Arrangement for traversing an IPv4 network by IPv6 mobile routers

• US 7,031,328 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Molteni, Marco, Thubert, Pascal, Wetterwald, Patrick, Troan, Ole
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US10/383,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20040179532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/466, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/352, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/400, 370/465, 709/227, 709/245
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/659 Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/251 between different IP versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2575 using address mapping retrieval, e.g. simple traversal of user datagram protocol through session traversal utilities for NAT [STUN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2592 using tunnelling or encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6

Abstract

A source IPv6 mobile router is configured for establishing an IPv4 tunnel with destination IPv6 mobile router using a synthetic tag address, specifying a forwarding protocol, and IPv4 source and destination addresses. If an optional transport header is used (e.g, UDP port), the source port and destination port also are added to the synthetic tag address. The IPv6 packet includes a reverse routing header that enables the destination IPv6 mobile router to recover routing information for reaching the source IPv6 mobile router via the IPv4 network. Hence, all IPv4 routing information that may be needed by the destination IPv6 mobile router in sending an IPv6 reply packet back to the source IPv6 mobile router is maintained in the routing header specified in the IPv6 reply packet.

Claims

1. A method in an IPv6 mobile router, the method including:

first generating an IPv6 tag address that includes a prescribed protocol identifier for an IPv6 gateway configured for transferring packets between an IPv4 network and an IPv6 network, and a public IPv4 gateway address for the IPv6 gateway;

second generating an IPv6 packet having a source address field that specifies the IPv6 tag address, and a reverse routing header that specifies a home address;

encapsulating the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet having an IPv4 header including a destination address field that specifies the public gateway IPv4 address and a source address field specifying a mobile router IPv4 address, the mobile router IPv4 address used by the IPv6 mobile router for accessing the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network; and

outputting the IPv4 packet to the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network, for transfer of the IPv6 packet onto the IPv6 network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first generating step includes:

setting the first three bits of prescribed protocol identifier to a value of “

000”

, and starting the IPv6 tag address with the prescribed protocol identifier; and

inserting the mobile router IPv4 address in the IPv6 tag address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the IPv6 mobile router has a prescribed home agent having a corresponding home agent address, the second generating step including specifying the home agent address within a destination address field of the IPv6 packet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second generating step includes adding at least one empty slot for the IPv6 gateway to insert the IPv6 tag prior to forwarding the IPv6 packet to the home agent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second generating step includes adding a binding update within the IPv6 packet for the prescribed home agent based on the IPv6 mobile router having attached to the IPv4 network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first generating includes inserting within the IPv6 tag address a prescribed public gateway port for the IPv6 gateway;

the encapsulating includes inserting within the IPv4 packet a transport header having a destination port field specifying the prescribed public gateway port, and a source port field specifying a mobile router port, the mobile router port used by the IPv6 mobile router for accessing the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network.

7. The method of claim 6, further including:

receiving from the IPv4 network a second IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying the public gateway IPv4 address, a source port field specifying the prescribed public gateway port, a destination address field specifying the mobile router IPv4 address, and a destination port field specifying the mobile router port;

unencapsulating a second IPv6 packet from the second IPv4 packet in response to detecting the source port field specifies the prescribed public gateway port;

detecting within a destination address field of the second IPv6 packet a second IPv6 tag address that specifies a public IPv4 address distinct from the mobile router IPv4 address, a public port distinct from the mobile router port, and a second prescribed protocol identifer indicating that the public IPv4 address and the public port correspond to the mobile router IPv4 address and the mobile router port specified in the IPv4 packet.

8. The method of claim 7, further including selectively source routing the second IPv6 packet in a second IPv6 network based on detecting a type 2 routing header specifying another destination.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile router IPv4 address is a private IP address and the mobile router port is a private UDP port, the outputting and receiving steps including outputting and receiving the respective IPv4 packet and the second IPv4 packet via a network address translator (NAT) having a port address translator (PAT).

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving via the IPv6 network a second IPv6 packet having a routing header that specifies the modified IPv6 tag address;

detecting the second protocol identifier, the public IPv4 address and the public port in the modified IPv6 tag address;

modifying the IPv6 packet into a forwarded IPv6 packet by inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into the destination address field of the IPv6 packet;

encapsulating the forwarded IPv6 packet in a second IPv4 packet having a destnation address field specifying the public IPv4 address and a port field specifying the public port; and

outputting the second IPv4 packet onto the IPv4 network.

