Internet forwarding method related system and related devices

• US 6,980,548 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: T'Joens, Yves, Sales, Bernard Henry Daniel, Zaccone, Carmelo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US09/348,575
• Time in Patent Office: 2,365 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/355, 370400-401, 370/409, 370/392, 370/463, 370/235, 370/395.5, 370/410, 370/432, 370389-390, 370/465, 709/219
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/03 by updating link state protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/726 Reserving resources in multiple paths to be used simultaneously by balancing the load H04L47/125
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/746 Reaction triggered by a failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/806 Broadcast or multicast traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/825 Involving tunnels, e.g. MPLS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2564 for a higher-layer protocol, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

A Internet forwarding method, related system and related devices to be used for forwarding internet packets from a host connected to an internet towards a destination host connected to a private internet network and vice versa, where an internet network and a private internet network are coupled through at least one edge router, and where the destination host is assigned a global Internet address, and wherein the forwarding of the internet packets from one of at least one edge router towards the destination host and vice versa, is based only on the global internet address.

Claims

1. An Internet forwarding method, for forwarding internet packets from a host connected to an internet towards a destination host connected to a privately addressable internet network, where said internet network and said privately addressable internet network are coupled through at least one edge router, and where said destination host is assigned a global Internet address, including forwarding of said internet packets from one of said at least one edge router towards said destination host, wherein the only address used for forwarding is said global internet address.

2. The Internet forwarding method according to claim 1, wherein said forwarding from one of said at least one edge router comprises:

a. activating a router daemon at said destination host by assigning said global internet address;

b. notifying each router of said privately addressable internet network about a presence of said destination-host by said router-daemon using Open Shortest Path First protocol flooding;

c. updating a routing-table for each of said routers; and

d. forwarding said internet packets based on said routing tables of said routers in said internet network towards said destination host.

3. The Internet forwarding method according to claim 1, wherein said forwarding from one of said at least one edge router comprises:

a. notifying each router of said privately addressable internet network situated on a shortest path between said destination host and said one of said at least one edge router and said one of said at least one edge router by sending a Resource Reservation Protocol set-up message at assignment of a global Internet address;

b. updating a routing-table of said each router in said internet network on said shortest path towards said one of said at least one edge router and notifying said one of said at least one edge router; and

c. forwarding said internet packets from said one of said at least one edge router towards said destination host along said shortest path.

4. The Internet forwarding method according to claim 1, wherein said forwarding from one of said at least one edge router comprises:

a. activating said destination host by assigning said global internet address;

b. sending a multicast join message by said destination host towards said edge-router in order to join a multicast-group set-up by said edge router;

c. constructing a branch of a multicast tree between said destination host and said edge router; and

d. forwarding said internet packets from said edge router towards said destination host along said branch of said multicast tree.

16. The Internet forwarding method according to claim 1, wherein the destination host is only reachable from within the privately addressable network.

17. The Internet forwarding method according to claim 1, wherein the privately addressable network comprises elements that are only privately addressable.

18. The Internet forwarding method according to claim 17, wherein said internet packets are forwarded from the at least one edge router to the destination host via said elements only based on said global internet address.

5. An Internet forwarding system, for forwarding internet packets from a host connected to an internet towards a destination host connected to a privately addressable internet network, where said internet network and said privately addressable internet network are coupled through at least one edge router, and where said destination host is assigned a global Internet address, said internet forwarding system comprising a forwarding means, adapted to route said internet packets from one of said at least one edge router towards said destination host, where the only address used for forwarding is said global internet address.

6. The Internet forwarding system according to claim 5, wherein said forwarding means comprises:

a. router daemon waking means, adapted to activate a router daemon at said destination host by assigning said global internet address;

b. notification means, adapted to notify each router of said privately addressable internet network about the presence of said destination-host by said router-daemon using Open Shortest Path First protocol flooding;

c. updating means, adapted to update a routing-table for each of said routers; and

d. forwarding means, adapted to forward said internet packets based on routing tables of said routers in said internet network towards said destination host.

7. The Internet forwarding system according to claim 5, wherein said forwarding means comprises:

a. notification means, adapted to notifying each router of said privately addressable network situated on a shortest path between said destination host DH and said one of said at least one edge router and said one of said at least one edge router by sending a Resource Reservation Protocol set-up message at assignment of a global Internet address;

b. routing-table updating means, adapted to update routing tables of said each router in said internet network on said shortest path towards said edge router; and

c. forwarding means, adapted to forward said internet packets from said edge router towards said destination host.

8. The Internet forwarding system according to claim 5, wherein said forwarding means comprises:

a. assignment detection means, adapted to activate said destination host by assigning said global internet address;

b. path establishment requesting means, adapted to send a multicast join message by said destination host towards said edge-router in order to join a multicast-group set-up by said edge router;

c. path constructing means, adapted to build up a multicast tree between said destination host and said edge router; and

d. forwarding means, adapted to forward said internet packets from said edge router towards said destination host along said multicast tree.

19. The Internet forwarding system according to claim 5, wherein the privately addressable network comprises elements that are only privately addressable.

20. The Internet forwarding system according to claim 19, wherein said internet packets are forwarded from the at least one edge router to the destination host via said elements only based on said global internet address of the destination host and wherein the destination host is a terminal within the privately addressable network.

