transaction required to respond to said first access request, wherein said at least one transaction is compatible with said first network protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

receiving a second access request which is based on a second network protocol;

processing said second access request as a second task;

processing said second task by using a second protocol handler responsive to said second network protocol, said second protocol handler performing a second set of steps necessary for responding to said second access request, said second set of steps including at least one service request;

procuring at least one service when requested by said second protocol handler; and

granting or denying said second access request in response to said step of procuring at least one service when requested by said second protocol handler.

4. The method of claim 1, further including a step of queuing said first response from said at least one service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of procuring at least one service includes a step of obtaining authentication and authorization services.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of obtaining authentication, and authorization services includes obtaining a user identification (ID) and password from said access request and using said user ID and password to generate a remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS) authentication, authorization, and accounting request packet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of procuring at least one service includes a step of procuring a state service that provides a host address.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of procuring a service that provides a host address includes generating a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) host address request packet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of procuring at least one service includes a step of obtaining a service that provides a domain name service (DNS) component.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of obtain in a state service that provides a domain name service includes generating a DNS request packet.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of procuring at least one service includes a step of obtaining said service from a service component that provides a cable modem registration service.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of obtaining a state service that provides a cable modem registration service includes generation a multimedia cable network system (MCNS) request packet.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of obtaining a service further includes receiving configuration information corresponding to said MCNS request packet, said configuration information based on a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) protocol.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of procuring at least one service includes a step of obtaining a state service that provides a user record service.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of obtaining a service that provides a user record service includes generating a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) request packet.

16. A network access point responsive to more than one network access method, said network access point comprising:

a protocol layer responsive to a first access request based on a first protocol;

a state manager defining more than one set of process states required for each of the network access methods supported;

at least one task engine for processing said first access request using a subscriber service independent of said network access method as a first task, said task engine having a set of protocol handlers;

a first protocol handler from said set of protocol handlers which is responsive to a first set of process states within said more than one set of process states; and

at least one state object which is responsive to at least one protocol handler from said set of protocol handlers.

17. The network access point of claim 16, wherein said first set of process states define the necessary transactions which must be performed by said first protocol handler in order to respond to said first access request.

18. The network access point of claim 16, wherein said set of protocol handlers further include a second protocol handler which is responsive to a second set of process states within said more than one set of process states.

19. The network access point of claim 16, further including at least one client for providing an access point interface between a host and said network access point.

20. The network access point of claim 19, wherein said at least one client includes a network access server.

21. The network access point of claim 19, wherein said at least one client includes a digital subscriber line-based interface.

22. The network access point of claim 19, wherein said at least one client includes a cable modem interface.

23. The network access point of claim 19, wherein said at least one client includes a wireless communication interface.

24. A communications system comprising:

a protocol layer responsive to a first access request based on a first protocol;

a state manager defining more than one set of process states required for each of the network access methods supported;

at least one task engine for processing said first access request using a subscriber service independent of said network access method as a first task, said task engine having a set of protocol handlers;

a first protocol handler from said set of protocol handlers which is responsive to a first set of process states within said more than one set of process states; and

at least one state service responsive to at least one state object.

25. The communication system of claim 24, wherein said at least one state service includes at least one authentication, authorization, and accounting service component.

26. The communication system of claim 24, wherein said at least one service includes at least one dynamic host configuration protocol service component.

27. The communication system of claim 24, wherein said at least one state service includes at least one cable modem registration service component based on the multimedia cable network system (MCNS) protocol.

28. The communication system of claim 24, wherein said at least one state service includes at least one cable modem configuration service component based on the trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) protocol.

29. The communication system of claim 24, further including a domain name service component.

30. The communication system of claim 24, further including an Internet backbone.

31. The communication system of claim 24, further including at least one client for interfacing a host with said protocol layer.

32. The communication system of claim 31, wherein said at least one client includes a network access server.

33. The communication system of claim 31, wherein said at least one client includes a digital subscriber line-based interface.

34. The communication system of claim 31, wherein said at least one client includes a cable modem interface.

35. The communication system of claim 31, wherein said at least one client includes a wireless communication interface.

36. The communication system of claim 24, wherein said first set of process states defines the necessary transactions which must be performed by said first protocol handler in order to respond to said first access request.

37. The communication system of claim 24, wherein said set of protocol handlers further include a second protocol handler which is responsive to a second set of process states within said more than one set of process states.

38. The communication system of claim 24, wherein said at least one state object is responsive to said first protocol handler.

39. A network access point responsive to more than one network access method, said network access point comprising:

a protocol layer responsive to a first access request based on a first protocol;

a state manager defining more than one set of process states required for each of the network access methods supported;

a first protocol handler from said set of protocol handlers which is responsive to a first set of process states within said more than one set of process states; and

at least one state object which is responsive to said first protocol handler.

40. The network access point of claim 39, wherein said first set of process states define the necessary transactions which must be performed by said first protocol handler in order to respond to said first access request.

41. The network access point of claim 39, further including a second protocol handler which is responsive to a second set of process states within said more than one set of process states.

42. The network access point of claim 39, further including at least one client for providing an access point interface between a host and said network access point.

43. The network access point of claim 42, wherein said at least one client includes a network access server.

44. The network access point of claim 42, wherein said at least one client includes a digital subscriber line-based interface.

45. The network access point of claim 42, wherein said at least one client includes a cable modem interface.

46. The network access point of claim 42, wherein said at least one client includes a wireless communication interface.