10. A method in an IPv6 mobile router, the method including:

attaching to a public IPv4 network using a public IPv4 gateway address and an IPv6 network using an IPv6 address;

receiving from the public IPv4 network an IPv4 packet having a destination address specifying the public IPv4 gateway address, a destination port field specifying a prescribed public gateway port, a source address field specifying a pubic IPv4 address and a source port field specifying a public port;

recovering an IPv6 packet from the IPv4 packet in response to detecting the prescribed public gateway port in the destination port field;

modifying a detected IPv6 tag address in a source address field of the IPv6 packet into a modified IPv6 tag address in response to detecting a prescribed protocol identifer for an IPv6 gateway to transfer the IPv6 packet from the IPv4 network to the IPv6 network, the modifying including replacing the prescribed protocol identifer with a second protocol identifer, and inserting the pubic IPv4 address and the public port;

updating the IPv6 packet into an updated IPv6 packet by inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into a detected reverse routing header of the IPv6 packet, and inserting a care-of address for the mobile router into the sorce address field; and

outputting the updated IPv6 packet onto the IPv6 network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the modifying further includes:

detecting the prescribed protocol identifier at a start of the IPv6 tag address based on the first three bits having a value of “

000”

; and

overwriting an IPv4 address and port value in the IPv6 tag address with the public IPv4 address and the public port, respectively.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the replacing includes setting the first three bits of the second protocol identifier to “

000”

, the IPv6 mobile router configured for routing a second received IPv6 packet, received from the IPv6 network and specifying the second protocol identifier, onto the IPv4 network in response to detecting the second protocol identifier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the updating step includes detecting the reverse routing header based on detecting a router type option field specifying a corresponding prescribed router type option value, and inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into a detected empty slot of the reverse routing header.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the prescribed public gateway port has a UDP value of “

434”

specifying mobile IP.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the IPv4 address and port value in the IPv6 tag address specify a private IP address and a private port, respectively, having been translated to the respective public IPv4 address and the public port by a network address translator (NAT) having a port address translator (PAT).

17. An IPv6 mobile router comprising:

first means for generating an IPv6 tag address that includes a prescribed protocol identifier for an IPv6 gateway configured for transferring packets between an IPv4 network and an IPv6 network, and a public IPv4 gateway address for the IPv6 gateway;

second means for generating an IPv6 packet having a source address field that specifies the IPv6 tag address, and a reverse routing header that specifies a home address;

third means for encapsulating the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet having an IPv4 header including a destination address field that specifies the public gateway IPv4 address, and a source address field specifying a mobile router IPv4 address, the mobile router IPv4 address used by the IPv6 mobile router for accessing the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network; and

means for outputting the IPv4 packet to the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network, for transfer of the IPv6 packet onto the IPv6 network.

18. The mobile router of claim 17, wherein the first generating means is configured for:

setting the first three bits of prescribed protocol identifier to a value of “

000”

, and starting the IPv6 tag address with the prescribed protocol identifier; and

inserting the mobile router IPv4 address in the IPv6 tag address.

19. The mobile router of claim 17, wherein the IPv6 mobile router has a prescribed home agent having a corresponding home agent address, the second means configured for specifying the home agent address within a destination address field of the IPv6 packet.

20. The mobile router of claim 19, wherein the second means is configured for adding at least one empty slot for the IPv6 gateway to insert the IPv6 tag prior to forwarding the IPv6 packet to the home agent.

21. The mobile router of claim 20, wherein the second means is configured for adding a binding update within the IPv6 packet for the prescribed home agent based on the IPv6 mobile router having attached to the IPv4 network.

22. The mobile router of claim 17, wherein:

the first means is configured for inserting within the IPv6 tag address a prescribed public gateway port for the IPv6 gateway;

the encapsulating means is configured for inserting within the IPv4 packet a transport header having a destination port field specifying the prescribed public gateway port, and a source port field specifying a mobile router port, the mobile router port used by the IPv6 mobile router for accessing the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network.

23. The mobile router of claim 22, wherein:

the outputting means is configured for receiving from the IPv4 network a second IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying the public gateway IPv4 address, a source port field specifying the prescribed public gateway port, a destination address field specifying the mobile router IPv4 address, and a destination port field specifying the mobile router port;

the third means is configured for unencapsulating a second IPv6 packet from the second IPv4 packet in response to detecting the source port field specifies the prescribed public gateway port; and

the second means is configured for detecting within a destination address field of the second IPv6 packet a second IPv6 tag address that specifies a public IPv4 address distinct from the mobile router IPv4 address, a public port distinct from the mobile router port, and a second prescribed protocol identifier indicating that the public IPv4 address and the public port correspond to the mobile router IPv4 address and the mobile router port specified in the IPv4 packet.