9. A destination host for use in a private internet network internet packets being forwarded from said destination host towards a host connected an internet network or vice versa, said private internet network comprising at least one router and at least one said destination host, each coupled to one of said at least one router, said private internet network being coupled to said internet network through at least one edge router and where said destination host is assigned a global internet address, said destination host comprising:

a. internet packet sending and reception means, adapted to either send or receive said internet packets, wherein said destination host further comprises the following means;

b. routing daemon means, adapted to notify each adjacent router, from said at least one router, of said destination host about the presence of said destination host using a Open Shortest Path First protocol flooding and said global internet address;

c. an assignment detection means, adapted to detect if said destination host has been configured for internet connectivity and said global internet address has been assigned; and

d. router daemon waking means, adapted to activate said router daemon means at assignment of said global internet address.

10. A destination host for use in a private internet network, internet packets being forwarded from said destination host towards a host connected to an internet network or vice versa, said private internet network composing at least one router and at least one said destination host, each coupled to one of said at least one router, said private internet network being coupled to said internet network through at least one edge router and wherein said destination host is assigned a global internet address, said destination host comprising:

a. internet packet sending and reception means, adapted to either send internet packets or receive said internet packets, wherein said destination host further comprises the following means;

b. assignment detection means, adapted to detect if said destination host has been configured for internet connectivity and a global internet address has been assigned; and

c. adjacent router notification means, coupled with an input to an output of said assignment detection means and adapted to send a Resource Reservation Protocol message containing said global internet address to an adjacent router of said destination host along a shortest path in direction of said edge router in order to update a routing-table of said adjacent router.

11. A router for use in a private internet network, internet packets being forwarded from a destination host of said private internet network towards a host connected to an internet network or vice versa, said private internet network comprising at least one said router and at least one said destination host, each coupled to one of at least one said router, said private internet network being coupled to said internet network through at least one edge router, said router comprising:

a. message reception means adapted to receive a Resource Reservation Protocol message, wherein said router further comprises the following means;

b. message interpretation means, coupled with an input to an output of said message reception means and adapted to interpret said Resource Reservation Protocol message containing a global internet address of said destination host;

c. routing-table updating means, coupled with an input to an output of said message interpretation means and adapted to update a routing-table with said global internet address of said destination host; and

d. message forwarding means, coupled with an input to an output of said routing-table updating means and adapted to forward said Resource Reservation Protocol message containing said global internet address of said destination host towards an adjacent router or edge router on a shortest path between said destination host and said edge router.

12. An edge router for use in a private internet network, internet packets being forwarded from a destination host of said private internet network towards a host connected to an internet network or vice versa, said private internet network comprising at least one said router and at least one said destination host, each coupled to one of said at least one said router, said private internet network being coupled to said internet network through at least one said edge router, said edge router comprising:

a. message reception means adopted to receive a Resource Reservation Protocol message, wherein said edge router further comprises the following means;

b. message interpretation means, coupled with an input to an output of said message reception means and adapted to interpret said Resource Reservation Protocol message containing a global internet address of said destination host; and

c. routing-table updating means, coupled with an input to an output of said message interpretation means and adapted to update a routing-table with said global internet address of said destination host.

13. A destination host for use in a private internet network, internet packets being forwarded from said destination host towards a host connected to an internet network or vice versa, said private internet network comprising at least one router and at least one said destination host, each coupled to one of said at least one router and where said destination host is assigned a global internet address, said private internet network being coupled to said internet network through at least one edge router, said destination host comprising:

a. internet packet sending and reception means, adapted to either send internet packets or receive said internet packets wherein said destination host further comprises the following means;

b. assignment detection means, adapted to detect if said destination host gets internet connectivity and a global internet address is assigned; and

c. multicast subscription means, coupled with an input to an output of said assignment detection means and adapted to notify an adjacent router of said private internet network on a shortest path towards said edge router about the presence of a subscribing destination host using a multicast protocol and said global internet address.

14. A router for use in a private internet network, internet packets being forwarded from a destination host of said private internet network towards a host connected to an internet network or vice versa, said private internet network comprising at least one said router and at least one said destination host, each coupled to one of said at least one router and wherein said destination host is assigned a global internet address, said private internet network being coupled to said internet network through at least one edge router, wherein said router comprises:

a. message reception means, adapted to receive a multicast message containing said global internet address;

b. multicast group updating means, coupled with an input to an output of said message reception means and adapted to interpret said multicast message containing said global internet address of said destination host and update a multicast group in order to establish a branch of a multicast tree; and

c. message forwarding means, coupled with an input to an output of said multicast group updating means and adapted to forward a multicast message containing said global internet address of said destination host towards an adjacent router or edge router on a shortest path between said destination host and said edge router.

15. An Edge Router, for use in a private internet network, internet packets being forwarded from a destination host of said private internet network towards a host connected to an internet network or vice versa, said private internet network comprising at least one router and at least one said destination host, each coupled to one of said at least one router and wherein said destination host is assigned a global internet address, said private internet network being coupled to said internet network through at least one said edge router, said edge router comprising:

a. message reception means, adapted to receive a multicast message containing said global internet address; and

b. multicast group updating means, coupled with an input to an output of said message reception means and adapted to interpret said multicast message containing said global internet address of said destination host and update a multicast group based on said global internet address in order to establish a branch of a multicast tree.