Internet access method

• US 6,650,634 B1
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Doorselaer, Bart Alfons Peter, Sales, Bernard Henry Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/267,375
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/352, 370/400, 370/356, 370/410, 709/223, 709/225, 709/220, 709/222, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses

Abstract

A network contains at least two hosts, coupled to a network, a first and a second host. Besides these hosts there is a name system and an access node, both connected to the internet network. If the first host wants to contact the second host, this first host will request the name system for the Internet address. The name system will search, based on the host name of the second host for the Internet address of this host. If this second host is not active, the name server requests the access node to establish a connection between this access node and the second host. The access node will also assign then an internet address to this second host. Subsequently the access node will forward the assigned internet address of the second host to the name system which on its turn will forward the assigned internet address to the requesting, first host. Now, by using the assigned internet address, the first host is able to contact the second host.

Claims

1. A method for internet access to an Internet network containing a plurality of hosts each coupled to at least one remote access nodes, and a name system containing a list of Internet names each associated with an internet address, said method being used when a first host of said plurality of hosts tries to access a second host of said plurality of hosts, said method comprising:

a. sending a request for an Internet address of said second host from said first host to said name system;

b. receiving in said name system a request for said internet address of said second host;

c. searching in said name system for said Internet address; and

d. providing from said name system to said first host, said internet address of said second host;

wherein the following are performed between said steps c and d in case said internet address is not available at said name system;

e. sending a request from said names system to said access node to establish a connection between said access node and said second host;

f. receiving by said access node of said request, from said name system, to establish a connection between said access node and said second host;

g. establishing said connection by said access node;

h. assigning an Internet address to said second host by said access node; and

i. providing said Internet address of said second host to said name system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said name system is a distributed Domain Name System.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said name system is a gatekeeper.

4. An Internet access system used for access to an Internet network containing a plurality of hosts each coupled to at least one access nodes, and a name system containing a list of internet names each associated with an internet address, said system being used when a first host of said plurality of hosts tries to access a second host of said plurality of hosts, said system comprising:

a. request sending means, adapted to send a request for an Internet address of said second host to said name systems;

b. request receiving means, adapted to receive in said name system said request for said Internet address of said second host;

c. internet address searching means, coupled with an input to an output of said request receiving means and adapted to search in said name system for said Internet address;

d. internet address provisioning means, coupled with an input to an output of said internet address searching means and adapted to provide from said name system to said first host said internet address of said second host;

e. connection establishment requesting means, coupled with an input to a second output of said internet address searching means and adapted to request, if said internet address of said second host is not available at said name system, said access node to establish a connection between said access node and said second host;

f. name system connection establishment request reception means adapted to receive a request from said name system to establish a connection between said access node and said second hosts;

g. connection establishing means, coupled with an input to an output of said name system connection establishment request reception means and adapted to establish a connection between said access node and said second host upon reception of a connection establishment request send by said name system;

h. internet address assigning means, coupled with an input to an output of said connection establishing means and adapted to assign an internet address to said second Host;

i. internet address provisioning means, coupled with an input to an output of said internet address assigning means and adapted to provide said name system with said internet address; and

j. internet address reception means, coupled with an output to said input of said internet address provisioning means in said name system and adapted to receive said internet address by said name system from said access node.

5. The internet access system according to claim 4, wherein said name system is a distributed Domain Name System.

6. The internet access system according to claim 4, wherein said name system is a gatekeeper.

7. A name system, to be used for access to an internet network comprising in addition to said name system, a plurality of hosts and at least one access node, said name system comprising:

a. internet address holding means, adapted to hold a list of internet Names each associated with an Internet address;

b. request receiving means, adapted to receive a request for an internet address of a second host from a first host;

c. internet address searching means, coupled with an input to an output of said request receiving means and adapted to search said internet address of said second host; and

d. internet address provisioning means, coupled with an input to an output of said internet address searching means and adapted to provide said first host with said Internet address of said second host;

e. connection establishment requesting means, coupled with an input to a second output of said internet address searching means and adapted to request, if said internet address of said second host is not available at said name system, said access node to establish a connection between said access node and said second Host; and

f. internet address reception means, coupled with an output to said input of said internet address provisioning means in said name system and adapted to receive said internet address by said name system from said access node and to provide said internet address provisioning means.

8. The name system according to claim 7, wherein said name system is a distributed Domain Name System.

9. The name system according to claim 7, wherein said name system is a gatekeeper.

10. An access node to be used for access to an internet network, the access node being coupled to at least one of a plurality of hosts and to at least one name system containing a list of internet names, each of the names being associated with an internet address, said access node comprising:

a. name server connection establishment request reception means, adapted to receive from said name system a connection establishment request indicating a given host;

b. connection establishing means, coupled to an output of said name server connection establishment request reception means, and responding to said connection establishment request by establishing a connection between said access node and said given host indicated in said connection establishment request

c. internet address assigning means, coupled to an output of said connection establishing means, and adapted to assign an internet address to said given host; and

d. internet address provisioning means, coupled to an output of said internet address assigning means, and adapted to provide said name system with said Internet address of said given host.