24. The mobile router of claim 23, wherein the second means is configured for selectively source routing the second IPv6 packet in a second IPv6 network based on detecting a type 2 routing header specifying another destination.

25. The mobile router of claim 24, wherein the mobile router IPv4 address is a private IP address and the mobile router port is a private port, the outputting means configured for outputting and receiving the respective IPv4 packet and the second IPv4 packet via a network address translator (NAT) having a port address translator (PAT).

26. An IPv6 mobile router including:

first means for attaching to a public IPv4 network using a public IPv4 gateway address, the first means configured for receiving from the public IPv4 network an IPv4 packet having a destination address specifying the public IPv4 gateway address, a destination port field specifying a prescribed public gateway port, a source address field specifying a pubic IPv4 address and a source port field specifying a public port;

second means for recovering an IPv6 packet from the IPv4 packet in response to detecting the prescribed public gateway port in the destination port field;

third means for modifying a detected IPv6 tag address in a source address field of the IPv6 packet into a modified IPv6 tag address in response to detecting a prescribed protocol identifier for an IPv6 gateway to transfer the IPv6 packet from the IPv4 network to the IPv6 network, the third means configured for replacing the prescribed protocol identifier with a second protocol identifier, and inserting the pubic IPv4 address and the public port;

the third means configured for updating the IPv6 packet into an updated IPv6 packet by inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into a detected reverse routing header of the IPv6 packet, and inserting a care-of address for the mobile router into the sorce address field; and

means for outputting the updated IPv6 packet onto an IPv6 network.

27. The mobile router of claim 26, wherein the third means is configured for:

detecting the prescribed protocol identifier at a start of the IPv6 tag address based on the first three bits having a value of “

000”

; and

overwriting an IPv4 address and UDPport value in the IPv6 tag address with the public IPv4 address and the public port, respectively.

28. The mobile router of claim 27, wherein the third means is configured for setting the first three bits of the second protocol identifier to “

000”

, the third means configured for routing a second received IPv6 packet, received from the IPv6 network and specifying the second protocol identifier, to the IPv4 network in response to detecting the second protocol identifier.

29. The mobile router of claim 26, wherein the third means is configured for detecting the reverse routing header based on detecting a router type option field specifying a corresponding prescribed router type option value, and inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into a detected empty slot of the reverse routing header.

30. The mobile router of claim 26, wherein the prescribed public gateway port has a UDP value of “

434”

specifying mobile IP.

31. The mobile router of claim 26, wherein the IPv4 address and port value in the IPv6 tag address specify a private IP address and a private port, respectively, having been translated to the respective public IPv4 address and the public port by a NAT.

32. The mobile router of claim 26, wherein:

the means for outputting is configured for receiving via the IPv6 network a second IPv6 packet having a routing header that specifies the modified IPv6 tag address;

the third means is configured for detecting the second protocol identifier, the public IPv4 address and the public port in the modified IPv6 tag address, and modifying the IPv6 packet into a forwarded IPv6 packet by inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into the destination address field of the IPv6 packet;

the second means is configured for encapsulating the forwarded IPv6 packet in a second IPv4 packet having a destnation address field specifying the public IPv4 address and a port field specifying the public port; and

the first means is configured for outputting the second IPv4 packet onto the IPv4 network.

33. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for outputting an IPv6 packet by a mobile router, the sequences of instructions including instructions for:

first generating an IPv6 tag address that includes a prescribed protocol identifier for an IPv6 gateway configured for transferring packets between an IPv4 network and an IPv6 network, and a public IPv4 gateway address for the IPv6 gateway;

second generating an IPv6 packet having a source address field that specifies the IPv6 tag address, and a reverse routing header that specifies a home address;

encapsulating the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet having an IPv4 header including a destination address field that specifies the public gateway IPv4 address and a source address field specifying a mobile router IPv4 address, the mobile router IPv4 address used by the IPv6 mobile router for accessing the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network; and

outputting the IPv4 packet to the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network, for transfer of the IPv6 packet onto the IPv6 network.

34. The medium of claim 33, wherein the first generating step includes:

setting the first three bits of prescribed protocol identifier to a value of “

000”

, and starting the IPv6 tag address with the prescribed protocol identifier; and

inserting the mobile router IPv4 address in the IPv6 tag address.

35. The medium of claim 33, wherein the IPv6 mobile router has a prescribed home agent having a corresponding home agent address, the second generating step including specifying the home agent address within a destination address field of the IPv6 packet.

36. The medium of claim 35, wherein the second generating step includes adding at least one empty slot for the IPv6 gateway to insert the IPv6 tag prior to forwarding the IPv6 packet to the home agent.

37. The medium of claim 34, wherein the second generating step includes adding a binding update within the IPv6 packet for the prescribed home agent based on the IPv6 mobile router having attached to the IPv4 network.

38. The medium of claim 33, wherein:

the first generating includes inserting within the IPv6 tag address a prescribed public gateway port for the IPv6 gateway;

the encapsulating includes inserting within the IPv4 packet a transport header having a destination port field specifying the prescribed public gateway port, and a source port field specifying a mobile router port, the mobile router port used by the IPv6 mobile router for accessing the IPv6 gateway via the IPv4 network.

39. The medium of claim 38, further including instructions for:

receiving from the IPv4 network a second IPv4 packet having a source address field specifying the public gateway IPv4 address, a source port field specifying the prescribed public gateway port, a destination address field specifying the mobile router IPv4 address, and a destination port field specifying the mobile router port;

unencapsulating a second IPv6 packet from the second IPv4 packet in response to detecting the source port field specifies the prescribed public gateway port;

detecting within a destination address field of the second IPv6 packet a second IPv6 tag address that specifies a public IPv4 address distinct from the mobile router IPv4 address, a public port distinct from the mobile router port, and a second prescribed protocol identifier indicating that the public IPv4 address and the public port correspond to the mobile router IPv4 address and the mobile router port specified in the IPv4 packet.

40. The medium of claim 39, further including instructions for selectively source routing the second IPv6 packet in a second IPv6 network based on detecting a type 2 routing header specifying another destination.

41. The medium of claim 40, wherein the mobile router IPv4 address is a private IP address and the mobile router port is a private port, the outputting and receiving steps including outputting and receiving the respective IPv4 packet and the second IPv4 packet via a network address translator (NAT).

42. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for outputting an IPv6 packet by a mobile router, the sequences of instructions including instructions for:

attaching to a public IPv4 network using a public IPv4 gateway address and an IPv6 network using an IPv6 address;

receiving from the public IPv4 network an IPv4 packet having a destination address specifying the public IPv4 gateway address, a destination port field specifying a prescribed public gateway port, a source address field specifying a pubic IPv4 address and a source port field specifying a public port;

recovering an IPv6 packet from the IPv4 packet in response to detecting the prescribed public gateway port in the destination port field;

modifying a detected IPv6 tag address in a source address field of the IPv6 packet into a modified IPv6 tag address in response to detecting a prescribed protocol identifier for an IPv6 gateway to transfer the IPv6 packet from the IPv4 network to the IPv6 network, the modifying including replacing the prescribed protocol identifier with a second protocol identifier, and inserting the pubic IPv4 address and the public port;

updating the IPv6 packet into an updated IPv6 packet by inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into a detected reverse routing header of the IPv6 packet, and inserting a care-of address for the mobile router into the sorce address field; and

outputting the updated IPv6 packet onto the IPv6 network.

43. The medium of claim 42, wherein the modifying further includes:

detecting the prescribed protocol identifier at a start of the IPv6 tag address based on the first three bits having a value of “

000”

; and

overwriting an IPv4 address and port value in the IPv6 tag address with the public IPv4 address and the public port, respectively.

44. The medium of claim 43, wherein the replacing includes setting the first three bits of the second protocol identifier to “

000”

, the IPv6 mobile router configured for routing a second received IPv6 packet, received from the IPv6 network and specifying the second protocol identifier, onto the IPv4 network in response to detecting the second protocol identifier.

45. The medium of claim 42, wherein the updating step includes detecting the reverse routing header based on detecting a router type option field specifying a corresponding prescribed router type option value, and inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into a detected empty slot of the reverse routing header.

46. The medium of claim 42, wherein the prescribed public gateway port has a UDP value of “

434”

specifying mobile IP.

47. The medium of claim 42, wherein the IPv4 address and port value in the IPv6 tag address specify a private IP address and a private port, respectively, having been translated to the respective public IPv4 address and the public port by a NAT.

48. The medium of claim 42, further including instructions for:

receiving via the IPv6 network a second IPv6 packet having a routing header that specifies the modified IPv6 tag address;

detecting the second protocol identifier, the public IPv4 address and the public port in the modified IPv6 tag address;

modifying the IPv6 packet into a forwarded IPv6 packet by inserting the modified IPv6 tag address into the destination address field of the IPv6 packet;

encapsulating the forwarded IPv6 packet in a second IPv4 packet having a destnation address field specifying the public IPv4 address and a port field specifying the public port; and

outputting the second IPv4 packet onto the IPv4 network.